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Happening right now at Hong Lim Park, "PMD Riders Unite at Hong Lim Park!"
Speakers of the event are, Kelvin Ho, Andrew Thong, Tan Kin Lian, and Goh Meng Seng.
The organiser of the event wrote, "Come and speak your mind at Hong Lim Park. Let Lam Pim Min and the other ministers know that they are taking away our livelihoods by taking away your PMDs."
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Lessons from the PMD saga and where to go from here
It came swiftly and with little warning.
On Nov 4, the authorities declared that electric scooters — which have become a fixture of Singapore’s streets in recent years — would be barred from footpaths the next day.
Even as pedestrians cheered, the news set off a furore among many users of the ubiquitous “e-scooters”, as they are known in the city-state. The loudest protests came from 7,000 or so food-delivery riders whose jobs depended on these vehicles.
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After high-profile accidents, PMD footpath ban was inevitable in Singapore
In the end, the inevitable happened. Facing pressure from the public to crack down on errant personal mobility device (PMD) users, the Singapore authorities banned e-scooters on footpaths and introduced stiff penalties for offenders yesterday.
Though the decision isn’t that much of a surprise, the swiftness of the change is. The new rules come into effect today, just a day after they were announced by Dr Lam Pin Min, the Senior Minister of State for Transport.
The penalties are also meant to deter. Fines of up to S$2,000 and jail time of up to three months await offenders who are caught in 2020. For now, warnings are given out during an advisory period.
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TTSH reports surge in accidents involving PMD riders over last 3 years, especially in 2019
While much attention has centred on pedestrians suffering severe, even fatal injuries after collisions with personal mobility devices (PMDs), PMD riders themselves are also being injured in fast-rising numbers, Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) said on Monday (Oct 21).
A stocktake at TTSH found a 68 per cent surge in PMD-related accidents over the last two years and nine months, the hospital said at a briefing. Between January 2017 and September 2019, the hospital treated 213 patients who were PMD riders, and saw six patients who were pedestrians involved in PMD accidents.
Among the 213 PMD rider incidents, there were six deaths. More than three-quarters of the PMD riders were male.
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Nearly 300 treated at hospitals for PMD-related accidents last year; 1 in 6 had severe injuries
Almost 300 people were treated last year at hospitals for accidents related to personal mobility devices (PMDs), with about a sixth of the injuries being severe.
While the number of people hurt in accidents involving bicycles, cars and motorcycles is higher, PMD accidents lead to proportionately more severe injuries, according to data from the National Trauma Registry.
Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan revealed the figures in a written answer to Nominated MP Walter Theseira in Parliament yesterday.
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Increasing number of PMD users being injured as well, says Tan Tock Seng Hospital
While we’ve noticed an increase in personal mobility device (PMD) related accidents recently with unsuspecting pedestrians being injured, some fatally, from collisions, Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) said on Monday that PMD users themselves are not getting away unscathed.
The number of PMD riders being injured was also on the rise, said the hospital, noting that there was an increase of 68% in PMD-related accidents at the hospital in the last two years and nine months.
The hospital said at a briefing that 213 PMD riders were treated between January 2017 and September 2019 for PMD accidents, along with six patients who were pedestrians involved in similar incidents. Of the 213 cases, 6 patients died.
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WHAT’S GOING ON WITH THE PERSONAL MOBILITY DEVICE POLICY?
As early as 4th November 2014, the Pedestrian and Cyclist Safety Committee reviewed the use of personal mobility devices on footpaths and roads. Then Minister of Transport Lui Tuck Yew explained that these devices are not suited for roads as they do not meet the safety standards of road-bound vehicles. Debates on whether PMDs should be used on footpaths was also raised by Member of Parliament, Dr. Lee Bee Wah. The solution proposed then was tighter enforcement against PMD users in the neighbourhood.
Fast-forward to 2015, PMDs was widely promoted as the revolutionary alternative to owning private vehicles and public transport. The adoption of PMD was initially expected to have several advantages; the reduction of carbon emissions and traffic congestion. Moreover, it aims to be solution for last-mile short distance transport between public transport drop-off point to the user’s final destination. Never was it meant for long distance commute. Hence, a series of policies were being launched to encourage the adoption of PMD which includes the permission for PMDs to be used on footpath in April 2015, code of conduct in April 2016, and insurance policies from NTUC in May 2016.
However, the fate of PMDs on footpath took a nasty turn on 22 September 2016 when Madam Ang Liu Kiow met with an accident with a PMD rider leaving her with a permanent brain damage. The rider, Nicholas Ting – a Polytechnic student then, was only sentenced in 2018 to be incarcerated for two weeks. This was the first documented incident which caused tensions between the safety of pedestrians and PMD users; and it would not be the last. Aggressive appeals to ban PMDs on footpaths was launched on May 2019 due to the failure to enforce responsible ridership.
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Short notice before the ban was the main gripe
Surprisingly, the extremely short notice of the overnight ban appeared to be the biggest gripe for the majority of the PMD riders, instead of the actual ban itself.
E-scooters were banned from footpaths island-wide on Nov 5, less than a day after Senior Minister of State for Transport Lam Pin Min made the announcement in parliament on Nov 4.
Striking up a conversation with a female Grabfood rider, she expressed anger at how riders were afforded little to no time, only a “one-day notice”, to prepare for the ban or transition to other jobs. “I feel like they [didn’t] think of the true impact. [We] were blindsided,” she said, her voice breaking at certain points during her speech. “There’s a lot of [the] lack of foresight.”
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PMD users vent frustrations with the sudden ban of e-scooters on footpaths
On Tuesday (5 November), electric scooters were banned from all footpaths in Singapore, after Senior Minister of State for Transport Lam Pin Min announced it a day earlier in Parliament.
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) said in a statement that despite “significant efforts” to regulate the use of such personal mobility devices (PMDs) using laws and to educate the public in using such devices responsibly, “offences relating to errant behaviour and incidents involving e-scooters remained on an upward trend”.
Dr Lam said on Monday that it was a “difficult decision” to prohibit e-scooters from being used on footpaths, but “it is a necessary step for pedestrians to feel safe again on public paths, while still allowing e-scooters to grow in tandem with cycling path infrastructure”.
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PMD retailers worried about impact of footpath ban that came 'without warning'
Personal mobility device (PMD) retailers are concerned that their sales will plunge following the introduction of new rules prohibiting the use of e-scooters on footpaths in Singapore.
E-scooters were banned from footpaths on Tuesday (Nov 5), following an announcement by Senior Minister of State for Transport Lam Pin Min the day before.
The ban applies only to e-scooters - defined by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) as motorised PMDs with handlebars - but is expected to be extended to other PMDs such as hoverboards and electric unicycles by the first quarter of next year.
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NUS students show support for delivery riders
More than 100 university students have come out in support of food delivery riders affected by the recent ban on electric scooters and have called on the Government to take riders' suggestions on board.
In a letter sent to media outlets, the students also urged food delivery companies to provide these workers "support and protection during this precarious period".
It was announced earlier this month that e-scooters will be banned from footpaths in a bid to address public safety concerns.
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The real reason that e-scooters are banned from footpaths?
Pikachu at a National Steps Challenge mega roadshow. PHOTO: POKEMON SINGAPORE
Well, that was unexpected.
Last Monday, the Government decreed that e-scooters would not be allowed on footpaths from the next day. It's not as if there were Select Committee on E-Scooters On Footpaths hearings where Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam grilled a Foodpanda rider for six hours about Operation Coldstore.
A Ban E-Scooters On Footpaths Bill wasn't tabled in Parliament, debated, voted on and passed into law. At least the Government prepared us for the fake news law that is the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act. Not so with this.
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Singapore’s e-scooter footpath ban puts brakes on food delivery riders’ earnings
Security officer Abdul Haleem Mohd scrimped on his expenses last month so he could buy an electric scooter and become a food delivery rider. He wanted more flexible working hours to care for his elderly mother, who has dementia.
But his plans were thrown into disarray when the Singapore government announced an immediate ban on e-scooters on footpaths earlier in November, after a spate of accidents – some fatal – involving the devices. With the ban, riders would only be able to use 440km of cycling paths, down from 5,500km of footpaths previously. “The ban was very disappointing. I have been thinking of moving [to food delivery] full-time to take care of mother,” said the 37-year-old.
Besides e-scooter retailers, food delivery riders who relied the devices were caught off guard by the ban, which the government maintained was justified following the rise in accidents and the number of offenders using machines that did not comply with the safety standards it imposed.
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Impact of e-scooter ban in Singapore on food delivery services
In response to MP Liang Eng Hwa's query in Parliament on 4 November 2019 on the impact of the ban of e-scooters from footpaths on food delivery services, Minister of State for Transport Lam Pin Min replied that they had been engaging with the major food delivery companies, who shared that less than 30% of deliveries were done using PMDs.
The Ministry of Transport (MOT) would also be encouraging the food delivery companies to switch to motorcycles or bicycles. For riders who are not able to make the switch, he added that MOT would work together with the companies and WSG to find alternatives for them.
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7,000 food delivery riders who depend on PMDs in S’pore affected by footpath ban
The Land Transport Authority recently announced that e-scooters are permanently banned from footpaths in Singapore.
As you might imagine, the ones hardest hit by this ban are PMD delivery riders.
Member of Parliament Liang Eng Hwa posed a supplementary question to Senior Minister of State for Transport, Lam Pin Min in Parliament on Oct. 4, asking if there is any help offered to delivery riders:
“I’m a little concerned about how this will impact the food delivery businesses …. I want to ask SMS (Lam) how he sees this decison affecting the food delivery businesses and more importantly, the PMD riders. They depend on the PMDs to earn a living, [will there be] existing measures to help them to continue to have a way to do their business.”read more
Over 1 in 3 GrabFood riders affected by PMD ban on footpaths
1 in 3 GrabFood delivery-partners depend on e-scooters
With the recent announcement that e-scooters will be banned from all footpaths starting Nov. 5, 2019, delivery riders who depend on the device are finding it a blow to their livelihood.
In response to Mothership’s queries, a Grab spokesperson said that Grab respects the decision by the Government to ban e-scooters on all footpaths due to safety. The spokesperson also revealed that:
“With the new direction, affected partners will have to consider other modes of transport, which may not be readily available to them,” said the spokesperson.The spokesperson also said that Grab plans to engage the Government on possible a possible arrangement for delivery-partners who ride responsibly.
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Netizens increasingly unhappy with PMD ban
There have been a number of Meet-the-People (MPS) sessions attended by Personal Mobility Device (PMD) riders ever since the announcement of the ban on e-scooters on public footpaths on November 4 in Parliament.
One of those meetings was with Home Affairs and Law Minister K Shanmugam, the Member of Parliament for Nee Soon GRC, on the day that the ban took effect. Another one was held with Minister for Social and Family Development Desmond Lee, who is the MP for Jurong GRC, shortly afterward.
Many of the attendees have sought dialogue with their MPs, and understandably so, given the effect of the ban on their source of livelihood. But perhaps the most heated of all the meetings occurred in an MPS with Ang Wei Neng, also an MP for Jurong GRC, on November 11. According to mothership, Mr Ang had taken the place of Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who is out of the country.
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PMD riders turning to MPs for help
As of 5pm yesterday, the Land Transport Authority has issued over 360 warnings since the ban
Like a bolt out of the blue, an e-scooter ban on footpaths here was announced in Parliament on Monday and kicked in the very next day.
The move was necessary to make pedestrians feel safe again, Senior Minister of State Lam Pin Min told Parliament, but it left the 100,000-strong personal mobility devices (PMDs) community, especially those who depend on them to make a living, dead in their tracks.
While there may be those who have stopped riding their e-scooter on pavements, some have chosen to disregard the new rule, while others have turned to their MPs for help.
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PMDs can 'make a comeback' with improved regulations, infrastructure: Pritam Singh
Personal mobility devices (PMD) can make a comeback in Singapore if regulations and infrastructure are improved, said Workers’ Party (WP) chief Pritam Singh.
“I believe PMDs will make a comeback in Singapore, provided the regulations are fine-tuned and the infrastructure catches up,” he wrote in a Facebook post on Wednesday (Nov 13). “The latter is easier said than done.”
Mr Singh’s post comes a day after Senior Minister of State for Transport Lam Pin Min held a dialogue session with food delivery riders affected by the PMD ban, the latest in a series of meetings between riders and Members of Parliament (MP) over the past week.
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Pritam Singh: Fine tune regulations and infrastructure first for PMDs
Opposition leader and Worker’s Party chief Pritam Singh shared his opinion regarding the recently implemented and much-debated personal mobility device (PMD) ban.
Mr Pritam did not deny the painful experiences of both pedestrians and PMD riders. However, he also acknowledged the value of PMD food delivery to the economy and noted how it is an “honest job” valued by many Singaporeans.
Thus, he deemed it necessary to “fine tune” current regulations and infrastructure for both PMDs and pedestrians.
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WP chief Pritam Singh believes PMDs will make a comeback in S’pore
He brought up two different sides to the issue
Workers’ Party chief Pritam Singh shared his thoughts on the PMD issue in a Facebook post on Nov. 13.
Pritam’s post, which emphasised the importance of opposition unity in Singapore, said:
“Different parties and individuals have different philosophies, both ideologically and in terms of how we engage the issues of the day.”
He also acknowledged that the PMD issue is a “difficult matter”, and brought up two different sides to the issue.
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Heated dialogue between food delivery riders and Lam Pin Min over e-scooter ban on footpaths
The government cannot risk a delay in implementing the e-scooter ban on footpaths as safety is of paramount concern, Senior Minister of State for Transport Lam Pin Min was overheard saying during a heated dialogue session with food delivery riders on Tuesday night (12 November).
Behind the closed doors of Anchorvale Community Club’s multipurpose hall, about 300 food delivery riders peppered Lam with a flurry of questions touching on the ban’s impact on their livelihood, the lack of path infrastructure for e-scooter riders to suggestions like introducing a personal mobility device (PMD) quota on roads. Some of them had also brought along their spouses and young children to the session. Also in attendance was opposition politician Goh Meng Seng, secretary-general of the People’s Power Party, who called for an e-scooter licensing regime. The session comes after Lam announced last Monday in Parliament that such devices would be banned on footpaths the day after, following a series of accidents involving them.
Reporters who turned up at the venue were not allowed to attend the closed-door session and stood outside the hall. At times, several attendees could be heard cheering on fellow riders who asked questions or heckling loudly during the dialogue, which ended at around 10pm after more than one-and-a-half hours
related: 'Irresponsible and abhorrent' - Lam Pin Min calls out opposition politician's behaviour during dialogue with food delivery riders
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Largest turnout of e-scooter riders at Lam Pin Min's meet-the-people session but footpath ban here to stay
More than 300 food-delivery riders and retailers, the largest turnout so far, showed up at a meet-the-people session on Tuesday (Nov 12). Many of them had family in tow, but all of them left without getting what they had hoped for — an indication that the Government would consider reversing the ban of e-scooters from footpaths.
This was after Dr Lam Pin Min, Senior Minister of State for Transport, stood firm on the "difficult decision" that he said the Government had to make in order to stop the growing number of accidents. Dr Lam is also the Member of Parliament (MP) of Sengkang West Single-Member Constituency.
The location of the session was changed at the last minute from the usual venue on Anchorvale Link to Anchorvale Community Centre, in order to accommodate the bigger crowd.
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Impact of PMD ban on delivery riders taken seriously, Lam Pin Min says after dialogue
E-scooter riders meet Senior Minister of State for Transport Lam Pin Min at Anchorvale Community Club.
As food delivery riders continue to lobby MPs to review the ban on riding PMDs on footpaths, Senior Minister of State for Transport Lam Pin Min reiterated that the Government is taking the impact on their livelihoods very seriously.
And the $7 million assistance scheme announced last Friday is one way it is helping personal mobility device (PMD) riders switch to an alternative vehicle to continue working, he said on Tuesday (Nov 12).
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Lam Pin Min faced toughest questions from CNA’s Steven Chia after meeting PMD riders in Sengkang
Senior Minister of State for Transport Lam Pin Min spent roughly one and a half hours in a closed-door meeting with Personal Mobility Device (PMD) riders ahead of his Meet-the-People Session on Tuesday evening.
Following it, he spoke for about 10 minutes with the media, addressing questions that were at times pretty hard-hitting from the likes of CNA‘s Steven Chia, who led questioning in the brief doorstop interview.
He denies the change in policy is a flip-flop. But why so soon, why overnight?
“Well we have been looking at this situation for a long time. We have to make the announcement and come up with the decision and at the same time we have also provided an advisory period till the end of this year because we know that some people may need time to adjust, some people may not be aware of the news, and therefore this advisory period.read more
Lam Pin Min calls out 'irresponsible and abhorrent' actions of opposition party member at PMD rider dialogue
Member of Parliament Lam Pin Min has accused a member of an opposition party of stoking emotions during a dialogue session where he met with personal mobility riders (PMD) riders.
Dr Lam, who is MP for Sengkang West, met with PMD riders, including food delivery riders, on Tuesday (Nov 12) evening as he sought to address their concerns in the wake of the e-scooter ban on footpaths.
The event drew more than 300 people, and Dr Lam said in a Facebook post on Wednesday morning that most had genuine reasons to be there, as the ban had affected the livelihoods of some.
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PPP head Goh Meng Seng weighs in on e-scooter ban
Mr Goh said that the PPP feels that the solution is to create an entire eco-system that will facilitate the PMD
As the country deals with the new ban on e-scooters on public footpaths, which was announced in Parliament on November 4, others have begun to weigh in on the issue, including opposition leader Goh Meng Seng, who is the head of the People’s Power Party (PPP).
Mr Goh has weighed in on the S$7 million grant from the government for PMD riders to switch to e-bikes, an issue that he has talked about for several years now, according to a report from mothership.
He is quoted in the report as saying that Lam Pin Min, Singapore’s Senior Minister of State for Transport “says that he use S$7 million for people to change to e-bike. You change to e-bike, you got to go by the road and it’s more dangerous for them. And yet he says he is more concerned about safety. To me that’s rubbish.”
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5 reasons food deliverymen can’t just switch to e-bikes despite grant, as explained by food deliverymen
The coordinated effort came on the heels of a S$7 million trade-in grant by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) in conjunction with the three major food delivery companies, namely Grab, Foodpanda, and Deliveroo.
Under this grant, owners of e-scooters will be able to trade in their device for up to S$1,000 to facilitate the switch to PABs (power-assisted bikes), or up to S$600 for bicycles. Unfortunately, the grant has been met with some skepticism. Some riders wanted an explanation on the abrupt ban, while others hoped that e-scooters will be allowed on footpaths again.
Speaking to Mothership, about half a dozen riders listed off reasons why it isn’t feasible to simply switch to e-bikes, despite the grant:
- Physically taxing
- Navigating the heartlands
- Dangerous to ride on the roads
- Not a fair exchange
- Will it be banned again?
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Food delivery PMD riders suggest licensing, age restrictions to Heng Swee Keat in closed door session
About 30 personal mobility device (PMD) riders from various food delivery companies were present at the MPS held in Tampines GRC, where Heng is the Member of Parliament (MP) for the ward.
Mothership spoke to a handful of riders present at the MPS, who voiced their concerns regarding the ban, and their opinion about the announcement of the grant by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) on Friday, Nov. 8. Some riders simply wanted an explanation on the abrupt ban, while others hoped for e-scooters to be allowed on footpaths again.
After roughly 45 minutes in a closed-door feedback session with Heng, the riders came out with mixed expressions, some smiling, while others looking more grim.
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Food delivery riders 'genuine concerns' about new e-scooter rules: Desmond Lee
While rules banning the use of electric scooters on footpaths were put in place to safeguard pedestrians, food delivery riders who use personal mobility devices (PMDs) for work are also Singaporeans with “genuine concerns”, said Minister for Social and Family Development Desmond Lee on Thursday (Nov 7).
Mr Lee, who is a Member of Parliament for the Jurong Spring ward of Jurong GRC, was speaking on the sidelines of his Meet-the-People session (MPS), where 50 delivery riders turned up hoping to voice their concerns over how the new regulations would affect their livelihood. More than half were wearing green GrabFood T-shirts.
Grab had earlier said a third of its riders would be affected by the new rules. Another food delivery firm, Deliveroo, said it has helped around 30 per cent of its riders that previously used PMDs or e-bikes, to switch to other modes of transport such as bicycles or motorcycles.
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High Emotions at meet-the-people session in Taman Jurong on Nov 11
About 70 food-delivery riders turned up on Monday (Nov 11) at a meet-the-people session held in Taman Jurong. They spoke with Mr Ang Wei Neng, a Member of Parliament for the Jurong Group Representation Constituency. During the session, which lasted almost two hours, emotions ran high and things got heated as the riders aired their frustrations.
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‘You take our freedom!’ Jurong MP feels delivery-rider fury over e-scooter ban
Things got really heated between food delivery riders and member of parliament Ang Wei Neng last night at a Meet-The-People session in Jurong.
Food couriers pushing for the government to lift its footpath e-scooter ban erupted in anger at the 52-year-old Jurong representative’s meeting, with one man in particular confronting Ang and accusing him and the government of demonizing delivery riders and slow-walking funds meant to help.
“Take back the law, yes or no? … Can you give us the S$7 million? Can you give us on the spot – the processing, everything?” the unidentified man says at the start of the 5-minute clip as other riders clap in support. At least 50 people attended the meeting.
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“You take all our freedom!” Food-delivery PMD riders lament their frustrations to Jurong GRC MP Ang Wei Neng over e-scooter ban
Dressed in their food-delivery attire, they expressed their concerns to Mr Ang Wei Neng, Member of Parliament (MP) for Jurong GRC, who sat in to hear their appeal on behalf of Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam – who was overseas.
However, things got really heated half way through the session as a few of the riders lamented their frustrations with great intensity.
A 5-minute footage capturing the dramatic discourse has been circulating across social media since last night. In the video, an elderly man can be seen gesturing angrily at Mr Ang as he called out the government for implementing the ban.
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“Are you running a communist law now?” PMD riders confront Jurong GRC MP Ang Wei Neng
It was probably the most tense PMD-MPS meeting so far
Personal mobility device (PMD) food delivery riders showed little signs of abating as they continued to visit Meet-the-People Sessions (MPS) for the fifth consecutive working day (Nov. 11, 2019).
However, the MPS at Taman Jurong took a rather tense turn when they confronted Ang Wei Neng, Member of Parliament for Jurong GRC, regarding the footpath ban that was enacted on Nov. 5.
Ang, who is the representative for Jurong Central, was sitting in for Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam who was overseas.
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Group of food-delivery riders asks for 6-month ‘probation’ to use e-scooters on roads or footpaths
About 70 food-delivery riders have appealed to the authorities with a proposal to set a six-month probation period for them to use e-scooters on footpaths or roads as part of their work. Wearing their food-delivery attire, they turned up on Monday (Nov 11) evening at a meet-the-people session held in Taman Jurong, where Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam is the Member of Parliament (MP) for Jurong Group Representation Constituency (GRC).
Mr Ang Wei Neng, also an MP for the GRC, sat in to hear their appeal because Mr Tharman was overseas. After the session, which lasted close to two hours, Mr Ang said that he would submit their appeal to the relevant authorities.
During the session, emotions ran high and things got heated as various delivery riders spoke and told Mr Ang their frustrations.
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Affected food delivery riders turn up at MPS to voice their grievances; MP Ong Teng Koon asks if they want to take up job as Singpost postman
As such, on Monday night (11 November), about 30 PMD riders gathered at Woodlands Avenue 5 to meet the MP for Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC Ong Teng Koon as he visited the area for a Meet-the-People session, Mothership reported.
The group of affected riders went to meet Mr Ong as they wanted to raise their problems to the MP over the ban and hear what solutions he had to offer about the issue.
A video of the conversation was uploaded by Mothership on its Facebook page, and we can see that Mr Ong first suggested that the riders use bicycles instead of PMDs to deliver food. In response to this, one rider said that if they use a bicycle, they can at most deliver 3 orders in an hour, which will only allow them to earn S$15.
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Delivery riders at Woodlands MPS explain why they’d choose this job despite MP offering postman position
After exchanging pleasantries with the troubled riders, Ong gave a plethora of suggestions, and even brought along of posse of people from NTUC and e2i (Employment and Employability Institute), whom he said he had brought along in hopes of helping those gathered find an alternative job.
At one point he even asked if they were opened to working as a postmen for Singpost.
At least one person, however, maintained his loyalty to continue as a food delivery rider: 'If we don't deliver their food, then who will?' But as it turns out, a lot of the food delivery personnel only resorted to doing food delivery because they couldn’t find any other jobs in the first place.
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About 50 food delivery PMD riders turn up at Meet-the-People session in Jurong
About 50 food delivery riders who rely on personal mobility devices for work showed up at the Meet-the-People session (MPS) in Jurong Spring ward on Thursday, Nov. 7 to look for Minister for Social and Family Development Desmond Lee. Lee is a Jurong GRC MP overseeing the ward.
A majority of those present were wearing the green GrabFood uniform. The riders were at the MPS to voice their concerns. Some issues they brought up included not being able to pay off the instalments on their PMDs and being unable to obtain e-bikes or other vehicles that would allow them to continue working, CNA reported.
This was the third time PMD users have showed up at the MPS to look for parliamentarians.
- On Tuesday, Nov. 5, some 30 delivery riders met with Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam in the Chong Pang ward of Nee Soon GRC.
- On Wednesday, Nov. 6, about 50 riders tried to look for Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in his Teck Ghee ward in Ang Mo Kio GRC.
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About 50 PMD food delivery riders show up at Ang Mo Kio Meet-the-People session to seek recourse
At around 8pm, the majority of these personnel were waiting in the vicinity of Block 322 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3. Many of the riders parked their personal mobility devices (PMDs) along the footpath nearby or at the void deck. Those who showed up appeared to have taken time out of their delivery work, as they were dressed in uniform.
It also appeared to have been a show of solidarity with those PMD users affected by the blanket ban that came into effect on Nov. 5. Some of the riders were sharing their frustration with reporters while waiting. According to one of them, the earliest rider came as early as 7pm to get into the queue, in hopes of meeting PM Lee or other MPs. Many of riders said they found the ban too sudden, which caught them off-guard as they were using the PMDs to make a living to support their families.
At around 8:40pm, a representative for the riders shared that she did not meet any MPs, but their collective concerns were registered. She said she hopes the government can help them with their predicament and provide alternatives.
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E-scooter riders gather to voice frustration over ban at Meet-the-People session in Ang Mo Kio
Around 50 electric scooter riders gathered at a Meet-the-People session (MPS) in Ang Mo Kio on Wednesday (Nov 6) night to voice their frustration over the recently announced ban.
The riders, many of whom were wearing green GrabFood delivery uniforms, were hoping to meet Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who helms the Teck Ghee ward.
A few of them had arrived at 6pm even though the MPS at Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3 was only scheduled to start at 8pm.
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PMD riders & sellers meet SM Teo Chee Hean at MPS to share concerns with new LTA trade-in grant
And almost every evening since Tuesday, when the ban took effect, numerous PMD delivery riders have gathered to attend meetings with Members of Parliament, some of whom are ministers, to voice their concerns.
On Friday (Nov. 8), a small group of 15 food delivery riders and PMD retailers met with Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean at his Meet-the-People Session at Blk 738 Pasir Ris Drive 10.
They entered a room together for a closed-door session that lasted about 50 minutes.
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About 150 PMD food delivery riders meet Shanmugam in Chong Pang for 2nd session
About 150 personal mobility device (PMD) riders showed up at a dialogue session at Chong Pang Community Club on Nov. 12 to meet the Nee Soon GRC MP, K Shanmugam, who is also law and home affairs minister.
The ban had sparked a furore among Singaporeans, with the food delivery riders who use the PMD to earn a living the most affected.
Since the first meeting between PMD riders and Shanmugam, various Meet-the-People sessions (MPS) over the past week saw a spike in the number of attendees who wanted to raise their concerns. A basketball court in Chong Pang Community Club nearby was filled with the PMDs left neatly in rows by the riders.
relared: Shanmugam - Have to be fair regarding PMD ban, cannot give delivery riders preferential treatment
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About 30 PMD riders approach Shanmugam in Chong Pang en masse about ban
Photos and a video of the encounter was put up on Facebook by those who were present
Many of whom were wearing the uniform of a food delivery service. Others appeared to be middle-aged men and women. The exact nature of the discussions was not disclosed.
Shanmugam has since provided a response to the meeting.
He said the encounter was civil, contrary to online portrayals of the discussion.
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GrabFood warns customers of longer wait with e-scooter ban on footpaths; Deliveroo to stop working with errant riders
Customers should be prepared for longer waits and even having their orders cancelled when a ban on the use of electric scooters on public footpaths kicks in on Tuesday (Nov 5), said food delivery provider GrabFood.
Meanwhile, Deliveroo said that it will stop working with errant riders who continue to use their e-scooters on footpaths.
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Veteran architect Tay Kheng Soon suggests simple design change to tackle PMD issue
While there are benefits to PMD usage, poor user behaviour has also compromised the safety of pedestrians
Following a discussion over the possibility to ban PMDs in Singapore, veteran local architect Tay Kheng Soon has spoken out regarding the controversy in Singapore. Tay is also an Adjunct Professor at the National Department of Architecture at the National University of Singapore (NUS).
Instead of banning PMDs, Tay recommended a simple design change. In his Facebook post on Oct. 9, he suggested adding grooves to the pedestrian pavements to compel PMD riders to slow down. In addition, walkways can be widened to accommodate more users.
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Delivery riders rush to register for e-scooter trade-in grant
Around 1000 affected riders signed up on the first day of registration for the e-scooter trade-in grant. GrabFood and Foodpanda released their company’s terms for the trade-in grant this week following the government’s announcement of the S$7 million grant scheme to help affected riders.
Reports estimate that around 7,000 food delivery riders will be affected by the recent government ban on e-scooters on footpaths. Affected food delivery riders may trade in their e-scooters for a bicycle or an electric bicycle co-subsidized by the government and the food delivery companies.
GrabFood announced that more than 20 percent of its affected riders have signed up for the grant yesterday. More than a third of GrabFood’s riders use e-scooters to deliver orders. In comparison, an estimated one-third of Foodpanda’s 960 e-scooter riders have signed up online to trade-in their devices for bicycles as initially reported by Channel News Asia. Deliveroo declined to provide figures about rider registrations but confirmed that its eligible riders have begun signing up yesterday. The company was the last to announce its terms for the trade-in scheme.
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Opposition politician Goh Meng Seng: S$7 million grant is ‘knee-jerk effect’
Calling the recent e-scooter Trade-in-Grant to help PMD food delivery riders switch to alternative forms of transport a “knee-jerk effect to solve a problem that was created by them”, Goh said that the government’s way of solving the problem shouldn’t put riders at more risk.
“As I said inside (the dialogue session), there’s no ideal situation (where) there are no accidents. Every day we have accidents on the street. Are you going to ban vehicles? Are you going to ban people from driving on the roads? No!”
“As the government, it is your job to think of a holistic way to solve the problem. Not to ban the problem! We must decide if PMDs are good for us as a society, as a new technology,” he said.
related: Opposition politician Goh Meng Seng 'gatecrashed' 2 PAP MPs' dialogue sessions with PMD riders in 1 night
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E-scooter trade-in grant the wrong way to address situation
I see the $7 million e-scooter Trade-in Grant as part of a very disturbing trend in policymaking ($7m fund to help delivery riders switch from e-scooters, Nov 9). Taxpayers' money has been called upon again, as in the earlier incentive for early disposal of non-UL2272 certified e-scooter ($100 incentive for early disposal of e-scooters that fail safety standards, Sept 21). The plight of food delivery riders deserves to be addressed but I feel this is the wrong way to do it.
The dangers to footpath pedestrians have been highlighted many times by the public. Yet, stakeholders such as the companies selling personal mobility devices (PMDs), food delivery companies, their riders, and PMD riders in general chose to ignore the call for better riding practices.
At the very least, I would have expected the food delivery companies to equip their riders' PMDs with cameras and disincentivise bad riding behaviour. PMD sellers should have provided short training courses on safe riding and respecting pedestrians.
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S$7 million in grants to help food delivery riders trade in e-scooters following footpath ban
Food delivery riders affected by a footpath ban on e-scooters can get up to S$1,000 in the form of a trade-in grant funded by the Government and food delivery companies, the Ministry of Transport (MOT) announced on Friday (Nov 8).
Food delivery riders have voiced concerns over how a new rule prohibiting e-scooters from footpaths would affect their livelihoods.
For riders who intend to stay on the job, the Government and three major food delivery companies – Grab, Deliveroo and Foodpanda - have set up a S$7 million e-scooter Trade-in Grant (eTG) for food delivery riders to switch to bicycles, power-assisted bicycles (PABs) or personal mobility aids (PMAs), the ministry said in a press release.
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Deliveroo to stop working with food delivery riders who use e-scooters on footpaths
Deliveroo will stop working with food delivery riders who use e-scooters on footpaths, the company said on Monday (Nov 4).
This comes after Senior Minister of State for Transport Lam Pin Min announced in Parliament that the use of the devices on footpaths will be banned from Tuesday (Nov 5).
In response to queries from CNA, a Deliveroo spokesperson said the firm works closely with all its riders to ensure that they comply with road safety rules and guidelines:
“We sent out communications to all riders today to inform them of the new regulation. Should any rider be found using an e-scooter on footpaths after Nov 5, we will stop working with them.”read more
Angry PMD users flood Lam Pin Min’s Facebook page with angry comments
In response to the sudden ban, many Singaporeans took to voicing their support for the move, with claims of having been terrorised by speeding PMD riders who had little regard for safety.
PMD riders, on the other hand, weren’t too pleased. Critical comments slamming Lam surfaced on his Facebook post.
The criticism was largely centred on the blanket ban on PMDs, which has hurt the livelihoods of those who deliver food to earn their keep.
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PMD footpath ban a last resort in dealing with errant riders after lack of improvement with previous measures: Senior Minister of State for Transport
The Government’s decision to ban the use of e-scooters or personal mobility devices (PMDs) on footpaths is a last resort in dealing with errant riders, following a lack of improvement with previous measures, said Senior Minister of State for Transport Lam Pin Min.
In a Facebook post on Fri (8 Nov), Lam said that the Government has introduced several measures to curb the problem of “reckless and inconsiderate riding” of PMDs, including lowering speed limits, introducing the Safe Riding Programme, and even strengthening law enforcement via the Land Transport Authority against riders who break the law.
“Despite all this, the situation did not improve. Last year, nearly 300 people were treated at hospitals for PMD-related injuries. That’s nearly 1 every day! And these were just the reported cases. Many of these are minor incidents, but you would remember the more serious ones, including those that resulted in fatalities,” he illustrated.
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𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐚𝐲 𝐏𝐌𝐃𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝
There has been criticism to say that the government didn’t do anything about the PMDs and suddenly banned them overnight. This is incorrect. In case we forget, here’s a re-cap of what happened over the years:
- When these things first came on the scene, the government supported it. MPs said there was opportunity for pedestrians and PMDs to share. They said it would help with “last mile” transportation and help ease the load on our transport system. In 2013, the LTA started to build infrastructure to promote “active mobility” to cater to the use of bicycles and PMDs.
- Then the first reckless acts came about. However Lui Tuck Yew in 2014 said that banning the eScooters would be too “blunt and rigid”. The traffic police advised that the PMDs should be used with caution on foot paths.
- In 2015, the PMDs again became the center of criticism. Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim said that there must be a “clear and consistent set of rules and norms on the use of bicycles and PMDs”. This set of rules would soon be implemented.
- In 2016, several accidents put the matter of PMDs before Parliament again. This time a PMD collided into a woman. The woman then slipped into a coma. Josephine Teo then said that it was “unfortunate to allow careless behaviour of minority to prevent larger community from using PMDs. Parliament then proposed a slew of measures.
- An “Active Mobility Advisory Panel” then issued a list of recommendations that was wholly accepted by the government.
- In 2017, the Mobility Act was passed. It included, amongst other things: limiting the speed to 15 km/h, limiting the weight and width of the device.
- In 2018, the government introduced mandatory registration and a further lowering of speed limits to 10km/h on footpaths.
- A mandatory registration regime was started. It gave PMD users until 30th of June 2019 to register their devices.
- In July 2019, due to the high number of fires caused by poorly manufactured devices, the sale of non-UL2272 certified PMDs were banned. Those who bought non compliant devices were given an incentive to switch to a fire-safe one.
- September 2019: Town councils announced a ban of PMD use in void decks.
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Previous changes to use of E-scooters
PMDs like e-scooters were first introduced in Singapore in 2013. Although it gained popularity among the people in the country, but it soon began to make negative headlines due to behaviour of certain errant users which contributed to high number of accidents involving such devices, several of which were fatal. Prior to the latest ban on footpaths, the Government announced that:
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Singapore bans E-scooters from footpaths after spate of accidents
Amid a rise in the number of accidents involving e-scooters and pedestrians, and stronger calls from the public for the ban of such devices on shared spaces, the government will ban their use on footpaths effective from Tuesday (5 November).
The move comes one-and-a-half years after the Active Mobility Act fully kicked in, allowing the use of e-scooters on footpaths, which are typically just 1.5m wide.
Announcing the turnaround in Parliament on Monday (4 November), Senior Minister of State for Transport Lam Pin Min said, “As more accidents occur, the calls for a total ban on PMD (personal mobility device) usage gets louder.”
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PMD: Distinguish clearly between device and delivery
Safety (or the lack of it) is at the centre of the PMD ban. If you mix this up with the delivery jobs, you will get nowhere in policy and you’ll be very confused in your thinking.
A lot has been said about the ban, but let’s keep that separate for clarity of thinking. Let’s just go straight to the issue at hand: jobs.
Here are three pieces of fact:
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Higher income for delivery riders and drivers as demand grows
MOVING AROUND: Mr Michael Ng (photo) makes full use of his monthly senior citizen concession pass, which helps him to save on transport fees. TNP PHOTO: DALENE LOW
Recently, two top performing Foodpanda riders were rewarded with an all-expenses-paid trip to watch the opening match at the recently concluded Euro 2016.
This just shows how badly the delivery service industry needs people. And the demand is reflected in how much these drivers earn.
The food delivery service said some of its riders make up to $6,000 a month.
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RIDERS IN FOODPANDA EARN UP TO $6,000 PER MONTH. SERIOUSLY?
Would you like to earn up to $6,000 a month doing food delivery? If so, it seems like Foodpanda is looking for you. In an article published earlier this week, The New Paper wrote about the demand of deliverymen.
Even without statistics, it’s common sense: with more people buying online, it’s no surprise that courier service is growing at an exponential rate. Even the founder of 77th Street has jumped on the bandwagon with her courier service FastFast.
But companies have “Uber-ized”: with technology, courier companies no longer need to maintain a fleet of vehicles and drivers. All they need is a software to connect customers and people with vehicles, and then take a cut from the transaction.
read more
Is It Possible To Earn A $4,200 Monthly Pay Cheque With Normal Working Hours Doing Food Delivery?
A recent piece of information made the news, where a Deliveroo rider’s hard work paid off with a pretty fat paycheque.
Over a span of 6 months, a Deliveroo rider earned an income of $25,499.66. That is an average salary of $4,241.61 per month. Here’s a quick summary of his income:
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Food Delivery Riders (2019) – How Much Can You Make as a Deliveroo, Foodpanda or Grabfood Rider?
Forget about giving tuition or waiting tables. These days, the part-time job of choice is being food delivery riders. It involves plying Singapore’s roads, ferrying food or passengers to their destinations. It’s easy to see why this kind of driver job in Singapore is so popular right now.
Thanks to technology, workers for companies like Deliveroo and Grab can work on an own-time-own-target basis. No need to rush to be at work on time, fret about not getting enough shifts or scramble to re-schedule a missed tuition session. All you need to do is activate the app whenever you feel like working, and off you go. While more and more car owners now moonlight as Grab drivers, those who have motorcycles, bicycles or just their legs can still earn some spare cash as food delivery riders for the platforms that Singaporeans are becoming increasingly dependent on to feed them.
So what’s it really like becoming a food delivery rider for Deliveroo, Foodpanda, GrabFood or Honestbee?
read more
Hardworking man in S’pore makes double money hustling for GrabFood & Foodpanda = Grabpanda
A hardworking man in Singapore has been photographed with two food delivery bags on his bicycle. His propensity for working double has won praise from commenters.
How much can he earn? Currently, three major food delivery services exist in Singapore - GrabFood, Foodpanda and Deliveroo. All have different formulas for how much they pay their delivery personnel, but the figure comes up to about S$6 to S$11 per delivery on average.
This is dependent on whether deliveries are made inside or outside of the Central Business District area and if it is during peak hours. Riders can make up to two deliveries per hour if both are shorter distance jobs.
read more
related:
The dust settles on E-scooter footpath ban
Furore over the ban of E-scooters from footpaths
Singapore bans E-scooters from footpaths after spate of accidents
Spate of e-bike accidents
Spate of fires linked to charging of PMDs
Previous changes to use of E-scooters
PMDs like e-scooters were first introduced in Singapore in 2013. Although it gained popularity among the people in the country, but it soon began to make negative headlines due to behaviour of certain errant users which contributed to high number of accidents involving such devices, several of which were fatal. Prior to the latest ban on footpaths, the Government announced that:
- Since 15 January 2018, under the Road Traffic Act, it is illegal for PMDs – such as e-scooters and hoverboards – to be used on Singapore roads, with first-time offenders subject to a fine of up to S$2,000, a jail term of up to three months, or both.
- Then in May 2018, the Active Mobility Act kicked in and enforced new rules like lowering the speed limit for the devices on footpaths from 15 kmh to 10kmh, mandatory use of helmets by cyclists on roads and “stop and look” requirement for all active mobility device users.
- Following that, in July this year, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced that all e-scooters and electric bikes must be registered and the devices have to comply with the UL2272 certification.
- UL2272 is a safety standard that will reduce the risk of fire and it assesses the devices at the “system level”. This means that it looks at the full spectrum of use conditions, instead of evaluating only individual parts, hence remarkably reducing the risk of fires. Certification involves a series of electrical, mechanical and environmental tests.
- From 1 September 2019 onwards, riders were also banned from riding their PMDs at void decks and common corridors at 15 town councils under the People’s Action Party (PAP).
read more
Singapore bans E-scooters from footpaths after spate of accidents
E-scooters banned from Singapore footpaths from 5 November
Amid a rise in the number of accidents involving e-scooters and pedestrians, and stronger calls from the public for the ban of such devices on shared spaces, the government will ban their use on footpaths effective from Tuesday (5 November).
The move comes one-and-a-half years after the Active Mobility Act fully kicked in, allowing the use of e-scooters on footpaths, which are typically just 1.5m wide.
Announcing the turnaround in Parliament on Monday (4 November), Senior Minister of State for Transport Lam Pin Min said, “As more accidents occur, the calls for a total ban on PMD (personal mobility device) usage gets louder.”
read more
PMD: Distinguish clearly between device and delivery
Safety (or the lack of it) is at the centre of the PMD ban. If you mix this up with the delivery jobs, you will get nowhere in policy and you’ll be very confused in your thinking.
A lot has been said about the ban, but let’s keep that separate for clarity of thinking. Let’s just go straight to the issue at hand: jobs.
Here are three pieces of fact:
- The prevalence of PMDs in delivery came about only about a year ago. Before that, the vehicle of choice were either motorbikes, bicycles or on foot (foot delivery gradually phased out due to its unpopularity). So it isn’t as if the riders have been working in this industry for so long that they are entrapped in it and cannot shift industries.
- Grab has developed archetypes to identify their riders. The ones that earn the most are called the “hustlers” (or something to that effect). They’re the ones who know how to strategise, deliver in the rain (pays more) and chances are, they use motorbikes. Hustlers can earn up to $5k a month, tax free but do not contribute to their own CPF.
- Many (exact figure not known) of these delivery riders are middle aged and hail from sunset industries. From a small income, they suddenly see a windfall of many thousands of dollars a month.
read more
Higher income for delivery riders and drivers as demand grows
Recently, two top performing Foodpanda riders were rewarded with an all-expenses-paid trip to watch the opening match at the recently concluded Euro 2016.
This just shows how badly the delivery service industry needs people. And the demand is reflected in how much these drivers earn.
The food delivery service said some of its riders make up to $6,000 a month.
read more
RIDERS IN FOODPANDA EARN UP TO $6,000 PER MONTH. SERIOUSLY?
Would you like to earn up to $6,000 a month doing food delivery? If so, it seems like Foodpanda is looking for you. In an article published earlier this week, The New Paper wrote about the demand of deliverymen.
Even without statistics, it’s common sense: with more people buying online, it’s no surprise that courier service is growing at an exponential rate. Even the founder of 77th Street has jumped on the bandwagon with her courier service FastFast.
But companies have “Uber-ized”: with technology, courier companies no longer need to maintain a fleet of vehicles and drivers. All they need is a software to connect customers and people with vehicles, and then take a cut from the transaction.
read more
Is It Possible To Earn A $4,200 Monthly Pay Cheque With Normal Working Hours Doing Food Delivery?
A recent piece of information made the news, where a Deliveroo rider’s hard work paid off with a pretty fat paycheque.
Over a span of 6 months, a Deliveroo rider earned an income of $25,499.66. That is an average salary of $4,241.61 per month. Here’s a quick summary of his income:
- The average earning per Deliveroo delivery trip ranges from $8.70 to $$9.33 per trip.
- On average, the rider completed an average of 474 orders per month.
- To achieve such results, however, requires long hours of hard work. The Deliveroo rider, Irwan, worked 64 hours a week for his well-deserving paycheque!
- Each hour, he completes an average of 1.85 orders.
read more
Food Delivery Riders (2019) – How Much Can You Make as a Deliveroo, Foodpanda or Grabfood Rider?
Forget about giving tuition or waiting tables. These days, the part-time job of choice is being food delivery riders. It involves plying Singapore’s roads, ferrying food or passengers to their destinations. It’s easy to see why this kind of driver job in Singapore is so popular right now.
Thanks to technology, workers for companies like Deliveroo and Grab can work on an own-time-own-target basis. No need to rush to be at work on time, fret about not getting enough shifts or scramble to re-schedule a missed tuition session. All you need to do is activate the app whenever you feel like working, and off you go. While more and more car owners now moonlight as Grab drivers, those who have motorcycles, bicycles or just their legs can still earn some spare cash as food delivery riders for the platforms that Singaporeans are becoming increasingly dependent on to feed them.
So what’s it really like becoming a food delivery rider for Deliveroo, Foodpanda, GrabFood or Honestbee?
read more
Hardworking man in S’pore makes double money hustling for GrabFood & Foodpanda = Grabpanda
A hardworking man in Singapore has been photographed with two food delivery bags on his bicycle. His propensity for working double has won praise from commenters.
How much can he earn? Currently, three major food delivery services exist in Singapore - GrabFood, Foodpanda and Deliveroo. All have different formulas for how much they pay their delivery personnel, but the figure comes up to about S$6 to S$11 per delivery on average.
This is dependent on whether deliveries are made inside or outside of the Central Business District area and if it is during peak hours. Riders can make up to two deliveries per hour if both are shorter distance jobs.
read more
related:
The dust settles on E-scooter footpath ban
Furore over the ban of E-scooters from footpaths
Singapore bans E-scooters from footpaths after spate of accidents
Spate of e-bike accidents
Spate of fires linked to charging of PMDs
