Let us get one fact straight right from the beginning. Singapore is a country designed for cars first. When the city planners mapped out the roads and traffic flow bicycles were simply not part of the equation. The traffic system here is heavily optimized and you will rarely see massive gridlock compared to cities of a similar size. The government taxes vehicles heavily so the people who pay for cars expect smooth sailing.
Because of this ruthless efficiency you will not find dedicated bicycle lanes on the main thoroughfares. Adding them would slow down the vehicles and that is simply not going to happen anytime soon. While the pandemic sparked a boom in leisure riding along the coast true city riding requires you to share the space with pedestrians and cars.
While you might not have a protected lane you do have one massive geographic advantage. The roads are wonderfully flat. This is probably the flattest urban environment you will ever ride in. You do not need to exert massive amounts of force to get moving. This flat terrain is the secret ingredient that makes riding practical because it keeps your physical exertion incredibly manageable on a daily basis.
The weather is the biggest barrier for most people. The climate is tropical and you are basically sitting right on the equator. It is fiercely hot most of the year and when the sun is not blazing you are probably dealing with flash rainstorms. Neither of these conditions sounds particularly appealing for a morning ride in business attire.
If you plan on taking up this habit you have to accept that you will sweat. Everyone has a different tolerance level but a general rule of thumb is to keep your time on the bicycle under 20 minutes. Once you cross that 20 minute threshold the sweat becomes entirely unavoidable no matter how slowly you pedal.
When it comes to avoiding heat cycling Singapore demands a complete change of clothes. Do not attempt to ride in your formal office wear. Wear light breathable activewear for the journey. Many office buildings in the financial district offer excellent shower facilities and you should absolutely take advantage of them. You can ride in take a quick shower and change into your work clothes feeling completely fresh.
Pro Tip: When exploring cycling to work Singapore weather requires strict respect. Do not push your physical limits on the first day. Ride at a leisurely pace to utilize the flat terrain and always pack cold water. The goal is to arrive energized rather than exhausted.
You have two primary routes for getting your hands on a bicycle. You can buy one to keep at home or you can rely on the various sharing applications available across the city neighborhoods.
If you want to own your ride the process is very simple. You can check out platforms like Shopee or Carousell where you can frequently find imported Dutch style bicycles for about $150 SGD. These budget options get decent reviews but you are buying second hand stock. A more reliable route is visiting Decathlon. Their flagship store in Orchard sells excellent city models. The Elops Holland bicycle is a fantastic choice for the city and it will cost you $320 SGD. You can add a front basket which is absolutely mandatory for carrying your bag and a secure lock for an additional $30 SGD.
If you do not want the commitment of ownership sharing applications are highly accessible. SG Bike was the first major player and they were eventually followed by Hello Ride and Anywheel. You unlock the bicycle with an application ride it around the Central Business District and then drop it off at a designated parking zone by scanning a specific QR code.
| Acquisition Method | Estimated Cost | Ideal Rider Profile |
|---|---|---|
| Purchasing New (Decathlon) | $320 SGD plus accessories | Daily commuters who want a comfortable proper sized Dutch frame. |
| Purchasing Used (Carousell) | $150 SGD | Budget conscious riders willing to do basic maintenance. |
| Sharing Apps (Anywheel Hello Ride) | $1 SGD per 30 minutes | Occasional riders taking very short trips. |
One major caveat with the shared models is their physical size. They look and feel like children bicycles. If you are taller than 178cm you are going to feel incredibly cramped. For someone who is 183cm the seat simply does not extend high enough to allow for a proper leg extension making the journey quite uncomfortable over long distances.
For anyone new to the city the best advice is to start strictly on the sidewalks. Most pedestrian paths are wide enough to accommodate both walkers and riders. People walking in the city are incredibly polite. A gentle ring of your bell will usually prompt pedestrians to step aside. Just remember to be friendly and avoid aggressively ringing the bell at people.
Eventually you will encounter extremely narrow sidewalks like those around Chinatown or Tanjong Pagar Road. You will quickly get stuck behind people with absolutely no room to pass. This is when you need to transition to the street.
When you transition to the main road you must look for the two yellow lines painted along the edge bordering the sidewalk. These lines are not official lanes but they are exactly where you need to position yourself. Vehicles will pass you and give you space though they might get a little closer than you are used to back home. I have never experienced a driver honking at me as long as I stay strictly on these yellow lines. Do not act like you own the lane. Just blend in stay on the edge and let the cars flow past you naturally.
There are a few unwritten rules and strict guidelines you must follow to stay safe. Traffic moves rapidly and cars will not slow down to accommodate erratic behavior. To stay safe out there keep these rules in mind every single time you leave the house.
You might assume that your digital map application will handle everything for you perfectly. Do not rely on Google Maps bicycle directions. Since there are no dedicated lanes the algorithm struggles to provide the safest path through the city center. The most effective strategy is to select the walking directions instead. This will usually keep you away from the most dangerous intersections and guide you toward calmer paths.
While a beautiful park connector network commute is a wonderful way to spend a weekend riding along the East Coast these leisure trails will not help you get to an office building in the downtown core. You need to map out a specific path that utilizes the safest streets. Always test your planned route on a quiet Sunday before attempting it during a chaotic weekday morning.
Taking the leap into city riding requires a small adjustment period. You have to respect the vehicles understand your physical limits in the humidity and learn the layout of the sidewalks. But once you get comfortable with the realities of the roads you will unlock a level of freedom that the subway simply cannot offer. If you live in the Central Business District and keep your journeys under four kilometers you will beat the public transit times effortlessly. Riding from Tanjong Pagar to River Valley takes a breezy 15 minutes along the water. Grab a sharing application scan a bicycle this weekend and try riding a short distance near your neighborhood. You might just find your absolute favorite way to travel the city.
