Man spotted riding 145-year-old penny farthing at Singapore's Car-Free Sunday event wants to bring attention to cycling
Rembrandt Struijk said it was his second time taking the penny farthing to the city centre since receiving it in January.
SINGAPORE — Rembrandt Struijk, a 45-year-old cycling enthusiast, captured attention at Singapore's recent Car-Free Sunday event by navigating the city streets on a 145-year-old penny farthing, a vintage bicycle known for its large front wheel and smaller rear wheel.
The event, held on 17 March and organised by the Land Transport Authority after a hiatus of over four years, aimed to raise awareness of sustainable travel modes such as walking, cycling, and public transport.
According to The Straits Times, over 1,000 people enjoyed vehicle-free roads around the city centre, with designated areas of the Civic District and Central Business District (CBD) closed from 8am to 11am, allowing for free street activities.
Expressing his intention to raise awareness of cycling in Singapore, Struijk told Yahoo Southeast Asia on Wednesday (20 March), "I want to grasp the moment to really bring it (cycling) to everyone's attention."
He admitted surprise at the response his penny farthing received, saying, "I knew that the bike was going to get attention, I did not realise it would receive quite this much."
After the Car-Free Sunday event, photographs of Struijk and his vintage bicycle garnered attention online, particularly on Reddit and Facebook, where some comments praised the bicycle's "unique" charm.
Taking to Singapore's streets with a rare ride
In an interview with Yahoo, Struijk shared his love for cycling, attributing his passion to his Dutch roots, where cycling is part of everyday life.
He also mentioned his active participation in various cycling groups on Facebook, including Safety for Active Mobility Users, and explained that he learned about the event through these groups.
Struijk revealed that the event marked only the second time he had ventured out with the penny farthing to the city centre since receiving it in January.
Undeterred by the logistical challenge of transporting the penny farthing from his residence in Newton to the event venue, he set out on a lengthy walk, carrying the penny farthing and a unicycle on foot.
It's not easy to transport such a bicycle," Struijk said. "You cannot fit into the MRT or buses, nor does it fit into a car."
He reflected on other challenges, highlighting, "With the penny farthing, I do not dare go onto the streets in Singapore because there are just too many cars and it is too dangerous. Cars are not used to it."
Despite these challenges, the Car-Free Sunday event provided him with an opportunity to pedal freely, away from the usual traffic hazards.
He expressed joy at the numerous reactions the penny farthing garnered. "People have a lot of questions," he added. "How does it work? How old is it?"
Struijk also noted that there were children at the event on Sunday, providing an opportunity to teach them a bit about the bicycles of the past.
How did he master the penny farthing and where did he find it?
As for how he mastered riding the penny farthing, Struijk shared with Yahoo that his journey began in London, where he and his wife resided for five years before relocating to Singapore last September.
Recalling their experience in London, he said, "We learned how to ride in the morning and then, in the afternoon, toured the City of London, visiting scenic sites like Buckingham Palace. We enjoyed it, and the trainers wore this kind of English clothing with a top hat."
Despite the initial challenge, they grasped the techniques, mastering the art of riding the penny farthing in just two hours, Struijk said.
According to the former bicycle mechanic, purchasing the penny farthing was also an adventure.
"I found this one online," Struijk revealed, adding that he messaged the UK seller, who had connections in Kuala Lumpur, making it possible to ship the item to Singapore at an affordable cost.
It was only in January that Struijk finally laid hands on the bicycle.
He shared his initial impressions, saying, "When I first received it and tried it, I thought, 'Oh, this thing is going to fall apart.' It felt a bit wobbly, likely because, in its 145 years of existence, it's had its fair share of falls and that's part of the charm."
Urging more people to consider adopting cycling as a mode of transport, he said, "I hope by riding this bike, people would want to either dust off their bikes or get a bike and just get out and ride."
He addressed the challenges, saying, "In Singapore, it's difficult because of the weather. Some journeys can be done on a bike, or you can do them partly on a bike and take the bus or MRT. I really think more journeys should be done on a bicycle."
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