NParks newsletter Jan-Mar 09
Six bicycle rental kiosks or 'PCN Pitstops' have been set up in four parks along the 42km Eastern Coastal Park Connector Network (PCN), allowing park visitors to rent bicycles from any pitstop and return them at the other five without having to backtrack. This new service will give park visitors the flexibility and convenience to return their bicycles in another park, any time of the day.
The service is provided by Lifestyle Recreation, a company offering rental of roller-blades and bicycles as well as food & beverage facilities. The six PCN Pitstops are located in the following areas:
* East Coast Park Area C
* East Coast Park Area G
* Changi Beach Park Area Car Park 1
* Sun Plaza Park
* Changi Beach Park Car Park 7 (Operational in March 2009)
* Telok Kurau Park (Operational in March 2009)
Depending on the popularity of this service, two more PCN Pitstops may be set up at Bedok Town Park and Pasir Ris Town Park.
Bicycle rental rates range from $5 per hour for an adult bicycle to $10 for a double bicycle, which is comparable to rates offered by other rental kiosks. To provide an all-day service, Lifestyle Recreation is looking into implementing an online booking service where park visitors can unlock their rented bicycles from a pitstop using a pre-issued number. The same lock can be used to secure the bicycle back to any pitstop, thus allowing park visitors to return their bicycles at any time of the day, even after operational hours of 9.00am to 9.00pm.
Completed in 2007, the Eastern Coastal PCN is the longest of seven loops of park connectors which have been planned by NParks. It connects several parks in eastern Singapore, allowing park visitors to walk, jog, cycle or roller-blade through idyllic coastal areas and popular parks, such as East Coast Park, Changi Beach Park, Sun Plaza Park and Bedok Reservoir Park. It is also one of the most scenic PCN, with long stretches that are conducive for uninterrupted cycling.
By Ng Hui Bing
