Bicycling across Border: SINGAPORE to MALAYSIA

Watch my Brompton bicycle ride across the Singapore-Malaysia border crossing (the Causeway) on a Friday evening with heavy traffic (13 March 2020). I bicycled about 13 km from the Singapore side to the Bus Station (Larkin) at the Malaysian side, where I folded up my Brompton and continued by bus to Kuala Lumpur.

I was very glad to be on a bicycle and being able to bypass the super heavy traffic on the traffic-packed 1 km long Causeway connecting Singapore and Malaysia. This 13 km bicycle trip took 2 hours, with half the time (1 hour) spent inside the two immigration checkpoints. The checkpoints (especially the Singaporean one) were crowded and seemingly a risk zone for human-to-human spreading of the Coronavirus (COVID-19); hopefully, the respective authorities will take appropriate action to reduce the risk of transmission of the virus, since WHO has now declared it a global pandemic.

I was a bit worried that I would not be able to catch the bus in time, as I was struggling to find my way through the streets of Johor Bahru and bicycling against the clock, especially when realizing that Johor Bahru has very hilly terrain. My GPS recorded that I did 250 vertical meters up and down during this bicycle trip, i.e. corresponding to the height of a 62-storey building. No wonder I felt like I got a good workout from this trip!

Highlights of the bicycle trip include:

2:48 Bicycling out of the SAS entrance
3:45 Surprised facial expression of the SAS guards, when I tell them that am about to bicycle across the border to Malaysia. Priceless ;-)
9:58 Overhead sign for road traffic before the Singapore Immigration
11:25 Arriving at the Singapore Immigration Checkpoint for foot-passengers (the Woodlands Train Checkpoint) and turning off my GoPro temporarily
12:46 Start crossing the Causeway linking Singapore and Malaysia, first bit just pushing the bike
15:26 Guy riding Solo-wheel, i.e. a single gyro-stabilized personal mobility wheel. Cool!
15:43 Dashing between the two car lanes on the Causeway border crossing, where it is safer to bicycle
17:14 Letting electric skip-scooter pass me on Causeway. Car immediately starts to blow the horn. Anger at the boiling point in this terrible border traffic jam.
20:15 Another angry driver sounding the horn on the Causeway border crossing. Patience running short & tempers high!
21:16 Entering the Malaysian Immigration Checkpoint, going to the bus bays to join the foot-passengers
22:16 Leaving the Malaysian Immigration Checkpoint at the JB Sentral exit. Start bicycling towards the Johor Bahru bus station (Larkin Sentral Terminal)
22:31 Map of my 7 km bicycle route from the Malaysian Immigration Checkpoint to the Larkin Bus Terminal.
25:25 Car riding in opposite direction of the road. OMG!
27:12 Bicycling short stretch along highway. Not ideal!
27:50 Using overhead pedestrian bridge to cross highway with my Brompton
36:10 Road crossing not well designed for pedestrians or cyclists
52:34 Reaching the Bus Station (Larkin) just 15 minutes before my bus departure. Will I make it?
52:54 Killer grill on the road, one of several on this trip! None bicycle-friendly grills that will make the bicycle wheel drop inside and cause accident to cyclist. Must slow down and cross grill at angle.
54:30 Quenching my thirst with 0.5 liter water bottle (only costs USD0.25)
56:44 Friendly guy points me to the departure gate at bus station
57:33 Guard does not accept electronic ticket, QR code, on my phone, but needs a printed ticket. But realizing my bus is leaving shortly, kindly still lets me in. Malaysia boleh ("Malaysia, yes we can")
59:12 Bus driver accepts my electronic ticket, I fold my Brompton, load it in the bus storage compartment and take my seat. I made it just in time for the bus with just 5 minutes to spare. Phew!

The bus departed 8:30 pm and reached Kuala Lumpur (the TBS station) a bit after midnight. But it was also a big travel day with lots of traffic on the highway.

Enjoy the video :-)
GREGERS

PS. The bicycle route map link: https://www.komoot.com/tour/161407810?ref=wtd

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