By The Diary desk · Last verified 11 October 2026
Cycling in Singapore is easy once you know four rules. Wear a helmet on roads; it is a legal requirement there. Keep to 25km/h on cycling paths and shared paths and 10km/h on footpaths. Stay off pedestrian-only paths: since 1 July 2025, riding on them can bring a fine of up to $2,000, up to three months’ jail, or both, for a first offence. And never use your phone while riding. Shared bikes from LTA-licensed operators must be parked in designated parking areas using the QR-code system. For a long ride, NParks opened the 75km eastern half of the planned 150km Round Island Route in January 2022, from Rower’s Bay to Berlayer Creek.
With hundreds of kilometres of park connectors, Singapore is kinder to cyclists than many visitors expect. A little care with the rules keeps it that way for everyone.
Quick facts
- Helmets: compulsory on roads.
- Speed limits: 25km/h on cycling and shared paths; 10km/h on footpaths; road speed limit on roads.
- Pedestrian-only paths: no cycling since 1 July 2025; fines up to $2,000 for a first offence.
- Lights: white in front and red behind after dark.
- Bike-sharing: licensed operators only; end trips in designated parking areas.
- Round Island Route: 150km planned; 75km eastern half open since 22 January 2022.
Where you can ride, and how fast
| Path type | How to spot it | Bicycles? | Speed limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cycling path | Usually red or dark grey, with a cyclist logo | Yes | 25km/h |
| Shared path | Cyclist and pedestrian logos | Yes | 25km/h |
| Footpath | Unmarked paths beside roads and in HDB estates | Yes | 10km/h |
| Pedestrian-only path | Next to a cycling path | No (brief crossing to avoid an obstacle only) | Not applicable |
| Road | Not expressways or road tunnels | Yes, with a helmet | The road’s speed limit |
The rules on roads
- Helmet: required on roads.
- Position: keep as close to the left edge as practicable and ride with the traffic; use bicycle lanes where they exist.
- Single file on single-lane roads and during bus-lane hours; otherwise two abreast is allowed.
- Group size: up to 5 cyclists in single file, or 10 riding two abreast; LTA suggests a gap of 30m or two lamp posts between groups.
- Lights in the dark, and no phone use while riding.
On public paths, your bicycle must weigh no more than 20kg, be no wider than 70cm and have at least one working handbrake. Dismount where you see a “No Riding” sign.
Bike-sharing: how it works
- Download a licensed operator’s app. LTA licenses operators; Anywheel and HelloRide are among them. Check LTA for the current list.
- Unlock a bike by scanning its code.
- Ride by the rules above; helmets are your responsibility on roads.
- End your trip in a designated parking area, scanning the parking QR code. Since January 2019, shared bikes must use LTA’s QR-code parking system, and users who park badly can be banned.
The Round Island Route
The Round Island Route is NParks’ planned 150km continuous park connector looping Singapore, part of a wider 360km island-wide network. Phase 1, about 75km across the eastern half, opened on 22 January 2022.
| Phase 1 detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Length | About 75km |
| From | Rower’s Bay, in the north-east |
| To | Berlayer Creek, in the south |
| Passes | Sengkang Riverside Park, Pasir Ris Park, Changi Beach Park and East Coast Park |
| Rest of the loop | Still being completed; check NParks’ park connector site for open stretches |
Few people ride all 75km in one go. A popular slice is Pasir Ris Park to East Coast Park via Changi, with hawker stops on the way.
The WahLiao Verdict
Wear a helmet every time, even on paths where it is not required, keep to 25km/h on park connectors and slow right down near walkers. Start with a shared bike on a short coastal stretch, then build up to a section of the Round Island Route on a cool weekend morning. Park the bike properly at the end; it keeps bike-sharing alive for everyone.
Questions people ask
Do I have to wear a helmet when cycling in Singapore?
Yes on roads, by law. On paths it is not required by the rules LTA lists, but it is wise.
What is the speed limit on park connectors?
25km/h on cycling paths and shared paths, and 10km/h on footpaths.
Can I cycle on pedestrian-only paths?
No. Since 1 July 2025, first-time offenders face a fine of up to $2,000, jail of up to three months, or both.
Is the Round Island Route finished?
Not yet. The 75km eastern half opened in January 2022; the rest of the planned 150km loop is still being completed.
Sources: Land Transport Authority, rules and code of conduct, where devices are allowed (March 2026) and pedestrian-only path enforcement; National Parks Board, Round Island Route. The Diary explains; it does not advise.
Read next: Park Connectors in Singapore: The Routes, the Paths and the Rules · Pasir Ris Park and Punggol Waterway Park: Cycling, Mangroves and Where to Eat · Back to The Diary
For what’s worth it this week, with the bill shown, read The WahLiao Week.
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