Ubin is not an alternative shopping mall experience. I saw inexperienced people riding on tandem bike with their precious baby strapped behind. Unfortunately broken skulls do happen. And far too many have crashed and hurt themselves at steep gradients. Make sure your brakes work and work your brakes going downhill.
Make sure the gears and brakes works well before you cycle out. Avoid cheap $5.00/day bikes and rent those $8.00-$12.00/day bikes. An old bike folded and collapsed resulting concussion and several stitches on my scalp. The island police will ferry the badly injured people to Changi Hospital. But many have to made their painful way to the hospital with severe gashes. Once I have to stop a bleeder with toilet paper when the girl fell squarely on her jaw from her bike.
Cycle in single file and keep to the side of the road. My heart often skip a beat when I saw cyclists wobbling in front of passing vehicles.
Otherwise be sensible and hire the island van taxis. You can charter them or $25/hr or negotiate for cheaper one way trip.
The van operators are very friendly.
This is Tien Song.
A great alternative is take a walk. The furthest point is not more than 2 hours walk away so 3 – 4 hours is sufficient. Get NPark maps (or download here) free at the visitor corner.
Do not seek shelter under tall trees during rainstorms. Look for Npark shelters instead. Its either getting hit by lightning or get crushed by falling branches if you are unlucky enough. The NPCC cadet camp has a ‘lightning detector’ which when activated, runs endless warnings on their PA system.
See links: emergencies, first aid kit
