NEW VISITORS CENTRE IN BENCOOLEN STREET AREA (SINGAPORE) OFFERS A UNIQUE CYCLING EXPERIENCE

20 July 2002

A new Singapore Visitors Centre (SVC) operated by wheelpower rent-a-bike pte ltd has opened on Bencoolen Street offering bicycle tours across the city for tourists and residents.

Located at the junction of Bencoolen Street and Waterloo Street at Sunshine Plaza, SVC @ Bencoolen offers visitors a comprehensive range of travel related services from 9.00 am to 7.00 pm daily. These include tourist information, bicycle rental and tours, air ticketing and bookings for sightseeing tours around Singapore. Internet stations are also available inside the SVC for visitors to use. 

The SVC @ Bencoolen is also the first establishment in Singapore to offer bicycle tours for visitors. Two bicycle tours led by qualified guides are currently available. 'Singapore in a Day' which runs from 9.00 am to 3.00 pm costs $70 and covers Singapore's ethnic quarters. The tour ends with lunch along the Singapore River.

The second tour, 'Bike the Bridge', which runs from 5.00 pm to 8.00 pm, costs $50 and covers Beach Road, Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay, the Central Business District, Marina South Park, the Benjamin Sheares Bridge, Marina Bay and ends with dinner along the Singapore River. Both tours operate with a minimum of 8 persons.

Besides guided tours, there are also 'explore-it-yourself' trails for cyclists to explore Singapore's ethnic quarters and historical sites, or the east coast all the way to Changi Point, with recommendations to explore Pulau Ubin. Other options include the Eco & Agri-trail for a 'ride with nature' and a trail to discover Singapore's west coast which includes visits to Sentosa, Labrador Park, Haw Par Villa and the Jurong BirdPark. 

Bicycle rental charges range from S$18 (half day rental) to S$28 (full day rental). A deposit of $250 is required to rent a bicycle.

Customised cycling itineraries can be arranged for bigger groups and corporate clients and plans are in the pipeline to develop creative local trails that focus on Singapore's heartlands and favourite food spots.

Jimmy Wong, Manager of SVC @ Bencoolen said: "The combination of products and services we offer is new. In addition to providing information services to visitors, we have introduced a novel and fun way for visitors and residents to explore Singapore on wheels. The trails and tours will allow the more adventurous to go off the beaten track and take in the sights at their own pace."

wheelpower rent-a-bike pte ltd, a licensed travel agency, also plans to package cycling tours to the region including Indochina, China, Mongolia, Nepal, Australia and New Zealand.

The unique bicycle tours have been steadily supported by European visitors who say that cycling is a convenient way to enjoy the many sights and sounds of Singapore.

SVC @ Bencoolen is the sixth such information centre in Singapore. The others are located at Suntec City, Chijmes, Liang Court, Travel Café on Prinsep Street and at Tourism Court. All these SVCs are supported by the Singapore Tourism Board.