The Land Transport Authority (LTA) opened the 2020 licence application cycle for bicycle-sharing services today. Bicycle-sharing services provide commuters with a convenient mobility option for first-and last-mile journeys, and support Singapore’s drive towards becoming a car-lite society.

2          LTA will be opening applications for sandbox licences for bicycle-sharing services. Existing bicycle-sharing licensees may also apply to increase their fleet sizes in this cycle. Applications must be submitted by 24 February 2020 using application forms found on LTA’s website.

3          When evaluating applications, LTA will consider:

a) The applicant’s plans and ability to manage indiscriminate parking, including user education on proper parking behaviour;

b) Ability to maintain healthy fleet utilisation rates, including managing overall demand for its bicycle-sharing service and the availability of parking spaces;

c) Overall track record including whether there were previous instances of regulatory contraventions.

4          Successful sandbox licence applicants will be allowed to operate in public spaces for one year. LTA will continue to impose maximum fleet size-thresholds of up to 1,000 bicycles on sandbox licensees. Sandbox licensees that demonstrate their ability to manage indiscriminate parking well, comply with regulatory requirements and ensure good utilisation rates will have the opportunity to obtain a full licence subsequently and grow their fleet over time. 

5          LTA has put in place stringent regulatory conditions to ensure that the convenience brought about by bicycle-sharing does not result in public disamenities. One such measure to encourage responsible parking habits and manage indiscriminate parking is the quick response (QR) code parking system. All bicycle-sharing licensees must integrate LTA’s QR code parking system into their mobile applications. Users must scan the unique QR code as proof of proper parking when they end their trip, or they will be charged a fee of $5 for indiscriminate parking.

6          Since the implementation of this system, the percentage of trips completed within the designated parking areas marked by the unique QR code has improved to 86%.

7          The next licence application cycle for bicycle-sharing services will be in 2H2020.