The bicycle that rocked Singapore

On December 7, 1941 the Japanese landed on the North Eastern coast of Kota Bahru, Malaysia. Within two months, Peninsular Malaysia fell. On February 8, 1942, they crossed the causeway and seven days later, Singapore surrendered.

Bicycles played a critical role in the Japanese advance down the Malayan Peninsula. Japanese Army planners adopted the bicycle as their main mode of transport. Most Japanese soldiers were issued bicycles. Strapped to the bicycle would be the soldier's personal equipment and food rations.

On bicycles, the Japanese troops moved rapidly down the main roads of the Malay Peninsula and outflanked the Allied Forces defending the main roads by riding through rubber estate roads and tracks to surprise them from the rear. On their bicycles the Japanese were also able to move faster than the withdrawing Allied Forces. (http://www.s1942.org.sg/s1942/bukit_chandu/directory_bicycles.htm)

Mr Rajoo recalls bicycles being widely used as mode of transport during the Japanese reign. So much so that even after the Japanese surrender, Rajoo and the other villagers working in the Sembawang Shipyard used bicycles as means of transport to travel to work. (Title of essay : Reminiscences of the Japanese Occupation ). Today, the humble bicycle is still the preferred mode of transport for shipyard workers at Sembawang.

70 years on, it is again the humble bicycle that comes back to haunt us! Never has so much being achieved (in terms of publicity) by 26 bicycles. The story was first picked up by Zaobao. Then after, cyberspace and netizens brought this matter to a standstill and all bicycles are now cold-storaged.   

Shortly following the Zaobao news, a friend who works in China went ballistic, sent me a brilliant CSI investigative piece by a SG netizen posted on forums.hardwarezone.com.sg.  It has since been removed.

TNP reporter tries to track down NParks brompton bike whistleblower

Hardwarezone Forum, 18 Jul 2012
This is abit irritating. The story is not about me, that why i tell them to focus on the actual story instead. EXTRA CSI Attempt -nParks Brompton procurement process ended up with a dodgy winning bidder? [Extra]
Also, i were got so stupid... give them everything now, then next time how i going to continue do any future undercover CSI works to expose other sagas and keep check on the authorities?

It purported argued there could be wrong doing in the bicycles being awarded to a specific supplier. He/she painstakingly piece together relationships of officer-in-charge of project to various parties associated with supplier. It was an intriguing detective work, piece together from Facebook threads.

While I understand that the rules of engagement in this tender were followed, details surfaced cause much unhappiness to Singaporeans. For example, why was tender opened only for 4 work days? Why award when there was only 1 bidder with 2 options? Why did agency not extend the deadline to encourage more bids? And yes, why are civil servants spending $2,200 for a bicycle? Minister Khaw wrote on his blog to assert that while equipment is appropriate for the type of work, he expressed displeasure that the procurement process could have been better executed. After all, value for money is always an important consideration when it comes to spending tax payers’ money.

Meanwhile, it was a field day with netizens running on two tracks. One questioning the Government’s procurement process, the other questioning why such an expensive bicycle?

Overnight, it appeared most Singaporeans seem to have an opinion on this matter. For days, the radio, TV, Internet and all newspapers went into over drive. One vendor even took advantage as Singaporeans learn a new word: “foldable bicycle”.

There was a conspicuous advertisement on a Saturday for a military specification full foldable bicycle, listed at $2099, going for $630. I checked the website and the specs were impressive. I alerted my cycling buddies. One was game and we visited what looked like a “hole in the wall” unit in an industrial estate, 2 hours passed opening time. It was frenzy feed on site; many lugged away big boxes on cash-and-carry. I was surprised to find my elder brother there too, eyeing this good buy. I examined the assembled bike like a hawk and listened in on a conversation between a silver fox and his companion. While parts appeared original, I was not comfortable with the quality and finishing. I backed off. My friend, a lady rider, decided to buy. So it was with my brother.

That same afternoon, my brother, after assembling the bike, called to inform me he is returning the bike immediately and prayed for a full refund. The invoice looked dubious. The more he assembled, the more disillusioned he became. Parts don’t fit well, quality was suspect. I alerted my friend whose poor husband, in the process of assembling, felt likewise. She called the vendor. No one picked up her call!

She marched down to location the following day with her husband and after some hassle, vendor reluctantly refunded her fully. So it is that what is cheap is not necessarily good or genuine and what is good is not necessarily cheap.

Khaw took an extra step, walked the talk by taking a field trip to satisfy himself that such an equipment is indeed necessary. He again concluded that the foldable bicycle is the right choice. Meanwhile internal scrutiny uncovered “some form of bias” and the officer-in-charge is suspended from duty. Khaw blogged for the 2^nd time and as we all know it, the case is now in the hands of CPIB.

Only time will tell if there was any wrong doing on the part of the officer. Some one’s livelihood and future is put on hold. We must be fair to the officer to assume he is innocent unless proven otherwise.

Shortly after this incident, DPM in Parliament, raise the bigger picture of government procurement in the light of audit lapses in multiple agencies. While he proclaimed the present system as sound, he suggested fine-tuning as well. So now we have another few agencies belly-aching over Auditor-General Office audit results on procurement of Herman Miller chairs. Soon, we may run the risk of the civil service not buying anything for months!  

As a cyclist in the past 6 years on a foldie and knowing most actors in this unfortunate episode, I feel sorry for NParks. I interact with their officers across a spectrum of “green related matters”, park connectors included. Most have fire-in-their-belly in their professional domain. They are courteous, no air, working like beavers in the background to transform and upkeep our limited green space.

The supervisor, under suspension, is someone passionate about cycling as an alternative mode of transport, walks the talk by cycling to/from work. To have to inspect 200km of park connectors and more distance in the pipeline, including remote nooks and corners, a foldable bicycle is a good choice augmented by public transport of MRT and buses. This is a much greener option compared to the past and cheaper in the long run.

So now onto why spend $2,200 for a foldable bicycle? Here’s my take. Price range for foldable bicycles vary a lot, much like full bikes. You can buy one low-end for $200 and a top-end model can set you back $8,000. There is even a Youtube video that teaches you how to assemble a US$20,000 road bicycle. Ultimately, specifications and requirements drive the price. From what I know of the specifications cum requirements for NParks project, paying $2,200 is not unreasonable.

I do not agree to thumb down others with a “poorer thy neighbour” mindset.  That is, since I do not own a $2,000 bike, how dare you spend $2,000 of tax payers’ money? There is no one answer that will satisfy everybody. Hopefully, in going back to fundamentals, we stand a better chance of a more satisfactory answer.

Buying a reliable bicycle is not simply picking off-the-shelf, cash-and-carry. It is also about service and other related considerations. For example, warranty period, availability and price of spare parts, servicing cost, weight, portability and track record. I requested my bike shop for some pointers (I moderated these), and I hope the following will serve you well.

I do not know what’s going to happen to those quarantined foldable bicycles. If these are up for auction eventually, I hope for a good buy. It shall be my first British bicycle and you should know that brand. 

Declaration: I possess two pre-owned foldable bicycles. One (Dahon Hammerhead S$2,200) for park connectors, minor roads and pavements (when necessary to stay alive!). I am retro-fitting the second (Dahon Jetstream S$1600) to handle dirt track and rough terrain. The 26 km of contiguous distance of the Rail Corridor, after rail tracks are removed, is calling me!  

Six steps you want to consider before committing to a foldable bike:

STEP 1: DECIDE HOW YOU RIDE

The first step in choosing your folding bicycle is to decide what type of riding you’ll be doing. How often and where you plan to ride. Look at various brands and model that fit your purpose:  recreational, commuting, urban riding, trekking, weekend centuries, touring … Is having a good ride more important or the ability to push your folded bikes? Is that suspension worth that extra money if  your ride is just at PCNs and pavements? 

 STEP 2: CHOOSE YOUR WHEEL SIZE

Today folding bikes come with different wheel diameters: 14″, 16″, 20″, 22″,  24″, 26″.  Wheel size will affect the ride characteristics and portability of your bike.

Another very important question you want to ask will be availability of inner tubes and tire replacement. Sure that 17 inch or 18 inch or 24 inch wheel size may look cool BUT if you cannot get hold of spares or replacements, you are going to pay lot more in down time and costs to get spares. 

Also confirm that the rims used have the correct ETRTO numbers that fit available tire. Wrong fittings can mean your tire may come off while you are attempting a sharp cornering. Any wheel too small (Smaller than 14 inch) goes against sound bicycle geometry and this can mean the bike is unstable or tends to topple over. You do not want to be carried off on a stretcher after a ride.

STEP 3: CHOOSE YOUR COMPONENTS & FRAME DESIGN

Aluminum,  Cromoly steel or Hi Tensile steel.

No rust  -> Rust when metal is exposed -> will rust

Carrying 11kg is equivalent to 2 bags of rice. Anything above that weight category is not great for commuting especially if it involves going up/down overhead bridges and intermodal transport.

If humidity is high and bicycle is going to be knocked about - opt for Aluminum to overcome the issue of rust. A simple multi-speed Derailier system with folding joints that come with manufacturer track record and guarantee makes sense. 

Folding joints must be easy to fold and unfold, made of durable design for repetitive locking and unlocking

An important factor that affects the price considerably: consider what level of performance you’ll need from your components. The better the components, the better your bike will ride. And better components also mean improved durability and lighter weight but will cost more.

STEP 4: CHECK OUT THE EXPERIENCE AND TRACK RECORD OF YOUR BIKE DEALER AND THE BIKE MODEL 

Operating a bicycle needs ongoing maintenance, servicing and support! Derailiers need servicing from time to time, hubs and bottom brackets need greasing and damage components will require experienced mechanics, proper tools and chemicals to ensure that your bicycle is safe and serviceable to ride. Many bikeshops open and close within 2 years due to unrenewed lease  or being unsustainable. Are they opened on days and have operating hours that allows you to get spares, timely support and also stock good range of accessories? You are not just buying a bike, you are buying a service too! 

STEP 5: WARRANTY SUPPORT

Recalls can occur with bicycles (same as cars). Does the brand have a reputation of being responsible? What is the number of years the brand offers? Is the bike shop you are buying the bike from has been around for a period? What is the scope of coverage?  Buy with peace of mind

STEP 6: RESEARCH, VISIT SHOPS

Do your homework and check out neutral websites and reviews rather than forums hosted by shops or manufacturers as they will tend to be biased for their own brand. There is no need to hurry, a reputable shop should have a good range of bicycles for you to test-ride.   

So Ride Safe – Buy Safe!

Medicine needs healing

Staying alive is expensive with modern medicine. Post Japan Disaster Charity ride in April11, my friend Francis called to tell me he is treating the major sponsors to dinner. He already donated 50 grand. What more do I deserve? When asked why, he said: "so that it may make future charity events a little easier on you". So 12 of us were treated to a sumptuous dinner of Thai food. 

Post charity ride, I was lethargic. A mild, lingering fever and a little soreness on my right ear bothered me for a few days.

With the impending long week end of Labour Day, I took no chances, paid a visit to my company's doctor. There was no fever and he concluded I may have a slight ear infection. So I was put on erythromycin, a standard antibiotic, and paracetamol for suspected ear infection. This is medicine 101 type prescription.

Despite medication, I felt lousy, slept a lot with a lingering roller-coaster fever. Come 2May11, the wife cooked a sumptuous abalone wanton mee for my son's 21^st. We celebrated together with his twin sister in UK, via Skype. By 4pm, I threw up everything; prescribed antibiotic acted up.  

The following day, I consulted a doc friend. He did base line checks, drew blood, to rule out dengue or any parasitic disease. Nothing showed and that was good. Two days on, I still felt at sea and again visited the company doc, a different person. Another type of antibiotic was prescribed. While my fever was kept at bay, I was still not my usual self. My doc friend subsequently fast tracked me to an ENT specialist in private practice.

 

Latter took a close examination, said it's an inner ear viral infection (nothing changed) and immediately put me on acyclovir, a powerful antiviral drug. In the next 2 weeks, I felt my ear eaten up by creepy-crawly insects; crusted skin, flaking and then finally drying up. My hearing was impaired and my balance compromised.

My dizziness persisted. At each visit, the specialist would nudge me, ever so gently, to consider undergoing an MRI on the ear to rule out any remote chance of a tumour. I finally yielded. An MRI experience is most daunting. I rather draw blood a 100 times. Visualise your head strapped still, push into a washing machine (without water), no movement allowed, and clicking sounds torment you all over in this claustrophobic capsule. A few millions gray cells must have died.

The results, according to my radiologist, look normal except for a one liner observation. When I asked the ENT specialist on that remark, he promptly suggested consulting a neurologist. Though not my money, I said no. 

While recuperating at home, vertigo kicked in, the world went into a tail spin just a day before my driving holiday up to Penang. It was so bad I eventually checked into hospital; slept through 2 days on drip. The specialist suggested staying another day which I turn down flatly; not over my dead body. A foreign talent nurse inflicted some much unnecessary pain when changing drips (that's another story).

I waddled out of hospital with vestibular (the inner ear organ responsible for balance and spatial perception) imbalance from nerve damage. My lingering fever was gone, so was the pain in my right ear but spatial disorientation took over. I would knock off objects. My judgement of depth and distance was poor. I tried driving and it was hopeless. Eye, brain, movement coordination suffered a lag and judging speed was difficult. So, I hang up my number plate, took the MRT and bus to and from work for one month. It was all good before Christmas arrived early for SMRT with 2 massive break downs.

To put myself at ease over MRI observation, my public service network recommended a neurologist. I eventually consulted the head of neurology in a large public hospital. I showed him my written summary and MRI result. He asked a couple of questions, viewed some images, examined my ear and then pronounced: “you just recovered from shingles” (you must google in case it hits you!). It’s unfortunate some nerves in the ear were damaged, causing hearing impairment and imbalance. Lucky you, he said. If shingles hit your eye socket, going blind is conceivable. So I guess I am better off hearing less, seeing more!

He went on to comment that the negative one liner is not even something he would document or discussed, given my age.  The profile of my brain is no cause for alarm.  He stopped short of criticizing the MRI procedure as unnecessary. To him, it is game's over, nerve damaged and hearing belongs to another discipline. So, he referred me to the ENT specialist, a few doors away.

From hearing test, it was confirmed by the ENT specialist that there was a slight damage. There is nothing more to add, good luck. So I ask the doc if acupuncture is useful. He was non committal. What about my imbalance I ask the doc? Oh, it will go away through time. Damn it, it's far from going away, I mumbled to myself. Is there anything I can do to take away the dizziness (this term vestibular was not even in my vocabulary then)? Instead, he gave an open appointment to see him anytime I feel something is amiss.

With each passing day, I felt a little better. I force myself back to cycling, crashed into pedestrian barrier once but persisted. On the suggestion of Cecilia who works for KTPH, I visited the geriatric rehabilitation centre, ahead of schedule!  It was good education to learn that imbalance is a common problem with the not so young.

In rehabilitation, the promise is: no practice, no gain. I was taught a regime of exercises, if you like, to retrain the eye-brain and skeletal coordination. My physiotherapist was horrified to learn I cycle despite my condition. As it turns out, she is an avid cyclist. So she added gently: “cycle with care and please do more!”. Apparently, cycling (because one needs to balance) is excellent exercise for imbalance. If you can tolerate roller-coaster rides, better still.

According to my therapist, old people are more prone to be inflicted with vertigo or other forms of vestibular imbalance. Most adopt a sedentary lifestyle, lapse into depression, never to recover.

Here is a pool of medical knowledge with no medication, no cuts, no removal, nothing glamorous; only sheer discipline to practice, practice and then practice to recover. Rehabilitation centre is managed by physiotherapists, not doctors. There is barely any skin in this game; a 45 min therapy cost under $40.  

So as is often the case with the elderly, especially hypochondriac, it is “lokun bo yao, bay ho”! (roughly translated from Hokkien ‘doctor, without medicine, how to recover?’).

Are you then surprised to learn that private sector healthcare cost 2 to 2.5 times of public healthcare cost for similar procedures including up-selling? As medicine gets more sub-specialised, every square inch of our body is potentially attended to by a different specialist. Combined that with a more enlighten and litigious society, it’s gun powder in kegs in the years to come.

To maintain healthcare cost, medicine has to get back to basics, take a holistic view by having well-rounded GPs as family physicians. I was unfortunate to have 2 different GPs diagnose my condition. If it had been the same GP doctor, I stood a better chance of an accurate diagnosis.

When it came to the ENT specialist, my condition was already full-blown shingles and reflecting back, the MRI procedure, I guess, is part of the circus of modern medicine. An experienced family GP would have detected my early stage shingles, prescribed acyclovir and spared me the agony of a long and debilitating post recovery. Now my kids are screaming: "dad, why is the TV so loud!"

Think about this:

“With every additional medical procedure or test ordered, there lies a fresh possibility of error” so said the associate chief of neurosurgery at Grady Memorial Hospital Sanjay Gupta.

In search of happiness in the land of the thunder dragon

I made a promise to my daughter that we would go trekking in India or somewhere remote since she was 15 years. She was charmed with India after having served twice in her school’s CIP programme.

Now that she completed university, it is opportune time. Then, Tiger mum (aka The Wife) appeared and asked: “Don’t you folks want to learn how to live happy?” So our 7 day trek in Nepal was torpedoed. We compromised, settled for several treks in search of happiness in the land of the thunder dragon.

As many of you may know, Bhutan takes pride in this Gross Happiness Index formula to measure happiness of its people. According to this index, they are supposedly the happiest people on earth.

Here in Singapore, every other person seems to be testy, ever ready with an opinion on just about anything. The latest include whether to cull or caress our wild boars. I remembered years ago, Priscilla, a tamed sow boar, resides at Chew Jawa, Pulau Ubin. She simply enjoys being tickled on its belly! But these are WILD. NParks have gone that extra mile to explain the rationale to cull. We need to act before someone gets seriously hurt.

Bhutan physical size is 350 km by 150km. It’s 70% forest with 8% arable land. The terrain is hilly and mountainous with some peaks over 7,500 metres. The population is 700,000 and literacy is under 60%. Hydropower contributes about 60% revenue (sold to India), 25% tourism and a mixed bag of small inconsequential sectors. Life expectancy is below 66 years. In tourism, their emphasis is low volume, high value. The local currency is in Bhutanese Ngultrum and is interchangeable at par with the Indian Rupee. English is widely spoken and our guide Dorji speaks perfect English; thanks to many overseas teachers from India and Canada during his schooling years.

There is no direct flight to Bhutan from Singapore (akan datang, September 2012). As such, we overnighted in Bangkok, crawled out of bed at 3:00am, chauffeured to the airport and arrived 3 hrs ahead of flight time. Talk about kiasuism on the part of the agent.

There is only 1 international airport located at Paro and Bhutan’s capital, Thimphu, is 50 km away. The only operating airline is Druk Air, state owned with a few A319 Airbus, powered by A320 engines. In the words of my guide, Druk Air pilots are well trained to sneak in and out without radar assist; all things visual.

Our flight was delayed 2 hours because of massive clouds. We circled twice before landing. We took pictures of the plane, runway and, of course, with the lovely poster of the 5^th King and Queen. Her Highness is stunningly pretty with mesmerizing eyes, 10 years his junior. My spirit was momentarily uplifted, good start to have a pretty Queen and an educated, happy King. (they were wedded last Oct11).

Immigration was a breeze. We took over an hour of meandering about to get to Thimphu followed by some sightseeing. By the time I turned in bed past 10pm; I was totally concussed for the day. Just before blissful sleep set in, Tiger mum shook me vigorously and said: “honey, the lights went off”. Can you blah, blah, blah... Whilst my spirit was willing, my flesh was dead and I mumbled that she should just go sleep.

Apparently, she had not showered and the ensuing ruckus must have awakened all the dogs in the neighbourhood. Mercifully, the lights came back 40 minutes later. Otherwise, I would have been eaten in comatose state. Thank God, the day ended on a happy note.    

On the second day, I notice vehicular traffic was sparse. Apparently, private vehicles are taken “off road” every Tuesday leaving all to depend on public transport of buses and taxis. Taxis also have to take a day off once a week based on even or odd number plate.

Smoking is not allowed anywhere except in private homes. There is no “over the counter” tobacco sales and the natural substitute is “doma”; beetle nut chewed with a piece of leaf and mixture of gooey lime. Bhutanese loves to chew this all day long. Not so long ago, we too chewed “doma”, especially with the elderly. Marijuana (considered wild weed) is everywhere. I collected some, crushed it, but there is no aroma of any sort. I was told by Dorji it has to be roasted for efficacy.

Without tobacco, we would have 16% of more unhappy 18-29 years in Singapore. Without private vehicles for a day, we would be screaming murder! So, why are they happier than us when more affairs are regulated?

Theirs is probably a state of “resilient poor”. Most of them have roofs over their heads, plant vegetables for sustenance living. Some better off own fowls and animals. But life is very hard. Getting to school may require walking 1.5 hrs from one ridge to another and then another 1.5 hrs to get home. Planting rice is back breaking and climate dependent; at best, two crops a year. Produce, commodities are barely enough for domestic consumption.   

In urban Singapore, our very poor are likely “unhappy poor”. All our edible items are imported. Without money as exchange tokens, one simply cannot bring food to the table. We don’t have the land to rear chickens or tend to cows. At best, we grow some vegetables along the corridor or balcony. While therapeutic, the yield is never enough to feed the family (I experimented). So our poor generally have to depend on state hand outs and from well-wishers.  Over time, our very poor may be conditioned as “handout happy”, trapped in a vicious cycle.

From Thimphu, we travelled to Punakha, our second stop. On the way, we visited Chimi Lhakhang – The Temple of Fertility, dedicated to Lama Drukpa Kuenley, the Divine Madman. Getting there was quite an adventure as we criss-crossed over paddy fields. Couples who visit the temple are blessed by a replication of the iron bow and arrows of Drukpa Kuenley, his scriptures and the phallus, which is the symbolic representation of fertility. It’s rather an unusual place with phallic symbols all over. Wife and I were tickled pink, happy to redirect all good intended blessings to our daughter.

Besides the temple of fertility, we visited the Queen’s Village at Talo. It’s was a winding, uphill climb of over an hour. The village is essentially a monastery of sort for boys entering monkhood. There must have been more than a hundred of them of various ages; each holding a piece of paper (a few lines of script) and scribbling repeatedly in a huge garden in the sun. Some of them were blowing their “long horns”, similar to those in Switzerland.  Some gawked as we obviously looked alien. I cannot say they looked happy or otherwise. Most looked beyond their age, exposed to the harsh elements. What would become of them as they grow up? What would they do for a living? There are no easy answers.

We walked down the village, came across a farmer no more than 5 feet, hunched, carrying a huge basket on his back and holding an old fashion ‘changkol’ in one hand. We bowed, and my guide exchanged a few words. As he proceeded downhill, my guide turned to us and asked if we mind giving the old man a lift down to Punakha. Of course not, we said.

In our exchange in the van, we learn the farmer’s home is next to the Queen’s village. He grows some vegetables and fruits. He owns another small plot of land near valley of Punakha for growing rice. He was on his way to the market in Punakha to sell his basket of peaches. For him, it would have been a 3 hr walk downhill. On the van, it took 45 mins.

Upon arrival at our hotel, we bought some peaches from him. He was insistent in not charging us. We flatly refused and paid him fully. After pushing to and fro, he reluctantly accepted our payment. Recently, I read Michael Lewis Princeton University's 2012 Baccalaureate Remarks and the issue of “luck” popped up. Extract reads:
"But you must sense its arbitrary aspect: you are the lucky few. Lucky in your parents, lucky in your country, lucky that a place like Princeton exists that can take in lucky people, introduce them to other lucky people, and increase their chances of becoming even luckier.”

It begs the question? Are we the lucky people in Singapore or are they the lucky ShangriLa, the size of Switzerland?

On the penultimate day, we made our way to Tiger’s Nest (a prominent Himalayan Buddhist sacred site and temple complex, located in the cliff side of the upper Paro valley, Bhutan. A temple complex was first built in 1692, around the Taktsang Senge Samdup cave where Guru Padmasambhava is said to have meditated for three months in the 8th century. Padmasambhava is credited with introducing Buddhism to Bhutan), a must visit place.

A return journey to the peak at 3,120 m takes 5 hrs. It sure makes Pengkang Hill, SAFTI a walk in the park. Tiger mum, smiling ear to ear, outsourced a horse to take her to the top (one way only). We minions, including Dorji, soldiered on stoically on foot. She was initially terrified with the horse but soon got into rhythm as the animal trotted uphill. Half way through, another party with a few horses overtook us. One disgruntled horse, overtook us, kicked Tiger mum in the shin as if telling her to get off the horse. We could only snigger as we were so out of breath!

I left Bhutan 1.5 kilo lighter after all the hard trekking, feeling satisfied to tick off another item in my bucket list. When the wife consolidated all travel bills, I felt only half happy. And she is less happy too, having to nurse a bruise.       

Side note

I replayed backwards to reflect on my formative years. Poor as I was, somehow I remembered more “happy than unhappy days” and asked why? I suspect my surroundings played a major part in keeping me upbeat. I had nature’s 3Ss on my side…the sun, sea and sand. Then again, maybe mum’s reminder that in the school of hard knocks, the harder you work, the luckier you get. Supposedly good luck makes for a happier person.

My fantastic guide Dorji is likely to visit SG in Sep/Oct. He is superb and understands good service after having worked in high-end Aman for over 10 years. I intend to get him to give a presentation.

Many roads lead to Rome

I grew up cycling to school. Before long, my school was relocated to a neighbouring island because Shell built a refinery next door. With the change, getting to school took awhile. I first had to cycle to a jetty, lock my bike, take a sampan (a small rowing wooden boat) across a 150m water-gap, walked a long bridge and then another 15 minutes to get to school. Muscle-assist commute edged for life!  

It was documented in 1854 that (Alfred Wallace notes) back then, the population can expect at least 1 fatality from tiger attacks every day. The last tiger was shot along Old Choa Chu Kang Road on 26 Oct, 1930. Fast forward to modern Singapore and we have over 1 million vehicles on our roads. Now the situation is such: mǎ lù rú hǔ kǒu (roughly translated, roads are like tiger's mouth).

It’s not the roads but the 1 million “tigers” on the prowl that is scary. A handful gets pissed, and then drives like a maniac endangering other road users. Then there are those who obliviously steam-rolled over cyclists on roads (at least 4 in the past 12 months).

Still, motor vehicles are indispensable. In land scarce Singapore, buses, MRT and taxis form a large part of public commute.

But when it comes to private vehicles, the situation becomes emotionally complex. Every citizen in an effluent society would invariably aspire to own their own wheels, cost notwithstanding. Our present mechanisms (COE, ERP) to control car population (another COE tweak on 30May12), while working, have to step up to keep abreast of changing circumstances. One possible game changer is based on the principle of "use more, pay more"; consumption based. This concept is not new and I am hopeful various supporting technologies will form an equitable solution soon. Political will to implement is another story. 

While we cannot curtail insatiable appetite to own cars, we can make it expensive to USE a private vehicle, calibrated to time of travel. Last Saturday, I almost had a seizure paying $9 for parking over an hour at Four Seasons Hotel. For the rest of the day, I hitched 2 free rides, took the MRT and it was all good. I still maintain our MRT cabins are usually freezing cold.

With sky high COEs, it creates potential resentment as the scheme (unintentionally) “sided” the rich as they can afford, whatever the price. Concurrently, it hits SMEs negatively to those who may have to acquire new commercial vehicles as part of conducting business. It is a dilemma and goes to show public policy has to keep in tandem with changing circumstances. 

Last week end, I was with a senior civil servant. He knows I am pro-bicycle. He nudged me to be openly "anti-car". He argued that only then will bicycles gain currency. I asserted that cars will be here to stay and we cannot wish for them to disappear anytime soon. While traffic management is complex, I believe that continuous improvements in existing schemes coupled with better defined pricing mechanisms, we can curtail the USE of cars especially during peak hours.

I argued that we should not wait for cars to be taken off roads before we act on other options. Instead, we should start immediately, recognise and embrace an eco-system comprising of multiple pathways including the present (MRT, buses, taxis, private vehicles and motorcycles) AND encouraging other options (be it bicycles, e-bikes, walking).

Meanwhile, continuing efforts to tighten the noose around private cars (be it higher car park charges, COE, ERP and fewer car parks in town) will go some way to help reshape travel behaviour.

Where possible, a can of paint here and there to allocate bicycle lanes should be implemented. Doing so, we generate awareness, heighten alertness and signal motorists that cyclists do have equal right to use the roads. For now, not a single drop of paint is use for this purpose; only tainted red blood from mangled cyclists every few months.  

Whether we like it or not, many of our transient and foreign workers are already cycling to work (eg shipyard workers at Sembawang, Changi, Tuas), expats down to business district and some of my civil service friends do cycle to work despite today’s limitations. We are blessed to have 200 km of park connectors, our pavements are wide (increasingly redesigned to accommodate both pedestrians and cyclists in various towns) and our lesser-vehicle roads are safe.

We should encourage, promote and support cycling as one of multiple pathways to commute to work. Increasingly, cycling is gaining traction in most forward looking cities. We must not stand still; suffer from analysis paralysis (as Thatcher would put it), twiddle our thumbs and wait for a “perfect solution” of  mere MRTs and buses. We should start now, let it evolve and through time, what is availably good can only get better. Sometimes, we are too hush on ourselves, searching and researching for one "silver bullet"!

Furthermore, we have many more good things lined up in the years to come as we add on the Rail Corridor and the Round-Island-Route. These will further extend and enhance our cycling networks making most places accessible by wheels.
 

Last September, I discovered this hybrid mode on transport using foldable bicycles in London; another pathway. It addresses both the first mile (getting to the train station) and the last mile (from disembarkation point to final destination). I was pleasantly surprised that one is allowed to bring on board a foldable bicycle onto the London underground at any time of day.

The big-do is that it takes up no real estate. Cyclists rides to train station, folds the bike, hops onboard, alight and rides to destination point, folds the bike and tugs it under a table. Voila!

Our local practice purely addresses the first mile (ride to the train station), park your bicycle (takes up real estate, bloody messy and is a graveyard of unclaimed bikes) and risk theft. Then after, it assumes you walk to your final destination after you alight. If your final destination is afar, you need a second bike (pray it's not stolen!) and then another part of parking lot at your work place. In short, it doesn’t work.

Understandably, our priority now is to get our train system running reliably once again. Furthermore, a common gripe amongst commuters is that our trains are already too packed. So to completely copy the London model will be a difficult sell.

Instead, we should be bold enough to create our own version; fine-tune boarding time. The morning MRT peak hours are from 7:30am to 9:00am. I would argue (from past field observations) to allow foldables on board MRT from start of day operation until 7:30am. Then after, we impose a "black out" period which disallows boarding from 7:30am to 9:00am. After 9:00am, we can again allow foldables on board. 


Surely the Brits are not stupid or are we unimaginative? Presently, one is allowed to carry foldables on board MRT after 9:30am. It's another way of saying we do allow, but you still cannot make it to work on time!  For now,  there are no restrictions of foldables on board MRT on weekends. It's good. 

A more recent option is that of an eco-friendly e-bike or a pedal-assist bike. This is gaining popularity in many places. It's another mode of transport which we should keep an open mind and evaluate. Locally, these are quite prevalent especially within intra-town. Surely, some do behave like a*sho@%s. The following article talks about e-bikes and its promise. That’s another long story…

Battery-Swapping for Electric Bikes & Scooters http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=battery-swapping-for-electric-bikes-2012-05

In conclusion, while we figure out ways to manage car population, we should expeditiously explore other avenues to make for a greener journey and a less congested city where only cars seemingly have right of way. 

FTR: I am both a motorist and a recreational cyclist. I ride the MRT frequently and take the bus once a while. Oh yes, I walk too.  

Other Information

Los Angeles Lives by Car, but Learns to Embrace Bikes By ADAM NAGOURNEY

“The popularity of cycling is totally surging,” said Jennifer Klausner, the executive director of the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition. “What I see is more and more people than ever before on bicycles, at all hours of the day and night. It’s taken a while for the city to catch up.”

Joel Epstein, a mass transit advocate, said traffic here had led him to use his bicycle more often. “L.A. is a very complicated kind of place,” Mr. Epstein said. “A lot of people are going to commute by car forever. But I think bikes are a piece of the puzzle, just like mass transit is and just like walking is.”

In Austin, A Street Festival Offers A Vision of Modern City Planning By David Wogan

“Modern city design calls for less emphasis on the car, and more on walking, cycling, use of green spaces, and safety. The car-centric model isn’t cutting it any more. But modernizing the urban core takes a lot of time, money, and political will – an annular eclipse of public policy”. 

Why there is an urgent need for local cyclists to have a voice?

Cyclists unfortunately do not have a voice on our roads. Read on. On 26 May 2012, a lorry driver steam-rolled and killed a cyclist along Changi Coast Road. A medical doctor was recently sentenced to 4 weeks jail and banned from driving for 5 years for running into 2 cyclists (1 died). He scoots off only to return to try retrieve his number plate.

Last December, a 41 year-old sales director was knocked down in a hit-and-run situation along Changi Coast Road. He survived with a fractured spine and two cracks in his pelvis. It is going to be a long recovery.

On May 19, 2011, Ms Kirsten Koh was cycling home with her best friend and house mate Orla along Mandai Road when a collision with a lorry, changed her life forever.

Ms Koh fractured both ankles and femurs. Her pelvis was shattered. Her left shoulder, fibula and shin bones were broken. The doctors told her parents to prepare for the worst. She went on to have 19 operations totaling more than 80 hours, needed 5 litres of blood transfusions and 60 stitches. She was bed-ridden for 2 1/2 months. Recently, she completed walking 42km at the Sundown marathon.

http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_788992.html

Three stories, same tale

Recently, I watched Iron Lady and this brought me back to 1979, the year I graduated. After going through multiple loops of IQ tests, interviews I was offered a job with ICL (Intl Computers Ltd), UK. My thoughts back then was to work in London for a few years. I remembered the offer came by telegram. I was all excited, shipped my things to London and was ready to head home for a break before returning to work. Within 2 weeks of my offer, ICL withdrew, thanks to Margaret Thatcher. I must add ICL was gracious to compensate me 1 month salary. Welcome to citizens first!

Margaret Thatcher came into power at about the most turbulent time post WWII, having to fight militant unions, unemployment and the IRA. As a student, I remembered bizarre strikes such as bakery, rail, postmen, policemen, firemen, buses, coal miners. She fought tooth and nail in many quarters and subsequently brought on a much stronger UK. During her watch, she was almost killed by a bomb plot on the last night at the Conservative Party conference in Brighton. She fought a principled, but expensive, war with the Argentineans over Falkland, thousands of miles away from home.

At home in late Apr12, a well respected don, Dr Tan Khee Giap suggested giving Singaporeans "first bite of the cherry" in jobs. The resounding message from the Government right now is Singaporeans come first.

Let me relate 3 stories I heard in the past 16 months. Story 1 was related to me by an ICT Singaporean honcho early last year. This person lamented that for a huge ICT project in SG, the person taking notes (minutes of meetings) is a foreigner. So I asked, "don't you have a say?" Unfortunately not, my HQ is in the West. I subsequently gathered their project director went through several iterations of Westerner, ABC, then Westerner and last I heard a local. I am not sure if the foreign scriber is still there.

Story 2 smacks colonialism. This person I chatted with worked for a smallish European company specialising in ERP domain. He is the only Singaporean director amongst a dozen European directors. He is the company's "poster boy", propped upwards whenever there is a large Government project.

According to him, his fellow European directors simply do not have a clue on how business is conducted here; have no local network or ground information. Furthermore, all were on expat terms. How they continue to remain business viable is questionable. His own boss apparently instructed not to be "disturbed" whenever he goes on leave. On the other hand, this local chap is required to be "voice contactable" on his vacation days. Last I heard, he held his own, moved on to a more level playing field; good for him.

Story 3 involves a large French company. Within weeks of hiring this local person at management level, his foreign boss forwarded some CVs of fresh graduates from France with a "highly recommended" rating. So what would you do if you were in his shoes? To keep his job, he had no choice but to do the “politically right thing”, hire a few foreign talents.

A recent story is one of a German ICT management staff, seconded to Singapore, trying to help bring across a secretary support person. I don’t know if his barber is coming too!

Based on these anecdotal cases, I am not entirely surprise such practice takes place in the ICT segment. Unlike professionals such as doctors, lawyers or finance with unique skills, ICT has hardly any entry barrier. Anyone with some resemblance of ICT related training can land on our shores, stay to work, subject to basic scrutiny.

Fast forward 33 years and history repeats itself in the UK. It is in technical recession, exchange rate at the lowest for decades and Europe is groping in the dark, reluctant to take the austerity route. Meanwhile, my kid, followed my footsteps, is bent on seeking for a job in London upon graduation this year. It's humbling when you send out hundreds of emails and a handful replied. However, the rigour of going through tests, case studies, interviews is still invaluable.

I continue to cheer her on knowing "what don't kill you makes for a better man, woman included". Presently, it may be easier to strike lottery than landing a job in the UK. Understandably, locals come first again!

We are a migrant society, highly tolerant and conditioned to accept and embrace change. All things equal, we need to take care and grow our own timber as well. We owe no apologies.

FTR: I am "colour agnostic", having 8 nationalities in my work team, including Singaporeans.

Humourousl​y serious

Two weeks ago, I was invited by NParks to attend the re-opening of Bishan park. I was keen to attend because it was closed for 2 years for a major transformation from concrete canals to a beautifully re-created river, ponds and many other interesting amenities.
 

Spanning 37 hectares on one side, you can head down to the river, stroll along the water's edge and enjoy the vast biodiversity; fishes, turtles, dragonflies, waterhen and a handful of majestic purple herons. Across busy Marymount Road, you are spoiled for another 27 hectares of green amenities. There are two huge thematic playgrounds, science at work cleansing water and above all, one of my many favourite cycling haunts across the two parks kept intact.

It would be great to have 2 underpasses for seamless access from one side to the other without having to dismount and cross at traffic-junctions.

The night before, I was all excited; prep my bicycle to go green the following day. Come morning, I cycled to Dakota station, took my foldie onboard the train, alighted at Bishan station and pedalled my way to the opening ceremony site. It was crowded and security was tight. PM was the GOH. I was pleasantly surprised to have Poo Kiong, NParks as my host. PM spoke amidst a noisy background and I had to strain my ears trying to figure out what he said. We are still a long way from being courteous to just shut up and listen whenever someone is making a speech.

After the opening ceremony, PK led me to follow PM’s entourage as we made our way to the water edge.  Recycle Hill, the highest point, looks awesome from a distance. Soon, we back tracked, pass the dog run area and adjourned for a break in a cozy, outdoor restaurant. With all the trees and lush, it was temperature cool. 

I settled for water and before long, the CEO of NParks walked me forward to meet PM. There were just 3 of us. Poon introduced me as an avid cyclist. PM stooped, with his hands extended, gripping both handlebars of an imaginary road bike. I explained I am not the Saturday, 'man in lycra’ road cyclist but rather a Sunday recreational cyclist. My group cycles on NParks park connectors, side roads and an occasional pavement when squeezed (to stay alive!). He immediately put one finger to his lips and went....shush, then laughed. Staying alive is paramount, I protested. Vehicular roads in Singapore are not safe and most motorists, especially taxi-drivers, do not think we belong.

I lauded NParks for doing a good job connecting the island through the concept of park connectors. Today, there is already 150km of PCN. Soon, it will be more exciting with the Round-Island-Route of 150km and another 26km along the Rail Corridor (the old railway tracks). By then, a visitor can enjoy a 3 day cycle inclusive of 2 nights along this route.

Somehow, the conversation drifted to my peeve of 5 years. PM, I said: "the most scenic tourist route today along the Singapore river on a bicycle can set you back by $10,000". Why so, he asked? We have to go through 5 underpasses from Alexandra Road to the Esplanade. At each underpass, there is a sign that reads "NO RIDING Fine $1,000 Please push your bicycle across the underpass". “Is it because it is too narrow”, he asked? I replied saying it is big enough to take a moving MRT train on each side, save for the underpass at Anderson Bridge. Cyclists, both young and old, loafed to dismount and push unless safety is compromised.  

I cited the busiest corridor fronting the Marina Bay as "bicycle friendly" (sign reads: ‘cyclists please slow down and give way to pedestrians’), thanks to Benson Phuah, CEO Esplanade. 

He pause momentarily, then asked: "how much are you prepared to pay to go through these underpasses". A dollar, I said. Better still, free for senior citizens; I am getting there. We roared. Bicycle ERP soon?

I lamented that while our infrastructure, events (eg F1, Flyer, IRs, PCNs) are wonderful and crowd drawing, some of our messages are old fashion and out of step. He nodded, and then said: "maybe you should write to the forum page, Straits Times; reception could be better there!”. We laughed. Poon smiled; bùshì wǒ de wèntí (not his portfolio).  Those senior civil servants within earshot steamed!

PM was ‘belly’ good in his element. With so much laughter, I felt totally oxygenated, cycled home then after.