ECP PCN - the 14km Abridged Version

Ahah, I'm bringing back the East Coast Park - Park Connectors Network (ECP PCN), the abridged version in this post! The whole route can be found in my previous post 1 year ago here.

Although I took the full 42km route twice previously, I finally had the opportunity to take the shorter route version of the ECP PCN this beautiful Saturday morning with a couple of my old RI pals..

Ok, the abridged version is slightly different..

If you look closely at the picture of the newspaper cutting from 1 year ago, you can see that there's a smaller loop option on the bottom right hand corner of the coloured loop..

Yep that's it! Running from the same starting point at East Coast Park C4 Carpark, the route is similar all the way to Bedok Reservoir Park. (If you need directions, please refer to my old post with its link above.)

Oh yes, I do think that NParks has improved their signage. I noted more prominent signboards along the first half of the journey at least, although that single irritating overheadbridge over some expressway, which required lifting the bikes up and down stairs is still there.. -_-"

So, you've now reached Bedok Reservoir Park, and you don't know where to find the alternative route for the shorter loop back to East Coast Park? Fear not! Follow the route along the border of Bedok Reservoir Park, and cross the small bridge over the canal that leads you over into Tampines. Just as you cross the bridge, you should find this:


This 3-way sign painted on the floor is your only clue to the shortcut back to ECP. You'll have to follow it closely cos there's some construction going on in that area under the bridge, but its actually accessible, so just follow the route..


.. and you'll be cycling alongside the canal that you just crossed!

This route is a lot quiter though.. The route brings you along the outskirts of Bedok Reservoir Town, and alongside a few industrial estates and bus depots..


Otherwise, its a pretty straight and simple route, and plain sailing for most of the way, except..


for 2 roads which you have to cross. Now wat's irritating is that there isn't any traffic lights at the place where the bike trails intersect the road. You really have to make a detour to the nearest traffic junction, cross the traffic lights, then cycle back to join the trail on the opposite side of the road.. -_-"

and 1 such 6-lane road block made us cycle to the EXPO (well, almost)!



and you can obviously see that CGH is barely a 5minute cycle away.. =p

It'd be nice if an underpass could be constructed, or a traffic light crossing, but in the meantime, you'll just have to make those small detours to the nearest traffic junction.

Otherwise, the route continues along more small roads (and i'm positive I cycled past Kahyee's house =p), before leading back to the ECP. And that's where the 2nd roadblock appears..


As mentioned in the newspaper article a year back, the underpass linking back to ECP is not a slope.. it has stairs, so here's the 2nd set of stairs to navigate down into the underpass..



.. before climbing back up..


Otherwise, its smooth sailing back to the start point!

A relative hassle-free, easy going 14km route for the time-constrained or the beginner cyclist. Should be able to comfortably finish it in 2-2.5hrs. Enjoy! =)