Today's Home section has two articles related to cycling, chief of which is this article.
Taken from wanderlustcycling.blogspot.com
Pity. A pity to get knocked down so terribly, and as I gather, by a doctor. Only a few days ago I blogged about this cyclist, and it's terribly sorry a fact that today it is reported that he gave up the ghost. I truly have nothing more to write other than saying... WTF? and my condolences.
Another article today showed the brighter side of cycling - government efforts to teach cyclists safe cycling.
Certain Tampines and Pasir Ris schools are aimed to get lessons on safe cycling habits, legal cycling habits (Teo Ser Luck installs a light on a bicycle!!!), road discipline, and other stuff not explicitly covered in this article.
Based on what I read, teaching hand signals, proper attire, when to use safety lights, and road discipline is actually a very important aspect of how a cyclist can raise his safety on the road. There are many things a cyclist cannot control, as exemplified by the previous article, but if you have done all you can to keep yourself safe, then if you are a fatalist, you can probably just sit back and take fate as it comes. Of course if you're not...
The question is whether the students will take it seriously. I think this project is actually a real big step forward - if the students actually don't have short term memory. Will they dismount on a zebra crossing when it is so much more convenient to ride over it? Will they spend $25 on a rear light and then $25 on a front light when they see foreign workers riding everywhere without the extra expense?
I'm still waiting for driver education on handling cyclists. That is more important because cycling on the road is a great feat for the new cyclist - of course, new or laojiao, all cyclists are inherently vulnerable. The first time that one rides on the road, his balls are stuck ihis throat most of the time. Cars can be quite unaccommodating, and it's the black sheep that can be scary. For women, I don't know where they get their balls from, which probably is the reason why I don't really see too many females commuting by bicycle anyway, unless they are foreigners, both the tiongkokkers and ang mohs, where the cycling culture is more apparent and widespread back in their country.
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ReplyDeleteHas anyone pointed out the rear light will likely be blocked by anything mounted above the rear wheel, or blocked by school bags if sling to the back of a student?
ReplyDeleteI'm not worry about $25 rear/front lights as there are many cheap ones selling at <$5. As for front light, I worry it gives false sense of security because with it, one still should think he is invisible.
i love it, insulting both foreigners and women in the same post. that has to be some sort of record?
ReplyDeleteso yeah, great blog, but please let's try and leave the perjorative stuff to the mainstream media hey?
thomask,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment, I will take note in the future of my posts.
However, I fail to see any reasonable signs that I am insulting foreigners and women? I would say, however, in the last paragraph, I am conveying the truth: there are few Singaporean female commuters, and those that do commute on the roads are either
1. Very brave female Singaporeans
2. Foreigners, both male and female, as this is the norm back where they originated from.
Hope this clarifies my intentions. As always, my posts are written with my tongue in cheek although as always, there is truth in it.