24-hours bus-bicycle lanes are necessary for optimal road infrastructure use and a more livable Singapore.
Issues:
1) Sedentary lifestyle results in diabetes because lack of exercise results in reduced metabolism, caloric excess state and thus glucose overload state aka diabetes. Diabetes is associated with blindness, kidney dialysis, amputations, stroke, heart disease which will attract stratospheric medical and nursing care cost upwards of S$66billion p.a. by 2030. http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/elderly-health-costs-to-rise-tenfold-by-2030-report
2) There will be increased need for 2 wheel transport to deliver e-commerce goods, food delivery (UBER eats, deliveroo etc) and increased dockless rental bikes use 24hours/day: failure to facilitate night time deliveries by bicycle will only lead to more daytime road congestion/ higher delivery costs if costlier motorised delivery options are used. Currently, roads in day are congested and UNSAFE at night despite very low vehicle traffic due to a few inconsiderate motorist who love high speed racing (even overtaking on the left), and drunk drivers veering from left to right across all lanes: placing cyclists lives in grave danger despite a very much empty road.
3) Increased aged population, terrorism threat, lithium battery gadget use means more need for Home Team (ambulance, fire, police) vehicle use. 24hrs public transport lanes aka bus-bicycle lanes would allow such uniformed public servants rapid and efficient deployment to the site of action.
4) More space to park dockless rental bicycles, electric kick scooters and multiple electric wheelchair users and increased population will make footpaths over congested so some transfer of cyclist and electric bicycles to the road 24hrs a day is a sensible policy option.
pict source: http://lovecycling.net/projects/busbike-lane/
Solutions :
All privately owned buses, cars, commercial vehicles etc will not be allowed to use the 24hours bus-bicycle lanes except with special permission (e.g. YOG/ SEA games duties etc) and all public buses, Home Team/ vehicles granted bus-bicycle lane use shall be equipped with tamper-proof continuous video recording cameras whenever in operation so that all traffic accidents and complaints of dangerous / inconsiderate driving can be properly investigated by the traffic police and where necessary, penalties served.
Bicycles may cycle 2 abreast only at night and during off peak bus operational hours. During the day/ at peak bus lane operating hours, cyclist must only travel in single file except when overtaking.
Bus lanes should also be wide enough for buses to easily and safely overtake cyclist cycling in single file. Over time, buses and cyclist will be able to coordinate any zig zaging where necessary: across each other's path as buses need to keep left to enter bus lanes and overtake on the right hand side, however this challenge can be safely overcome with public bus driving tests incorporating BOTH a cycling and bus driving component such that whilst a particular driver is being tested, the rest of the bus driver wannabe candidates will be on bicycle to simulate the proper bus-bicycle overtaking procedures. Buses also need not rush to meet strict arrival schedules since anyone impatient with traffic can always hire a dockless rental bicycle and whiz through the crowd; only timely bus departure from the terminus should be monitored. Users of 2 wheelers on public roads should all wear helmets.
A number of traffic police and LTA staff would cycle to work/ patrol the streets on bicycle with video recording (24 hrs patrolling etc) and issue summons to errant cyclist who cycle abreast during bus lane peak hours, bus captains with reckless driving behaviors and any other unauthorized vehicles which travel on bus lanes at ANY time of the day since bus-bicycle lanes would be operational 24hours.
Hopefully, with bus-bicycle lanes fully implemented, road traffic will be better spaced out across the 24hour period, the war against global warming and diabetes would be more than just lip service and Singapore will be a healthier, safer, greener and livelier place for all to live and work in.
PS: Bus and bicycle sharing lanes are nothing new and exists in many other countries too:
http://www.bikexprt.com/bikepol/facil/lanes/bikebus.htm
Not for love of money, but of Humanity. "Greater is he who works for the good of all, then he who works for the good of himself only" ~ Matthew 25:40: "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'"- (NIV). I live in Singapore where the Emperor must not be disturbed.
Tuesday, November 28, 2017
24-hours bus-bicycle lanes are necessary for optimal road infrastructure use and a more livable Singapore.
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