Discover Cycling in Singapore. An insiders view.

Cycling in Singapore is really enjoyable, but I didn't always know that.  I had lived at the Orchard area for three years, one at Le Grove along Orange Road Grove and two at Avalon along Anderson Road. Yes I could access nice biking spots from there, but I didn't feel that majority of car drivers were the most accepting of bikers, so I was always very guarded when street biking. And then I shipped my two mountain bikes and one road bike back to Manila. When I came back to Singapore and lived on the East side, I now had access to the park connectors that I had only heard about previously. But still, it took me a year before realizing how great Singapore is as a place-to-be for biking. When I did, I quickly bought a new off-road bike (mountain bike doesn't sound too appropriate in a place where there are no mountains or scattered cross-country trails!). Then as I discovered more biking spaces, I was on fire to get another good road bike for Singapore. Here are my discoveries of cycling in Singapore. 
 
Singapore has lots of beautiful open spaces along the East Coast Park with paths dedicated to cyclists and people on rollerblades. Some sections have many people, others like in this pictures above have few. Cars can't pass here! The greeneiries are beautifully lush and many paths are very scenic. In the photo is my new Canondale CAAD 10 without any enhancements. 

What can you see when biking Singapore, specifically the East Coast Park? Well, a lot of flat road in a beautiful open space. 
 
The well-trimmed grass and managed trees and wonderful spaciousness feels very First World. At some sections I feel like I'm in a national park in the US, at other sections I feel I'm hiking through choice outdoor spots in the Philippines. 
 
And there are so much cycling paths, and biking roads and more cycling paths. 
 
These photos let you appreciate why, once I grasped the generous paths for bikers, I couldn't wait to get a new road bike and gobble up the roads at high speed. Above is the cycling path adjacent to the Changi Airport, connecting the East Coast Park and Changi Beach. 

How to cycle Singapore without your own bike. 
If you're visiting Singapore or live in SG without a bicycle, you can still enjoy cycling the garden city. Here is a map of the East side of Singapore showing the East Coast Park on the bottom and the Changi Beach on the upper right hand, with Changi Airport separating them. The red dropped pins are the locations of bike rental shops along the East Coast Park and Changi Beach. There are a total of nine cycling rental shops where you can also rent inline skates or roller blades if you'd like. Check out helmets when you rent a bike to stay safe. 
 
My recommendation if you want to see a lot of the Singapore East Coast Park is to go there and rent the best bike you can to let you go fast. Then go all the way to the Marina Barrage and the Marina Bay Sands, up to the path that runs alongside or adjacent to the Changi Airport. No need to cross over to the Changi Beach side unless you have a lot of time, but if you did then it would be a nice treat
 
Night cycling to the Marina Barrage with the Singapore Flyer and the Marina Bay Sands or MBS at the background. 

 
One of the many scenic paths along the Siglap Park Connector or Siglap PCN, joining the Kembangan MRT station to the East Coast Park

My other recommendation if you are visiting Singapore and want an unconventional cycling tour, is to alight at the Kembangan MRT station on the green line, then cross Sims Avenue to walk along the Park Connector to the Telok Kurau Park (if you're on the side of the football field and running oval, you're on the opposite side). At Telok Kurau Park you can find one bike rental shop, rent a bike, then follow the scenic Siglap Park Connector to cycle all the way to the East Coast Park. You'll have to cross the ECP hiway using the overhead walking bridge and walk your bike (there's a $1,000 fine for riding your bike on the walking bridge!), then you're at the beautiful East Coast spark. From here, enjoy cycling as much as you want. If you'll take this route, be sure to go early as the bike shop is not open 24-hours. If you want to cycle at night, go to the East Coast Park across the Siglap Park Connector as there is a 24-hour bike rental there,  
 
 
Maps from the Kembangan MRT station to the East Coast Park via the Siglap Park Connector. 

Enjoy cycling! Take care! Cycle responsibly!
Let me know if this article has helped you. Post a comment. 

That's it for now. 
God bless! 

Comments