New PCN crossings to make cycling, walking safer

At Park Connectors Networks (PCN), the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and National Parks Board (NPB) have begun building road crossings that prioritise cyclists and pedestrians over motorists, reported The Straits Times. 

Along a stretch of the Sims Avenue Park Connector beside Kembangan MRT station, for instance, five of these raised road crossings have been built in the past two months.

"The raised platform will require motorists to slow down as they approach the crossing, while allowing cyclists and pedestrians to cross the road without the need to step down from the pavements," said the LTA and NPB in a joint statement. But the new paths are not zebra crossings, which cede complete right of way to pedestrians.

They have also been built along the PCN in Tampines and Alexandra, and will likely feature in the 20km cycling network to be built in Ang Mo Kio by 2018. The PCN spans 300km of cycling and jogging paths, spread out over five loops islandwide.

These 'continuous sidewalks' - so-called because they do not require cyclists to get off a kerb to cross a road - are marked with bold yellow markings and have rumble strips leading up to them.