As cycling catches on in Singapore, the authorities are moving to increase the number of parking spaces for bicycles. And it seems building upwards is the way to go.
The Housing and Development board (HDB), for instance, has plans to pilot a double deck bicycle parking system at the HDB’s first eco-friendly public housing development Treelodge@Punggol.
“One focus area is on the provision of adequate bicycle parking facilities,” said a HDB spokesperson. The HDB wants to encourage cycling as a means of green commute, as part of its overall efforts in promoting a green and healthy lifestyle in HDB estates.
The HDB said it will evaluate the pilot scheme for technical feasibility, cost effectiveness, maintainability and users’ receptiveness, before considering implementing the system at other locations.
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) is also “reviewing the need to install more bicycle racks at other MRT stations”. It is exploring both single- or double-tier rack options.
The LTA announced last year it would provide additional bicycle parking racks at 10 existing MRT stations, such as Aljunied and Yishun, where there is a high demand for such facilities.
Currently, two-tier bicycle racks are in use at two out of 77 SMRT train stations, Pasir Ris and Lakeside. The rack allows a cyclist to park his bicycle on top of another bike, by pulling down the upper rack and placing the bicycle on it, before pushing the rack to its original position again.
“They help organise bicycle parking while increasing storage capacity, given the limited space available around the stations,” said an SMRT spokesperson.
SMRT’s rack supplier Francis Lee, from OKH Holding said his company has installed similar racks at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital and is now working with the LTA to install racks at other train stations.
Mr Lee declined to elaborate on the cost of such a system as it was “on a project basis”.
Commenting on the safety of the rack, Mr Lee said it works on a hydraulic system, which means even when the top rack is fully extended and has a bike on it, the rack will not fall unless it is pushed down.
Mr Kartik Chavan, 31, who has been using the system at Pasir Ris for a few months, said it is “very useful and handy as we can place more bikes on it”.
However, he noted that “sometimes the top rack can’t be pulled down fully and needs a bit of oiling”. In such situations, he lifts his bicycle onto the rack.
Retiree Donald Ong, 65, said he likes the system as it gives him more parking options. “When it is stuck and I can’t pull it down, I just look for another space as there are many available now with this double-decker system,” he said.
