Planning and design of cycling infrastructure in Singapore

Witteveen+Bos and Singapore-based design and engineering consultancy Surbana Jurong are planning and designing the cycling network in the city’s Ang Mo Kio district for Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA). The project aims to create a cycling network that will enable the district’s 175,000 residents to cycle safely and comfortably, setting an example for all of Singapore.

Asian megacities have been designed for motorised traffic. Due to increased prosperity and intensive use of available space, road congestion is rapidly approaching critical levels. For that reason, Singapore has been actively pursuing a policy to discourage car ownership and to promote alternative modes of transport. To achieve that aim, the government is communicating a vision and campaign to turn Singapore into a ‘car-lite’ city. This vision involves promoting public transport, cycling and walking. The LTA selected the densely populated Ang Mo Kio district as a model town for this strategy.

In the pre-design phase, Witteveen+Bos draws on its Dutch cycling infrastructure expertise as well as experience gained in Singapore. In the final design phase, local engineers will contribute to taking the designs a step further under Witteveen+Bos’ supervision. A unique feature of our approach is the spatial analysis that enables us to decide how to design cycle routes and crossings in the existing densely built-up environment. The envisioned increase in cycle usage will also be factored in, even at this early stage, by identifying upgrade options.‘We are immensely proud that Witteveen+Bos was selected as a specialist in cycling infrastructure, and to have been given the opportunity to contribute to the development of Singapore’s walking and cycling infrastructure,’ says Martijn Akkerman, cycling infrastructure, planning and design expert at Witteveen+Bos.