Joanna James
While it may be a modern metropolis, Singapore is also a garden city that's as lush as it is cosmopolitan. Offering bikers an oasis of routes to explore in the heart of the city, here are some of the Lion City's best cycling trails for tourists.
Occupying pride of place just off the shores of Punggol which is located in the north-eastern fringes of Singapore, Coney Island is a biker's dream come true. The coastal routes on the island not only allow cyclists to enjoy a memorable ride but also offer them the chance to discover some of the island's finest beaches. Bird watchers should also take their binoculars along for the ride as Coney Island is home to more than 80 species of birds. Bike rentals are available on the island via Jomando Adventure & Recreations and GoCycling.
It should come as no surprise that Singapore's largest nature park is also a setting where bikers can let loose in the wilderness. The venue not only has a mountain biking trail that's divided according to various degrees of complexity but is also home to its very own Chestnut Bike Park. This is an area where bikers can work on their skills and learn to cycle in different types of terrain. The Chestnut Pump Track is also part of the Chestnut Nature Park and this enclave also helps cyclists hone their skills in a controlled atmosphere ideal for beginners.
Kicking off from Choa Chu Kang Park, the Western Adventure Loop lets cyclists uncover the many greenways and parklands scattered across Singapore. Some of the main highlights along this route include the Dairy Farm Nature Park which is decidedly more rugged than the more urban cycling landscapes in Singapore while stopovers at Jurong Lake Gardens where one finds the Japanese Garden and Chinese Garden is also inevitable during a ride around this particular loop.
Cutting through the fashionable housing schemes of Ang Mo Kio and Toa Payoh, this route is nearly 36km long and covers the Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park as well as the scenic Kallang River.
As its name suggests, this is a mountain biker's dream destination during a trip to Singapore. One must first travel to Pulau Ubin via the Changi Ferry Terminal to get a chance to bike around the Ketam Mountain Bike Park. Hosting international-level mountain biking events and contests throughout the year, the 10km trails occupying the parkland are ideal for bikers with varying skills.
Those based at Park Hotel Alexandra or any other hotels near Mapletree Business City Singapore should also check out the Bedok Reservoir Park and the East Coast Park where there are countless paths and trails that are connected.
Discover the wilder side of Singapore's northern territories on this engaging biking route that cuts across intriguing neighbourhoods such as the Woodlands, Yishun and Sembawang. The loop is 25km long in its entirety so cyclists can take a break or only do the 11km trail that takes one to the Woodlands Waterfront and the Lower Seletar Reservoir Park instead. Don't be surprised to come across local wildlife in the form of birds and monkeys on this route.
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