Cycling Risks
When I was younger, I loved to cycle around the neighbourhood. The British Naval Base was such a huge area and it was largely free of motor vehicle traffic. This gave the cyclist the greatest freedom on the roads. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and my love for cycling grew. It was also through cycling that I learnt more about the neighbourhood, including that part of the Naval Base where the non-locals - largely the British, Australian and New Zealanders lived. 30 years hence, their houses are still largely intact, whereas the staff quarters that my family and I lived in have all been demolished and spanking new high rise apartments have taken their places.
I mention cycling because, to a person suffering from epilepsy, it can be a hazardous activity. What if I had a Grand Mal attack while I was cycling? I would most likely not remain on my bicycle, and if it was in motion then, I'd likely be flung off the bike. If there were other vehicles around, I could have been involved in a potentially fatal accident (which explains why I have never bothered to learn to drive a car till this day, but that's another story).
At that young age, these dangers did not occur to me. Eventually, at 15 years of age, I moved into a high rise apartment in a new neighbourhood. I didn't take my bicyle along with me when I moved, but the family bought a brand new bicycle instead. In any case, there was considerably more traffic there so I cycled much less than I used to. Roads outside of the Naval Base are not exactly bicycle-friendly. In fact, roads in Singapore are generally not bicycle-friendly. Motorists are a very impatient lot here. They feel that they own the road. I suppose that happens when motorists here have to pay an arm and a leg in the form of taxes for owning and driving a car on our roads.
But my love for cycling never diminished, as I continued to cycle even after I married and moved away from my parents' home - all this while oblivious to (or reckless about) the dangers of my cycling activity. But then, I would never have enjoyed my childhood with so much memories of places in the Naval Base if I had not cycled. Sometimes, you need to take calculated risks or your life would be the poorer for the lack of it.
I mention cycling because, to a person suffering from epilepsy, it can be a hazardous activity. What if I had a Grand Mal attack while I was cycling? I would most likely not remain on my bicycle, and if it was in motion then, I'd likely be flung off the bike. If there were other vehicles around, I could have been involved in a potentially fatal accident (which explains why I have never bothered to learn to drive a car till this day, but that's another story).
At that young age, these dangers did not occur to me. Eventually, at 15 years of age, I moved into a high rise apartment in a new neighbourhood. I didn't take my bicyle along with me when I moved, but the family bought a brand new bicycle instead. In any case, there was considerably more traffic there so I cycled much less than I used to. Roads outside of the Naval Base are not exactly bicycle-friendly. In fact, roads in Singapore are generally not bicycle-friendly. Motorists are a very impatient lot here. They feel that they own the road. I suppose that happens when motorists here have to pay an arm and a leg in the form of taxes for owning and driving a car on our roads.
But my love for cycling never diminished, as I continued to cycle even after I married and moved away from my parents' home - all this while oblivious to (or reckless about) the dangers of my cycling activity. But then, I would never have enjoyed my childhood with so much memories of places in the Naval Base if I had not cycled. Sometimes, you need to take calculated risks or your life would be the poorer for the lack of it.
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