Singapore Walking and Cycling Plan requires developers to design in active travel

Singapore has passed a proposal to require city planners to build in active travel provision – including bike parking, showers and lockers – into each new development.

Following media scrutiny of a new S$1.33 Bn Sports Hub development, which opened without any bicycle racking, the irony brought to light the city’s poor provision for cyclists and walkers.

Active from this month, the new Walking and Cycling Plan requires buildings to have safe and convenient access for cyclists and pedestrians from the very outset and not as an afterthought.

Paired with the National Cycling Plan, which has ambitious plans to add 700km infrastructure increase by 2030, the city has begun to give deep consideration to changing transport habits. There’s even suggestions that cycle paths will be lined with features to keep cyclists shaded in the notoriously hot and humid climate.

Singapore is making a concerted effort to go “car-Lite” following a 2014 announcement by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong as part of the Sustainable Singapore Blueprint.

This plan, backed by S$1.5 Bn over 15-years, will help the country reduce its reliance on cars and move toward active travel. At present cycling sits just below 2% of trips, though is growing.

When it comes to rail links, the new Thomson-East Coast MRT Line, set for a 2019 opening, will host between 100 and 300 parking spaces for bicycles at each station, a rise on the 40 to 100 at older stations.

Furthermore, authorities are studying how to build seamless infrastructure connections between six substantial residential areas and the central business district. It is hoped each will benefit from a route easily ridden in 30 minutes. These routes will be open to electric bikes and mobility scooters.

A new North to South artery will launch in 2021, spanning 21.5km and will be unique in Singapore.

This article has now joined our series on cities around the globe making strides in successfully encouraging and investing in active travel.

You can read more about Singapore’s plans over on Star2.