We refer to forum letters expressing safety concerns about the behaviour of some irresponsible personal mobility device (PMD) users.
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) will not hesitate to take action against PMD users who threaten public safety. The Active Mobility Act (AMA) establishes clear rules on speed limits and device specifications, and empowers us to take enforcement action where necessary.
Since the AMA was introduced in May 2018, LTA has recorded more than 3,700 active mobility offences. Surveillance and enforcement operations are conducted regularly across about 600 locations island-wide to target and catch errant riders. Reports on errant riding by members of the public are taken into account during our enforcement deployments.
We will not let up on our efforts to enhance public safety. From July 2019, all e-scooter owners must register their devices with LTA. Those found riding unregistered devices on public paths could face a fine of up to $5,000 and/or a jail term of six months. More than 70,000 e-scooters have been registered as of Apr 2019.
For many, PMDs are a way of life. Some ride PMDs to work, others for leisure. Some, including the elderly, use it to gain mobility and independence, while others are dependent on them for their livelihoods. The growing popularity of PMDs in Singapore and other countries shows the role they can play in the shift towards greener and more car-lite societies.
Banning them on paths is not the solution as this will force PMD users onto our roads. Instead, we are taking a different, more holistic approach to improve active mobility safety. Besides strict enforcement of rules, we are intensifying public education and collaborations with interest groups and grassroots organisations. For example, we work with schools to educate students on responsible riding practices. We collaborate with food delivery companies and foreign worker dormitories to extend our Safe Riding Programme (SRP) to them. More than 46,000 have participated in our SRP.
Active mobility infrastructure is being expanded across Singapore, where practicable, to make it easier and safer for people to reach transport nodes and neighbourhood amenities. All HDB towns will progressively have cycling networks by 2030.
We need the public’s support to nurture this culture of responsible, gracious and safe path sharing and help to weed out irresponsible behaviour. Together, we can realise the benefits of active mobility in our daily commute, be it walking, cycling or the use of PMDs.
Kenneth Wong
Director, Active Mobility
Land Transport Authority
