24-hours bus-bicycle lanes are necessary for optimal
road infrastructure use and a more livable
Singapore.
Issues:
1)
Sedentary lifestyle results in diabetes because lack of exercise
results in reduced metabolism, caloric excess state and thus
glucose overload state aka diabetes. Diabetes is associated with
blindness, kidney dialysis, amputations, stroke, heart disease
which will attract stratospheric medical and nursing care cost
upwards of S$66billion p.a. by 2030. http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/elderly-health-costs-to-rise-tenfold-by-2030-report
2)
There will be increased need for 2 wheel transport to deliver
e-commerce goods, food delivery (UBER eats, deliveroo etc) and
increased dockless rental bikes use 24hours/day: failure to
facilitate night time deliveries by bicycle will only lead to more
daytime road congestion/ higher delivery costs if costlier
motorised delivery options are used. Currently, roads in day are
congested and UNSAFE at night despite very low vehicle traffic due
to a few inconsiderate motorist who love high speed racing (even
overtaking on the left), and drunk drivers veering from left to
right across all lanes: placing cyclists lives in grave danger
despite a very much empty road.
3)
Increased aged population, terrorism threat, lithium battery gadget
use means more need for Home Team (ambulance, fire, police) vehicle
use. 24hrs public transport lanes aka bus-bicycle lanes would allow
such uniformed public servants rapid and efficient deployment to
the site of action.
4)
More space to park dockless rental bicycles, electric kick scooters
and multiple electric wheelchair users and increased population
will make footpaths over congested so some transfer of cyclist and
electric bicycles to the road 24hrs a day is a sensible policy
option.
pict
source: http://lovecycling.net/projects/busbike-lane/
Solutions
:
All
privately owned buses, cars, commercial vehicles etc will not be
allowed to use the 24hours bus-bicycle lanes except with special
permission (e.g. YOG/ SEA games duties etc) and all public buses,
Home Team/ vehicles granted bus-bicycle lane use shall be equipped
with tamper-proof continuous video recording cameras whenever in
operation so that all traffic accidents and complaints of dangerous
/ inconsiderate driving can be properly investigated by the traffic
police and where necessary, penalties served.
Bicycles
may cycle 2 abreast only at night and during off peak bus
operational hours. During the day/ at peak bus lane operating
hours, cyclist must only travel in single file except when
overtaking.
Bus
lanes should also be wide enough for buses to easily and safely
overtake cyclist cycling in single file. Over time, buses and
cyclist will be able to coordinate any zig zaging where necessary:
across each other's path as buses need to keep left to enter bus
lanes and overtake on the right hand side, however this challenge
can be safely overcome with public bus driving tests incorporating
BOTH a cycling and bus driving component such that whilst a
particular driver is being tested, the rest of the bus driver
wannabe candidates will be on bicycle to simulate the proper
bus-bicycle overtaking procedures. Buses also need not rush to meet
strict arrival schedules since anyone impatient with traffic can
always hire a dockless rental bicycle and whiz through the crowd;
only timely bus departure from the terminus should be monitored.
Users of 2 wheelers on public roads should all wear
helmets.
A
number of traffic police and LTA staff would cycle to work/ patrol
the streets on bicycle with video recording (24 hrs patrolling etc)
and issue summons to errant cyclist who cycle abreast during bus
lane peak hours, bus captains with reckless driving behaviors and
any other unauthorized vehicles which travel on bus lanes at ANY
time of the day since bus-bicycle lanes would be operational
24hours.
Hopefully,
with bus-bicycle lanes fully implemented, road traffic will be
better spaced out across the 24hour period, the war against global
warming and diabetes would be more than just lip service and
Singapore will be a healthier, safer, greener and livelier place
for all to live and work in.
PS:
Bus and bicycle sharing lanes are nothing new and exists in many
other countries too:
http://www.bikexprt.com/bikepol/facil/lanes/bikebus.htm