East Coast Park at Marine Parade -The Wheels of the Belfast Cycling Revolution in Singapore Keep Turning

This is my first ( and second) short video upload to my blog. This shows the footway from the Marine Parade underpass to East Coast Park (Park Connector). You see the large footprints visually mark out the footway before you turn left onto the two way cycle way. You can already see during the approach cycle traffic and as we make the left turn you see the pedestrian footpath on the right closer to the sea.

In the second video (below) you see the character of the cycle route change a few kilometres further towards Changi. We have a single cycle lane to share two way traffic and a white line marking the pedestrian space on the path. It makes complete sense not to over engineer the less trafficked portions of the cycle way. And of course wonderful use of trees to provide a little shade on the path. Towards the end of this short video you see another cycle/pedestrian underpass that links the route to Bedok Reservoir Park. Really easy to follow the directions and not too long a cycle to get there.

Belfast Cycling Revolution in Singapore

Not for the first time I have been absent from my blog for a prolonged period of time. I realised that I couldn't compete with the likes of @nigreenways and a number of other amazing Norn Iron cycling bloggers and eventually I would have to find my own space.

I have done, and that space happens to be Singapore.

Although I left in July, our bikes only returned to us in October and my family has increased in size since then too, so I have been quite busy. Singapore has an established cycling culture in part because of its excellent Park Connector Network PCN which I will blog about over the coming weeks.

It's hard to join someone else's revolution over half way through so I will try and identify some of the things I think that work well here that we could incorporate into our thinking at home or indeed elsewhere!

The Park Connector Networks are a really good resource for cycling around and allow point to point and commuter journeys, not just leisure cycling. The quality of the cycle paths in  terms of width and surface is in most areas to a very high standard and there are constant upgrades and improvements being undertaken. You can see the continuous investment in the routes and a clear focus on improvements.

Left shows part of the East Coast Park Connector that runs through East Coast Park. There is clearly plenty of space for two way cycle traffic and a separate footpath out of shot for pedestrians.

This route allows you to cycle from the coast behind Changi Airport (as part of the Eastern Coastal Loop all the way to Gardens by the Bay and Bayfront MRT. It is busy all through the day and evening and although it attracts the odd lycra cyclist the vast majority are everyday cyclists with plenty of space for novices and children.

Visually some parts of the park connector routes are stunning. On the practical side of things, there are a number of bike rental facilities along the route and they are heavily used with a high number of tandems available. There is lots to see on route and easy access small beaches, kids play areas, coffee shops etc

#CyclingChic

Cycling is no longer just about lyrca and sweat. Urban cycling has come to influence fashion and cycling is definitely chic. For those who still want to don a helmet www.bernunlimited.com are doing a good job in trying to broaden the options available but I think my favourite has to be http://www.bobbinbikes.co.uk/gold-helmet/ who also do a fine range in bikes and other accessories.

But the fashion relationship with biking is more than just headgear. www.velorbis.com sell the urban cycling vision as well as anyone, with classic bike styles and retro accessories. unsurprisingly they were involved with Copenhagen fashion week last month. http://www.copenhagencyclechic.com/

 

It isn't just the Danes the Dutch do a good line in cycling fashion too. http://amsterdamcyclechic.com/ seems to cover all the angles and has bags of inspiration. How long will it be before Belfast has a #cyclingchic website?

 

 



#SouthBelfastBiking

I was out and about today so thought I would document all the places I cycled to during the course of the day. The first port of call was to drop Charlie off at nursery which took me to Little Hands and Little Feet on the Malone Road. Sometimes you will see my passenger Charlie isn't always delighted to arrive at nursery but that soon changes.

 

 

 

From there I popped back down the road to the @UlsterMuseum for a very worthwhile Cultural Diversity workshop organised by the excellent @CraicNI duo of @EileenChanHu and @MaciekBator as part of Belfast Learning week. Great bike parking at the Museum too.

 

I put my political hat on and nipped out of the Museum to take part in a very positive engagement @mssocietyNI where I was able to catch up with many people who I had met before. Regrettably the experience of many has not improved as lengthening waiting lists are having a truly negative impact. I am absolutely committed to being a strong advocate for the society if returned in May.

 

 

It was off with my political hat and back to the Museum for the conclusion of the @CraicNI event before a quick coffee stop at Nero and back to nursery to collect a very happy little boy.







Post Rugby and Waterloo

I have been to two 6 Nations matches this way, in Paris and in London with Ireland losing both matches. The day post match and beers I went to Le Marais which is notable as one of the few areas with shops open on a Sunday. It was also notable for significantly greater security as the area is home to an historic Jewish community. There will never been anything right about children having to play in the street under armed guard and sadly that was the reality for a group of kids I saw. For cycling the area has many streets closed to car traffic on a Sunday and there are lots of opportunities to do Paris by bike. Despite the security the area has a real buzz and level of activity that reflected peoples' abilities to just get on with things.

Post Twickenham and another defeat I went for a look round my old stomping ground for Waterloo where I lived for a number of years. This time I took a few photos of how things are clearly changing in London as it experiences its own cycling and urban revolution.

Waterloo has embraced the 20's Plenty Campaign.



Additional parking is being provided in a very visible way and it is clearly meeting growing demand.

 

 

But as always it is the small things or the detail that really gives character to an area and I thought this fairly recent addition could be used anywhere to give added value to any part of a city.

 



#BackInTheGame (to Quote Micky Flanaghan)

May I begin with offering my sincere apologies to the small number who were wondering what has happened to my blog, in short I got side tracked by a very good cause throughout December and January for the #SaveSamira appeal and she is doing well with much more (albeit not all) of her expenses and medical treatment now covered and I am working on other initiatives to plug the remaining gap.

As you all know I love all things cargo bike, www.nihola.com , www.babboe.com , www.bakfiets.com , www.christianiabikes.com , www.urbanarrow.com (of @ellenfromnowon fame) and so on. However, I just don't know what to make of the www.boxercycles.com Rocket design and I am not sure I could ever see myself cycling one. A 6 seater is huge capacity and I am sure the leather trim on the Rocket Saturn version is fine but I am not sure I could see myself popping to the shops on one and I am keen to meet someone who would!

#ChristmasTrees #CargoBikes

It is always good to find a new use for your bike and Christmas brings great seasonal opportunities. So when it came to getting our tree at the weekend I thought why not just bring it home by bike. I found the lock doubled as a useful mechanism for holding the tree in place and like many car owners with their magic trees my journey involved a fine pine aroma.

 

And only a few moments and a few cheers later we arrived home tree in place.

 

 

The following day and with a little bit of decorating we ended up with this! An artistic piece titled !Angel in a Balaclava" courtesy of PoP.

 

 

If you have time please visit the link and read about little Samira. https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/SaveSamira