Family Fun Adventures

finding Cool things to do in and around singapore

Written by and Photography by Christi Elflein

Let's Ride!

Working and studying from home? You need some fresh air! And you need to move! Grab your kids, hop on a bike, and take a ride! It will boost your spirits, burn a few calories, and provide a great bonding experience for your family. Singapore has been actively expanding its Cycling Path Network and Park Connector Network for 30 years. Hundreds of miles of paths wind their way around the city, linking housing to parks and the city center. Check out the Land Transport Authority’s network map (www. lta.gov.sg). The popularity of biking has surged the past few months. The absence of tourists and less traffic have opened up the sidewalks and roads for an easier connection to popular bike paths. Biking along Orchard Road My family is part of this surge of new riders, exploring new routes weekly. We’ve stumbled upon whimsical bridges we didn’t know existed, seen the city skyline from new perspectives and reveled in the sight of playful otters. Our favorite route begins east of Novena, where a path runs along the Kallang River until it reaches the National Stadium, which is a great spot to refresh water bottles and grab a snack. From the

stadium, we ride along the Marina Reservoir towards downtown. This scenic section traverses through Bay East Garden, crosses over Marina Barrage and through Gardens by the Bay, emerging at Marina Bay Sands. This is another great spot for a break, especially if your kids need an ice cream

recharge.

Biking in Gardens by the Bay

Our route then wraps around Marina Bay, skirting the edge of the Central Business District, and pauses again at the Merlion for a photo op. We continue over the Jubilee Bridge, then travel up the Singapore River through Boat and Clarke Quays. From there, we veer off the river and around the north side of Fort Canning to Istana Park, where we connect to Orchard Road. We ride the sidewalks on Orchard Road until it ends and reconnect through side streets to Novena, where we began. This route covers about 20 miles and takes a leisurely three to four hours to cruise. Remember to stay left and be considerate of pedestrians. If you need a bike, start your adventure on the Singapore River, where you can rent a shared bike using an app (such as SG Bike or Anywheel) for $2 per hour. However far you go or whichever path you take, you are sure to enjoy it. Now, let’s ride!

Christi is an urban planner for an architecture firm in Florida. She moved to Singapore and joined AWA in 2019 and is loving exploring her new city with her husband and two kids.