Pedalling the park connectors NORTH: A stretch of about 10km of the northern park connector network runs below or along the overhead MRT track, allowing riders to go from Marsiling or Woodlands estates to Khatib. The route passes shopping centres such as Causeway Point, Sun Plaza and Northpoint, as well as Yishun Industrial Park. Cycling between Woodlands and Khatib in Yishun takes about 30 minutes, twice as long as the MRT ride. A stretch of the Marsiling network that runs along Housing Board flats is lined with palm trees and gives cyclists an unobstructed view of the Woodlands Checkpoint. At the Woodlands Waterfront Promenade, cyclists can gaze across the Strait of Johor to Johor Baru. From the Canberra park connector, there is a 3km branch that peels away towards Sembawang Park where Beaulieu House stands. WEST: The western loop of the park connector network links Jurong, Clementi, Bukit Batok, Choa Chu Kang and Bukit Panjang. It also serves private estates like Hillview. Residents can ride from Bukit Batok to Bukit Panjang, passing Little Guilin park, Lot One mall in Choa Chu Kang and Junction 10 mall. Some sections in Bukit Batok and Bukit Panjang must be shared with pedestrians and cyclists may have to dismount and push their bikes. The western loop takes cyclists to various leisure spots including the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Chinese Gardens, West Coast Park and near the Jurong Bird Park. There is one overhead bridge to be crossed at Jurong Town Hall Road before reaching the Chinese Gardens. There are plans to extend this network. A path will be built from Dairy Farm Road to Rifle Range Road, continuing along the Pan-Island Expressway past Bukit Golf Course and link to the proposed MacRitchie Park Connector along Lornie Road. NORTH-EAST: Students living in Punggol, Sengkang or Buangkok and studying at the ITE College Central in Ang Mo Kio can use the north-eastern Park Connector Network loop, and ride to school. Joining the network via the Punggol Waterway or Sengkang Riverside Park, they can ride through Lorong Buangkok towards Ang Mo Kio Avenue 5. It takes about 30 minutes to cover about 7.5km. Riders can also use the network to reach the Yio Chu Kang MRT station or Ang Mo Kio town. The north-eastern loop takes cyclists past Punggol Park, Singapores last remaining kampung at Lorong Buangkok, the picturesque 4.2km stretch of the Punggol Waterway, and the expansive Lorong Halus Wetland. They can also take in views of Pulau Ubin and the Strait of Johor from the Punggol Promenade. CENTRAL: The central section of the park connector network has both the oldest and newest sections. The section between Bishan Park and Braddell Road is 21 years old, and the Pelton section is so new that it has not yet been marked on the official online map onemap.sg Using the 7.6km Kallang Park Connector, those who live in Ang Mo Kio and Bishan can cycle to the Kallang Riverside Park (30 mins), Whampoa Market (30 mins) or Upper Paya Lebar Road (45 mins). But they face at least six overhead bridges and a confusing stretch at Moonstone Lane where the park connector goes onto the road. From Kallang Riverside Park, cyclists can head on to Marina Bay, Gardens by the Bay and the Esplanade. They can also go towards picturesque Tanjong Rhu Promenade and the Geylang park connector, although their paths will be blocked by construction work on the Singapore Sports Hub. This section holds the most promise as a commuting option since it connects Ang Mo Kio and Bishan to Marina Bay. But the overhead bridges without ramps, steps to some stretches of the network and poorly maintained sections are obstacles. EAST: The eastern loop of the park connector network connects Bedok, Tampines and Pasir Ris and private estates in Kembangan, Telok Kurau and Frankel Avenue. Those living in these estates can cycle to the Loyang Industrial Park, a journey of between 10 minutes and an hour, depending on where they start from. It is effortless to push their bicycles on the gentle ramps of the overhead bridge across the Pan-Island Expressway between Bedok North and Simei Avenue. But they will have to pedal harder up a gentle but 500m slope at Pasir Ris Drive 3 and Loyang Avenue. Beyond Loyang, the park connector runs to laid-back Changi Village, Changi Beach Park, Changi Coast Road and finally the East Coast Park, from which it loops back to Bedok, Marine Parade and Telok Kurau, completing a 40km circle. SOUTH: The 8.5km Ulu Pandan park connector takes Ghim Moh and Dover Road residents to major industrial clusters in Jurong and West Coast. It connects to the 4.3km Jurong park connector as far as the Jurong Bird Park and the 3.1km West Coast park connector. Those heading towards West Coast will ride over a one-of-a-kind overhead bridge with bicycle and pedestrian lanes across the Ayer Rajah Expressway, possibly reaching their destinations in less than half-an-hour. Lying some 2.5km east of the Ulu Pandan park connector is the Alexandra park connector and Alexandra Canal Linear Park. Both sections run in a 3.1km straight line across Tanglin Road, Delta Road, ending near the Zion Riverside Food Centre which is famous for its char kway teow. The Alexandra Canal Linear Park, which was set up in April, has a butterfly garden about the size of a five-room HDB flat. Source: The Straits Times –27 October 2013
Posted on: Mon, 28 Oct 2013 04:34:17 +0000
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