Cycling and Geography
A shot of the east coast on a sunny Sunday morning
Being caught by the writing bug in recent days, I am sharing this post about the joys of being a hobby cyclist and a geography teacher. Be forewarned that there isn't very much pedagogy in this post. It's more a connection between a past-time which I pursue, and a job which I cherish.
Living in highly urbanised Singapore, we are left with little of what natural topography is. More often then not, our students know of "terrain" as that man-graded slope which we see in our neighbourhoods. Interestingly, I grew up in areas where the natural terrain is rather well preserved, in housing estates at Bukit Panjang and at the Holland Road area.
These two areas are located in central and central south south west of Singapore. If we are familiar with the geologic map, they are underlain by two of the most ancient rock types we can find on the island - The Bukit Timah Granite, BTG (approximately 250 million years old) and the Jurong Formation, JF (approximately 175 million years old). Engineering studies from geologists suggest that the JF was formed as the huge granite batholiths which BTG was a part, of were eroded. All these happened long before present where the land surface was much higher than current levels (this surface had since being eroded over the millions of years). See Fig 1 below
Figure 1: Geologic map of Singapore
Interestingly, this topography and terrain forms my mental image of the "ideal" cycling routes which I try to explore on my two wheeler whenever my weekends allow me. For example, if I am feeling adventurous and energetic, I would plan a route that runs north-south from Holland to Woodlands, along the intersection of the BTG and JH (which is approximately the north-south corridor of the Bt Timah, Upper Bt Timah roads). If I want a leisurely ride, I would take the road to the east, simply because the relief of western Singapore slopes gently towards the east. I can "coast" more than I pedal (joking), notwithstanding the returning leg would involve a more laboured effort from me!
Living in the central south south west of Singapore, I am aware that there are many low but steep hills I have to climb. Starting at Holland, the Mount Sinai, Portsdown, Kent Ridge, Mt Faber areas are really a series of parallel low ridges that run roughly east-west. To cross them, you need to look for passes that cut across these ridges, so that pedalling is slightly more bearable. For example at the NUS, Alexander Rd, Henderson Rd gaps. The Green Corridor is a fantastic route that runs in the "valley" of these ridges, where you encounter less of a gradient. Nonetheless, the return journey from Tanjong Pagar to Ewart Park often causes some misery in my legs, especially so when I have tackled more than 80 kms on the eastern flats.
Nuff' said, so I shall offer a few nuggets why cycling is such a great sport for a budding geographer.
It builds terrain awareness due to the direct difficulty and enjoyment of a ride. We are constantly assessing elevation changes, slopes and surface types to plan our routes and pace ourselves efficiently. This practical experience fosters a deeper understanding of topography.
Knowledge of topography helps me understand catchment areas and water flow patterns. While we live in an almost 100 per cent canalised environment, flows of water on bike paths and roads (which I detest because it causes my bike to be dirty) helps me appreciate where rainwater collects in low-lying terrain, contributing to my understanding of micro-drainage systems and the impact of terrain on spatial water distribution.
Cycling exposes me to various land uses and landscape in Singapore. I encounter different urban environments, sometimes shaped by topography, but more often by the creative hands of our amazing urban planners. I can relate how urban design, development patterns and natural features influences one another, enhancing my comprehension of land use geography.
On a more technical side note, I also begin to pay more attention to road layout, building placement and green space distribution. Even though I am also a motorist, cycling allows me to see things up close and to experience first hand how tiny valleys and hills, planted and natural vegetation, buildings and infrastructure weave into an intricate tapestry we call Singapore.
Ultimately, I develop an appreciation for the local geography of Singapore, cultivate a sense of healthy wonder of my tiny island nation state, delve deeper into geography as I foster a lifelong interest in this amazing subject (people some times don't understand why I am content to stay in Singapore during long term breaks). Cycling is a great gateway to understanding topography and its broader implications for geography. I have been able to marry a healthy and fulfilling leisure pursuit with a subject I love teaching.
Sources cited:
https://lkcnhm.nus.edu.sg/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/app/uploads/2017/04/GeologyGuideSGP.pdf
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