A smoother ride into campus, on two wheels

By Sophia Tan

PHOTO: SOPHIA TAN

Forget buses. NTU students can expect a smoother ride to the University in the future, as plans to transform the sprawling Jurong West area into a cycling town are in the pipeline.

As part of the bi-monthly Discovering Singapore Ride (DSR) event that aims to promote cycling, Parliamentary Secretary for Education and Social and Family Development Dr Faishal Ibrahim led a group of 40 participants from the Ministry of Transport, Land Transport Authority (LTA) and other cycling enthusiasts on a cycling trip around the Jurong area and across NTU on 24 Sep.

Transport Minister Mr Khaw Boon Wan, who has been to 17 previous DSR events, did not attend the event due to an injury.

The group started from Boon Lay MRT and made pit stops at the old NTU Gate and Chinese Heritage Centre.

“NTU was chosen as part of the route to show students that in taking up a cycling lifestyle, there are paths for students to cycle into the campus,” said LTA Active Mobility Unit Deputy Manager Kevin Seet.

Currently, students can cycle to the University via two routes — embarking at street level from Pioneer MRT station or by an overhead bridge crossing the Pan-Island Expressway (PIE) at Jurong West Street 91.

Alongside developments of the new Tengah town, students can expect more dedicated cycling paths and connectors around the University.

The DSR is also part of the National Cycling Plan, a scheme to build 700 kilometres of cycling paths by 2030, creating an island-wide cycling network.

Said Dr Faishal: “Tampines, Yishun and Sembawang are already existing cycling towns but we will not stop there. Ultimately, the aim is to have seamless connection of all different towns to form a cycling network through infrastructure.”