Longer covered walkways, cycling paths to be built

As part of the Government’s plans to encourage Singaporeans to go “car-lite”, the length of covered walkways here will be quadrapled, and dedicated cycling paths will be built in more towns in the next five years.

This will be designed into new housing estates while existing estates will be retrofitted. Ang Mo Kio and Tampines will pilot a “fully integrated and seamless walking and cycling network”, while Kampong Bugis will pilot new design concepts for private developments that facilitates seamless walking and cycling. Bidadari, the site of a successful HDB flat launch last year, will have a walking greenway and cycling paths connecting to its two MRT stations.

“Our aspiration is for walking, cycling and riding public transport to become the way of life for Singaporeans,” said Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan in his ministry’s addendum to the President’s Address released yesterday.

The Government will also do more to make streets safer, by continuing to roll out more “silver zones” and “school zones” which allow the elderly and the vulnerable to move about safely.

“Our aspiration is also motivated by the desire for safer streets,” said Mr Khaw. “We can go a long way towards a future of zero road fatalities by designing streets for the more vulnerable users — children, the elderly and other pedestrians — rather than cars.” AMANDA LEE