SINGAPORE – The latest cycling path network, a 15km stretch that connects Jurong East, Chinese Garden and Lakeside, was unveiled at Jurong Lake District on Saturday (July 1) morning.
The network makes the district the eighth town in Singapore with a comprehensive cycling path network, and allows people to explore Jurong Lake Gardens all the way to Taman Jurong via the existing park connector.
It is part of the Land Transport Authority’s (LTA) long-term plan to progressively construct dedicated cycling path networks in all HDB towns to enhance first- and last-mile connections, and to connect housing estates in the north, south, east and west to the city centre.
In line with the launch of the network, LTA has also increased the number of bicycle parking spaces at Jurong East, Chinese Garden and Lakeside MRT stations to more than 600.
This is up from 422 spaces in 2014, said Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Grace Fu, who was speaking at the event.
In addition, new and existing public housing blocks will get up to 3,200 bicycle parking spaces by the HDB.
By the end of 2020, the district’s cycling path network will also be integrated with the neighbouring Taman Jurong estate, which will have its own cycling path network.
The network was launched by Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic and Social Policies, and a Member of Parliament for Jurong GRC. Around 500 people attended the event.
Safety measures for cyclists and pedestrians have also been implemented. For example, the cycling path has been routed behind bus stops to encourage cyclists to avoid riding through the stops. Another measure is giving pedestrians and cyclists at signalised crossings twice the space.
These measures were first implemented at the cycling network in Ang Mo Kio in July last year and will be used at future cycling towns.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Desmond Lee; Mr Ang Wei Neng, adviser to Jurong GRC; Ms Foo Mee Har, vice-chairman of West Coast Town Council; Ms Rahayu Mahzam, adviser to Jurong GRC; MP Murali Pillai; and Senior Parliamentary Secretary Faishal Ibrahim were also present at Saturday’s event.