Jurassic Mile’s red paths confusing for cyclists

Cycling in Singapore has come a long way in recent years.

The Government is building more cycling infrastructure and is on track to complete 800km of cycling paths by 2023.

More people are cycling, be it for recreation, commuting or making deliveries.

Even at our bicycle shops, some bicycle models are out of stock. Bicycle servicing now comes with a wait of at least two weeks.

The motivation to stay active during the Covid-19 pandemic could explain why more people are cycling.  

An encouraging effort by the Government is the provision of red cycling paths, which usually sit alongside footpaths.

With painted bicycle symbols and appropriate signage, the message is clear and intuitive that cyclists may traverse these red paths.

These paths are becoming a common sight, and can be found in new estates such as Bidadari and mature estates including Ang Mo Kio and Bedok.

Pedestrians, meanwhile, may walk on adjacent footpaths. Separating cyclists from pedestrians in areas where there is higher pedestrian-cyclist interaction is a welcome solution for safe and harmonious community living.

Then Changi Jurassic Mile came along.

What is confusing is that Jurassic Mile is painted red. But it is a shared path for cyclists and walking visitors, many with children in tow and Instagrammable selfie intentions.

As with most path users, I can live with sharing it with other users and cycling slowly to enjoy the dinosaur exhibits.

I try to avoid conflicts with other users — both pedestrians and cyclists — but it is not easy, since they make a lot of haphazard movements.

Then there are signs telling cyclists to dismount and push their bicycles.

This is bewildering. Weren’t red paths designated cycling paths?

Jurassic Mile is a shared path, but cyclists are reminded to dismount and push.

My concern lies in the supposed variety of intentions for red paths. As I said, the messaging was clear and intuitive before Jurassic Mile came along, but it is now blurred. 

Will the public at large now think that red paths in Ang Mo Kio are shared paths?

Will this contribute to accidental conflicts between cyclists and pedestrians?

Why not model Jurassic Mile like other shared park-connector paths, in the regular grey asphalt?

Not the misleading red, please.

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