Netizens raise noise, safety complaints at Jewel Changi Airport

On Sunday, a picture of fitness enthusiasts pedaling on their immobile bikes at Jewel Changi Airport was posted to the social media site, quickly drawing public ire from netizens.

As of Tuesday, the Reddit post had garnered over 3,100 upvotes and 440 comments, with many saying these public classes leaving a bad impression on tourists visiting Singapore’s world-famous airport.

Spin classes are group indoor cycling workouts typically held within fitness studios, and are touted to help reduce weight, improve cardiovascular fitness and tone certain muscle groups.

Although spin classes are mainly offered at its indoor rhythm cycling studios, some are still held at Jewel Changi Airport on Friday evenings and across various timeslots on Saturdays and Sundays, at S$28 (US$21) per 45-minute session, according to Today Online newspaper.

However, many netizens are worried these spin classes are turning public spaces into impromptu fitness arenas and hurt airport passenger experiences.

A Reddit account wrote: "Imagine traveling thousands of kilometers to witness Jewel for the first time, just to be greeted by this."

Another wrote: "Was shocked when I visited one day and saw this. Great tourist attraction with lots of tourists snapping photos there. Then there's a whole bunch of them cycling in the middle. It’s out of place."

"The only grievance I have about this is that they completely blocked off the pathway, making it necessary to walk back and forth if you want to complete the circuit from the main entrance," another Reddit user commented.

The 40-meter high Rain Vortex, which is the world's tallest indoor waterfall, is seen from inside Jewel Changi Airport in Singapore, April 11, 2019. Photo by Reuters

Jewel Changi Airport is a nature-themed entertainment and retail complex surrounded by and linked to one of the passenger terminals of Changi Airport.

Its centerpiece is the world's tallest indoor waterfall, the Rain Vortex, that is surrounded by a terraced forest setting.

Changi Airport is famous for its butterfly garden, movie theater, and swimming pool and was named the world's best airport by aviation ranking website Skytrax in March.