FOOD FOR THOUGHT: CAR FREE SUNDAY AIN'T NO BICYCLE EVENT
CAR FREE ZONES ARE COMMUNITY INITIATIVES THAT STREET RIDERS AND MOUNTAIN BIKERS SHOULD MAKE FULL USE OF
Bikezilla had an inaugural experience with our first Car Free Sunday involvement recently. We had thought that Car Free Sundays are lazy Sunday retreats that are not meant to be moments for a good workout, nor programs that we could get some adrenaline pumped. We would continue to have this perception have we not joined the folks from 1OAK Event Services, The Cycling Chap, Coast Cycles and Attitude Bike (amongst other familiar labels). We completed our 3-hour community outreach with a big grin. Here's why.
THE ROAD IS FOR EVERYONE
Let's get a few point straightened out first. Car free zones are not reserved only for cyclists – which means those on foot (walk, jog or run), on (Personal Mobility Devices) PMDs and other commuter equipment (Inline skates, scooters and others) have a share of the car-free roads and zones. At the same time, it is also a place for activities like fairs, drone flying and every other things that we could think of. As long as it is wholesome fun for the community, it would have a chance to utilize the space which would usually be occupied by cars.
Next, we would also like to mention that some cyclists are "more adventurous and aggressive" than others due to the cycling discipline they adopted. Did we hear someone in the crowd shouted: "Mountain bikes and street bikes are best left for trails, bike & skate parks or secluded street corners where you guys are tucked out of the way from prying eyes doing all your dangerous stuff!"
If you share this impression, stop right now!
With mall races taking the limelight every now and then, street riding and other more adrenaline-inducing riding disciplines seemed to be accommodated, even welcomed at more places. Something the street riding and obstacle-hungry niche groups welcome with opened arms.
(A biker's view of Car free Sunday Street Challenge – Video edited by GoPro Ambassador Seth Tan)
ANOTHER GREAT START
With blessings from Land Transport Authority and JTC Corporation, 1OAK Event Services and The Cycling Chap rallied a few biking industry friends and got their street challenge community outreach program to a great start at One-North on 29 April 2018. Naturally, it attracted the regular faces we see at the trails and skate parks, and it also sparked the interest of families who came to experience the Car Free Sunday!
It's really a big morale boost for us to see good response to the effort put in to promote cycling – especially street riding and mountain biking. From a certain perspective, it is also another opportunity to reach out to the general public that goes beyond our usual target audience boundaries.
Here's to a great avenue to promoting our sports via the Car Free Sunday platform. Show your support for this platform guys and let's hope for more opportunities to ride and race!
MEMORIES
Click here for photos of the Car Free Sunday on 29 April 2018.
See you at our next event!
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Photos by Bikezilla
Video by Seth Tan
For more of Seth Tan's work, follow his Instagram account: sethlovesbikes
