With a growing network of cycle lanes linking its green spaces, the ‘garden city’ is a cyclist’s paradise, says Tamara Hinson
Formula One drivers lose around three kilograms in weight during the hot, humid Singapore Grand Prix. And given last night’s feast at my favourite hawker centre, I’m hoping for similar figures as I pedal along the finishing straight of the Singapore F1 circuit.
This final leg, with its backdrop of the Marina Bay Sands – and indeed the rest of the F1 route – are just some of the Singapore streets where access on two wheels is as easy as, well, riding a bike.
In a destination famous for its innovative approach to cycling routes – in particular, how they connect Singapore’s green spaces – this easy access isn’t a surprise. One great example is the 15-mile Rail Corridor.
The smooth tarmac ribbon follows what used to be a railway
The route, which can easily be broken down into smaller chunks, runs from Tanjong Pagar, in Singapore’s south, to Kranji, in the north, where restoration work on a short final stretch is close to completion.
The smooth tarmac ribbon follows what used to be a railway that transported goods to Malaysia, and is lined with restored heritage sites such as the Bukit Timah station, which dates back to the early 1900s and will soon have a café in the Station Master’s Quarters.
At times, it feels as though I’m cycling through a rainforest. The route skirts numerous nature reserves, including Bukit Timah, which boasts more tree species than North America, and at one point, I come close to cycling over a monitor lizard as it scrambles across the path.
Coastal routes
Another gem is Singapore’s Park Connector Network (PCN), a 186-mile tangle of cycling routes. One of the newest sections is the Changi Bay PC, which connects to the East Coastal PC.
I start my pedal-powered exploration of the route near Gardens by the Bay, riding along a path that weaves through linear coastal parks filled with monkeys and otters.
I’m pretty weary by the time I reach the section that loops around Changi airport (where a fifth terminal will be built by 2025). But spurred on by the change in scenery, I follow the section that traces Singapore’s northern side and soon the forested coastline of Malaysia’s Johor state floats into view.
Pedal along the cycle paths that hug the island’s shoreline
The extent of the PCN makes it a fantastic way to explore Singapore, whether you’re hopping from Gardens by the Bay to Merlion Park, where the mythical merlion previously stood in the shadow of The Fullerton Hotel, or tackling longer stretches, such as the one connecting downtown to leafy neighbourhoods like Queenstown, with its history-filled Queenstown Heritage Trail.
And then there’s Sentosa Island, famed for its theme parks and historical sites (Fort Siloso became Singapore’s 74th national monument in 2022). My advice? Base yourself at the Capella Singapore, which recently joined forces with the Brompton bike company, and pedal along the cycle paths that hug the island’s shoreline.
You’ll find the hotel near Sentosa’s southern coastline, which is lusher than the theme park-filled centre, and the hotels here have direct access to bike routes. It’s hardly surprising that Raffles chose this area for its new property, Raffles Sentosa Resort, Singapore’s first all-villa hotel.
Rules of the road
Cycling is easy in Singapore too. There are fewer cars (it’s the world’s most expensive place to own one) and motorised vehicles give bikes a wide berth, while double-decker buses sound a polite double-toot of the horn when approaching cyclists.
On Singapore’s smooth, wide and well-maintained bike paths, the speed limit is generally fixed at 10km per hour – a limit worth heeding, unless you want to fall foul of the speed gun-wielding officers who keep cyclists in check.
A growing number of hotels have their own fleets of bicycles
Saddling up is also easy. Bike hire kiosks line PCN routes, and there are two fantastic bike share schemes: Anywheel, the preferred option for tourists, and SG Bike, which requires a local sim card, but will soon be accessible to all.
A growing number of hotels have their own fleets of bicycles too, including downtown’s Ibis Singapore on Bencoolen, which offers bikes made from bamboo, and is a short bike ride from the Maxwell Food Centre, one of Singapore’s top hawker centres.
Which leads me to another reason to saddle up in Singapore – the ability to offset any over-indulgences by simply cycling to your favourite restaurant. At least, that’s what I’m telling myself.
Bike friendly hotels
Capella Singapore
As well as its collaboration with Brompton to offer guests bicycles, this sprawling property has beautiful pool villas. It’s also well located for visiting Palawan Beach and Universal Studios. From £545 per room pernight.
capellahotels.com
Ibis Singapore on Bencoolen
This more central option is just a bamboo bike ride away from Orchard Road, where clients will find plenty of retail and dining options. From £80 per room per night.
all.accor.com
Book it
Abercrombie & Kent offers three nights’ B&B at Capella Singapore from £2,999 based on two people sharing a Premier Seaview King Bed Room. Includes flights and private transfers.
abercrombiekent.co.uk
PICTURES: Singapore Tourism Board; Tamara Hinson; Shutterstock/nattanan726
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