Brompton Bicycle Interview: What makes a great cycling city?

"As a very keen cyclist, what I think makes a great cycling city is not what makes a great cycling city at all," says Joel Natale, Head of Product Management at Brompton Bicycle.

Catch him on a bike in New York or San Francisco, and you'll probably see him weaving happily through heavy traffic. He says, "For me, it's about freedom – so I don't like cycle lanes."

We got Joel on a video call with us to talk about what makes a city great for cycling. We've landed on this topic in the wake of a cycling boom that has gripped Singapore (and the world). With pandemic restrictions shutting down gyms and indoor venues for much of 2020 and 2021, plus persistent fears of catching the virus while in close quarters, people have flocked to the outdoors, driving the revival of outdoor sports like hiking, cycling and skateboarding.

RECOMMENDED: The best cycling trails in Singapore

Don't ask us why cycling, in particular, has picked up, but Google it and you'll see articles about bicycles selling out in Singapore, and prices of popular brands skyrocketing during the pandemic. Joel points to a macro trend that's been building in the background well before Covid-19 hit. "There was a direction of travel in the world where people were caring more about their physical and mental health and getting onto bikes. The pandemic just accelerated it."

And inevitably, the rise in ridership has brought about a rise in road accidents too. According to reports, bike accidents in Singapore jumped 25 percent from 2019 to 2020. And perhaps you've felt it yourself – that annoyance at having to dodge bikes or deliverymen on wheels while walking on the pavement As more people hop onto two wheels, it's perhaps unavoidable that more friction arises in cities that were simply not built for cycling in the first place.

Which brings us back to the original question: what makes a city great for cycling? 

It's all about space (and safety)

A great cycling city is built for bikes. 

"The great thing was to see some of the megacities invest very heavily in infrastructure," says Joel. "And that's what has helped to keep the momentum going."

He mentions cities like Amsterdam, which have famously integrated cycling into its DNA through a complex network of bike lanes and other bike-friendly amenities.

Singapore's on its way there. If the Land Transport Authority (LTA) realises it ambitions, you'll be cruising on 800 kilometres of cycling network by 2023, double what it is today. And if you've noticed, bike locking stations and bike-sharing services have been mushrooming at parks, void decks, and MRT stations too.

Joel says it's as much as safety and peace of mind as it is about mobility and connectivity. Having cars, bikers and pedestrians sharing the same roads and lanes just doesn't inspire anyone to feel sufficiently safe from other users. "Lots of infrastructure investment is just about: how do I manage the junction better? How do I make it so cyclists will be safer?"

There are other environmental factors to consider – and if necessary, mitigate. In somewhere like the United Kingdom, it's the rain. In Singapore, it's the relentless heat.

"In the UK, one of the big things to unlock cycling was getting businesses to refit their offices with showers so people who would want one after cycling to work could do so. When you've got the heat [in Singapore], it goes a step further," says Joel.

It's also about the people

Governments and businesses clearly have a role to play in supporting a sustainable cycling culture. But throughout our conversation, Joel emphasises the importance of having the right attitude among all road users.

Copenhagen comes up as a positive example of a city with mature and responsible cyclists, drivers and road users. "If you ever get the chance to go to Copenhagen, it's incredible," says Joel. "Cycling is completely integrated into the city, people follow the rules, and it's very safe." 

As Joel describes it, the cycling base in Copenhagen has "maturity" – translating to a kind of patience and consideration for all road users. "You need that kind of maturity to cope with having everyone on the road and not think, you know, that the bike in front of you with a child in it is an obstacle that you have to get past." 

How do we cultivate this maturity? Is it education? Is it simply time? 

"I think definitely, over a generation," says Joel. "When people are used to being a child on a bike, then a teenager on a bike, an adult on a bike, and then a parent on a bike. The difference today is you jump straight from the gym to the bike – and you bring the same attitude of working really hard at the gym to the road – but it's totally different." 

But perhaps, we shouldn't have to wait a generation to cultivate some caution and graciousness on Singapore's roads.