Singapore may be a sovereign nation but most of us? We’re also part of the procrastination nation. Credentials include laziness, busyness, and some old exercise equipment sitting in the storeroom, waiting to be used.
Don’t hit 2023 without touching that foldable bike – we’ve got just the right trail for you with this cycling guide from Pasir Ris to Coney Island. Perfect for beginners and the little ones, this 8.2km route is easy and can be completed within as little as 30 minutes if you’ve got powerful quads. But why rush? We’d say a full morning is just the right amount of time.
Below is a complete guide with breakfast spots, scenic attractions, and even detour ideas for an extended adventure.
Pasir Ris is a great place to start any cycling adventure. Other than being the intersecting point of several park connector networks, it also has several bicycle rental options if you don’t already have a foldable one in your inventory.
Image credit: Eric Chan
Near Pasir Ris MRT is GoCycling Pasir Ris Town Park, an unassuming self-service bike rental kiosk with rates from $8/hour – your second hour is free on weekdays and third hour free on weekends. Pay-per-use bicycles like SG Bike are also often found at the many bicycling parking lots surrounding White Sands mall.
Start your cycling journey here – all you need to do is keep a lookout for the PCN signboards and be wary of cycling towards Bedok Reservoir or Changi by accident! You’ll want to head up Pasir Ris Drive 3 to go towards the direction of Punggol.
Fishball noodles and laksa at Pasir Ris Central Hawker Centre.
Image credit: Kezia Tan
Pro tip: Breakfast first is always a good idea. Just across the road from the MRT lies Pasir Ris Central Hawker Centre. It opens at 7am and has affordable breakfast sets and fishball noodles. Else, there’s also KFC and 2 McDonald’s outlets in the area to power your body up for the journey ahead.
Cycling directions: From Pasir Ris MRT, cycle down Pasir Ris Drive 3, past Sungei Api Api and Elias Mall.
Road trips have taught us that there are 2 main types of routes – the fast route and the scenic route. Take a short detour to Pasir Ris Park for the latter. The 1-2km add-on adventure will be well worth the extra cardio, with waterfront cycling paths you can pedal along while spotting fish farms and Pulau Ubin in the distance.
Kids can take a short play break at the Adventure Playground or navigate the Maze Garden within this huge park. There’s also a horse stable you can cycle past, where you can spot other families feeding and riding the friendly mares. Read our Pasir Ris Park guide for all the things you can do while in the area.
Cycling directions:
Image credit: Jams Wong
Hit the end of Pasir Ris Drive 3 and you’ll be right at the cusp of the Lorong Halus Park Connector. Previously a confusing network of paths, the route was revamped a couple of years back and now features a smooth journey straight through Pasir Ris Farmway. For the navigationally challenged, read: you’ll have no chance of getting lost.
Although coined a “farmway”, a lot of the farms here are slated to be relocated soon for redevelopment. Take the chance to stop by Mainland Tropical Fish Farm, where kids can feed koi fish ($1) and try longkang fishing ($6). Aquarium hobbyists can also find hardscapes and fish at wholesale prices.
Cycling directions: Head straight along Lorong Halus Park Connector until you arrive at Lorong Halus wetlands.
Lorong Halus Wetlands is a great mid-journey pitstop for all those who’re feeling a little worn by now. It has a washroom, sheltered pavilion, and even a water cooler for bottle refills. We suggest parking your bike in a corner and taking a short walk around this pretty PUB water treatment facility-cum-park with reed fields and ponds.
Image credit: @_peikhim_
Just behind the wetlands is the Lorong Halus Red Bridge, a prime vantage point for catching sunrise and sunsets. Typically a busy junction as well, this is where many folks head straight if they’re going towards Punggol Waterway Park.
Keep your food in your bags here – humans aren’t the only ones that love to relax along the bridge. Troops of monkeys sometimes hang around along the red frame too, ready to snatch away any loose food items.
Cycling directions: Turn right before the Red Bridge onto a dirt path.
Image credit: @chasbuoduo
The final and bumpiest leg is the dirt path leading up to Coney Island’s East Entrance. The terrain here can get a little muddy, but it is nothing that even a beginner can’t handle. It’s a short ride along the waterfront before you reach the final checkpoint of Serangoon Reservoir Dam, and Coney Island right behind it.
With mangroves, 5 beaches, and hidden villas, the 2.5km-across island is a maze of attractions. Most will agree that it’s best explored by bike, so your nifty 2-wheeler is perfect for exploring the island from tip to tip. Our Coney Island guide pinpoints the best spots to hit, from popular pitstops to secret attractions.
One of Coney Island’s beaches.
Exit from the West Entrance in a few minutes or so, you’ll arrive at Punggol Point Park where there are boardwalks, restaurants, and washrooms. Also find a GoCycling outlet here where you can conveniently return any rental bikes.
Changi Jurassic Mile and East Coast Park may be the more popular cycling spots in the East but if you haven’t tried the Pasir Ris-Coney Island route, it’s a certified favourite of many of the area’s residents. Relatively short and straightforward, this journey is something you can enjoy even with inexperienced cyclists and kids in tow.
The journey doesn’t have to end at Coney Island either, with the PCN continuing down to Punggol Waterway Park and Sengkang Riverside Park for a greater challenge.
Google Map directions: Pasir Ris-Coney Island map | With detours to Pasir Ris Park
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