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 users who ride on drain gratings may face up to $40,000 fine and jail
E-scooter users should not ride their devices on drain gratings as they try to find a loophole around the ban on personal mobility devices (PMDs) on footpaths.
That is the recommendation of the national water agency PUB, which is responsible for drains, in response to queries by The Straits Times.
"PUB does not recommend riding PMDs on drain gratings, which are an essential part of the drainage system that ensure effective stormwater management," the agency said on Friday (Nov 8).
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Up to S$5,000 fine for PMD users who ride on grass: NParks
Electric scooter users who try to circumvent the new footpath ban by riding on the grass alongside sidewalks could face a fine of up to S$5,000.
The National Parks Board (NParks) told CNA on Wednesday (Nov 6) that under the Parks and Trees Act, it is an offence to ride personal mobility devices (PMDs) along the green verges without permission.
E-scooter users who do so risk damaging the turf, which can lead to soil erosion. The uneven ground is also not safe to ride on, said Ms Kartini Omar, group director of parks development at NParks.
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Over 11,000 sign petition urging Gov to reverse PMD ban on footpaths within 24 hrs
Over 11,000 netizens have signed a petition urging the Government to reverse the latest ban on the use of Personal Mobility Devices (PMDs) on footpaths, in the span of 24 hours. Following a spate of PMD-related accidents, Senior Minister of State for Transport Lam Pin Min announced in Parliament yesterday (4 Nov) that all e-scooters will be banned from public footpaths.
The ban, which went into effect today (5 Nov), now only allows e-scooter riders to use their PMDs on cycling and park connector network paths. The Land Transport Authority (LTA), a statutory board under the Ministry of Transport, will issue a warning to those who flout the ban between 5 Nov to 31 Dec – a grace period during which the Government will waive heftier penalties as PMD riders adjust to the ban.
From 1 Jan 2020, those caught riding e-scooters on public footpaths will face fines of up to $2,000 and/or imprisonment of up to three months. The sudden ban has led to some PMD-riders ‘panic selling’ their e-scooters on online marketplaces. Others, however, are urging the Government to reverse the ban. A petition on change.org asking the authorities to allow PMD riders to continue using public footpaths has garnered over 11,000 signatures in a day.
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Over 100 PMD users warned on first day of footpath ban
More than 100 riders of electric scooters and other personal mobility devices (PMDs) were warned by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) for riding on footpaths yesterday.
In response to queries, the LTA said it had issued more than 100 warnings as of 5pm, on the first day of the ban on e-scooters on footpaths.
The ban will progressively be expanded to other motorised PMDs, such as hoverboards and unicycles, by the first quarter of next year.
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Over 100 PMD riders get warnings; riding on paths' grass patches can be an offence
More than 100 riders of e-scooters and other personal mobility devices (PMDs) were warned by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) for riding on footpaths on Tuesday (Nov 5).
In response to queries, the LTA said it has issued more than 100 warnings as of 5pm, on the first day that a ban of e-scooters from footpaths kicked in.
The ban will be progressively expanded to other motorised PMDs, such as hoverboards and unicycles, by the first quarter of next year.
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PMD users who ride on the grass beside sidewalks could be fined up to S$5,000
In the wake of the ban of e-scooters from the country’s footpaths, which was announced in Parliament on Monday, November 4, the National Parks Board (NParks) has now said that anyone endeavouring to get around the new ban by using the grass along sidewalks as a path could receive a fine of up to S$5,000.
Permission is required if a person wishes to ride their Personal Mobility Device (PMD) on grassy areas, otherwise, this act is considered to be an offence under the Parks and Trees Act, according to a report from Channel NewsAsia (CNA).
One day after the ban was announced, numerous videos were posted online showing people riding their PMDs on the grass beside footpaths, in an attempt to circumvent the ban.
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Singapore states PMD ban is same as France and Japan, but fails to mention PMD are allowed on streets for the two countries
The ban of electric scooters on footpaths kicked in today (5 November) in Singapore, and those found guilty of the crime can be fined up to S$2,000 and jail time of up to three months once the ban is strictly enforced from 2020.
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”.
Although e-scooters are banned from being used on roads in the Republic, but it will still be allowed on cycling paths and Park Connector Networks (PCNs). Senior Minister of State for Transport Lam Pin Min said in Parliament on Monday (4 November) that the ban follows Japan and France’s move to prohibit the riding of e-scooters on its pavements.
related:
PMD users riding e-scooters on grass along sidewalks may be fined up to S$5,000
PMD users vent frustrations with the sudden ban of e-scooters on footpaths
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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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Netizens take pity on woman spotted pushing Personal Mobility Aid along footpath
Amidst the hilarious gags about the e-scooter ban hammer yesterday, there was one particular scene that anyone with a heart would find pretty forlorn.
In a video clip that has since gone viral on the Helloćsia Singapore Facebook page, a woman can be seen struggling to push her personal mobility device (PMD) along the footpath.
It’s possible that her three-wheeled machine ran out of juice, but it’s also highly probable that she just doesn’t want to risk being caught riding a PMD on the pavement.
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Food delivery riders meet Shanmugam to voice concerns over new rule
About 30 food delivery riders met Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam on Tuesday evening (Nov 5) to voice their concerns that the ban of e-scooters from footpaths would affect their livelihoods.
They had gathered at Mr Shanmugam's Meet-the-People Session in Yishun over the ban, which came into effect on Tuesday.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Mr Shanmugam said it was a "good, civil meeting", and that he would call for another one.
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Shanmugam holds 'civil' meeting with PMD riders, points to an individual's 'sneaky and unnecessary' conduct
Home Affairs and Law Minister K Shanmugam said he has held a “good” and “civil” discussion with about 30 personal mobility device (PMD) riders but decried what he claimed was the “sneaky and unnecessary” action of an individual who took photos and misrepresented the meeting.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday (6 November), Shanmugam noted that the group of riders had come to his Meet-the-People Session on Tuesday evening. After first meeting three of them in his branch office, the MP for Nee Soon GRC then asked to meet the rest of the group.
“As it was an open area, I told them to come closer around me so that we can hear each other better. I explained the reasons for the move on PMDs. They explained their position, their difficulties. I said we understood their position, but I would also convey their views to MOT, and to Cabinet. The riders were appreciative,” said Shanmugam.
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E-scooter riders take grievances to meet-the-people sessions, others unsure what to do with devices
They have been in the firing line but have ploughed on quietly because they use e-scooters to earn a living. Now, they are anxious because a ban of e-scooters on all footpaths has disrupted their livelihood.
Up until the ban on Tuesday (Nov 5), it has been the angry voices of mostly pedestrians getting louder and public consternation growing over irresponsible or ignorant users. The threats to safety could not be ignored, as road users were injured or killed and fires engulfed homes when personal mobility devices (PMDs) were left charging.
The ban came swiftly and suddenly. On Monday, the Government announced that the use of e-scooters on all footpaths would be banned the next day, and riders may use them only on cycling paths and park connector networks. Such devices will continue to be banned from roads as well. The ban does not affect bicycles, kick-scooters and personal mobility aids such as motorised wheelchairs and mobility scooters.
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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. Speaking to CNA, one delivery rider said she could not do her work because of the ban.
"A lot of the (people) here ... they have children to pay for, instalments to pay for, they have house to pay for. Some of them don't even have a house, they have to rent," said delivery rider Dana. "So, you suddenly tell us one day, the next day we cannot work. How are we going to pay all these instalments, how are we going to pay all the expenses? It's not possible, physically not possible really," she added.
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Singapore bans electric scooters from footpaths after spate of accidents
Singapore announced on Monday it was banning all electric scooters from footpaths, following a rise in the number of accidents involving the devices.
The ban, which begins from Tuesday, will confine riders to 440km of cycling paths, down from the 5,500km of footpaths they could use previously.
Transport experts welcomed the move, saying the government had run out of patience with the problems caused by the scooters, often referred to as personal mobility devices (PMDs). But some retailers said they could go bust and urged the government to reconsider.
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Singapore bans e-scooters from sidewalks after injury spike
Singapore banned electric scooters from footpaths after a string of injuries from collisions with pedestrians.
Starting Tuesday, the city-state’s government will fine riders on footpaths as much as S$2,000 (US$1,474) or jail them for three months, or both, Senior Minister of State for Transport Lam Pin Min said Monday.
Electric scooters have become a popular option in a city-state that’s one of the most expensive places in the world to own a car. With the cost of a Toyota Prius topping US$100,000, demand for a battery-powered, two-wheeled alternative has soared among delivery companies and commuters.
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Singapore to ban e-scooters from sidewalks amid rising injuries
Violaters will be fined up to S$2,000 (or about US$1,475) and/or jailed for three months, said Lam Pin Min, the senior minister of state for transport. However, the city-state will provide an advisory period that will last until the end of this year before the new rule is more firmly laid out.
By the end Q1 2020, after authorities pass amendments to the Active Mobility Act in Parliament, other personal mobility devices such as unicycles and hoverboards will also be banned on footpaths.
According to the senior minister, authorities catch an average of around 370 offenders a month. There were also many reported accidents, injuries, and deaths involving e-scooters.
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‘You are the hazard!’: Singapore’s e-scooter riders lash out at ban
Singaporeans enraged over the new ban on e-scooters from footpaths are expressing their anger through all sorts of means – from angry rants targeting responsible officials to videos and memes suggesting ways to skirt the law.
Leading the charge against the ban announced yesterday that’s sure to hurt food couriers, Kelvin Ho lashed out on behalf of his fellow deliverymen in a 10-minute diatribe against Senior Minister of State for Transport Lam Pin Min.
“You are destroying all the PMD food delivery riders, you know or not? Footpaths cannot ride ah? At first, you emphasized [that] PMD is a fire hazard [and that] all must change to UL-2272,” he says in slang-choked Singlish. “Okay, you know, many owners got the UL2272 [certified e-scooters] just because of you, LTA people … Now, you say footpaths cannot ride? Wah! Must push ah?”
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E-scooter ban on footpaths 'only right', says brother of woman who died in Bedok accident
PHOTOS: COURTESY OF ONG FAMILY, SHIN MIN DAILY NEWS
Madam Ong Bee Eng, 65, died in hospital several days after suffering serious brain injury as well as fractures in her ribs and collarbone in the collision on Sept 21, 2019.
The e-scooter ban on footpaths is "only right", said the brother of a female cyclist who died in a fatal accident with one of the devices in Bedok in September.
Speaking in Mandarin in a phone call with The Straits Times on Monday afternoon (Nov 4), Mr Andy Ong, 53, spoke in favour of the ban, which was announced in Parliament earlier in the day by Senior Minister of State for Transport Lam Pin Min.
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Errant e-scooter riders to blame for ban on footpaths: Experts
Every day after school, five days a week, Mr Putra Zulfadhli, 18, makes food deliveries on his e-scooter till 9pm, to raise his own school fees and pocket money.
The Institute of Technical Education student, who works with GrabFood, spends most of the weekend making deliveries. But he will now have to think of another way to make his deliveries with new restrictions on personal mobility devices (PMDs) kicking in.
In Parliament yesterday, Senior Minister of State for Transport Lam Pin Min announced that starting today, e-scooters will be banned from footpaths.
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What’s next for e-scooters after the footpath ban?
The new law may keep pedestrians safe from e-scooters, but does not negate the need for investment in critical transport infrastructure going forward, says Julienne Chen.
The ban on e-scooters from footpaths was announced suddenly. But let us be honest, it was a long time coming. The warning signs were there: Fights and accidents playing out in full view for all to see and judge, and efforts at mediation were insufficient to calm the tension hanging in the air, too thick to be tenable over the long term.
The co-habitation arrangement between pedestrians and e-scooters wasn’t going to stand the test of time.
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Don’t get divided by the E-scooter ban
Adding labels divide you. Oh, you are “Pro-PMD!” or are you “Anti-PMD”
I don’t support the behavior and some PMD users, and I don’t support the sudden blanket ban of PMDs.
The Singapore government has a stunning record of being consistent. Just look at Ng Yat Chung, this scholar is very consistent. As former Chief of defence, he probably has very good grades, and he never fails. When after sinking NOL, the proceeds to lead SPH and continues his stellar record.
However, for the case of PMDs, there are people who encountered a few bad riders and suddenly they call out for the ban. I personally have encountered some impatient e-scooters who ring their bells at me while I’m at the bus stop, and some e-scooters overtaking me while I’m driving on the road. Yes, I acknowledge they exist, but having a ban under such short notice, is it justified?
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E-scooter ban on footpaths: 5 things you need to know
Electric scooters will be banned from footpaths in Singapore from Tuesday (Nov 5), Senior Minister of State for Transport Lam Pin Min announced in Parliament on Monday.
Dr Lam described it as a "difficult decision" but he added that it was "a necessary step" for the safety of pedestrians on public paths. However, he stressed that this change "is not a complete ban of e-scooters".
Here is what you need to know on the latest announcement:
- What happens if you're caught riding an e-scooter on a footpath?
- Where can you ride your e-scooter?
- Does this ban only apply to e-scooters?
- How will this affect other services using e-scooters?
- Can I still dispose of non-compliant e-scooters?
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15 town councils to ban PMDs in void decks and corridors, pedestrian-only zones to be trialled
All 15 town councils run by the People's Action Party (PAP) have decided to ban personal mobility devices (PMDs) from HDB void decks and common corridors in a move to increase the safety of public paths, Senior Minister of State for Transport Lam Pin Min announced in Parliament on Monday (Aug 5).
CNA has reached out to the Workers' Party to clarify if the Aljunied-Hougang Town Council will follow suit.
In addition, Dr Lam said the Land Transport Authority (LTA) will work with some town councils to conduct a three-month trial to designate pedestrian-only zones where riders must dismount and push their PMDs.
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Full Coverage:
Food delivery riders meet Shanmugam voice concerns over new rulePMD retailers worried about impact of footpath ban came 'without warning'
Over 100 PMD riders get warnings; riding on paths' grass patches an offence
Shanmugam holds 'civil' meeting with PMD riders, 'sneaky unnecessary' conduct
We are just trying to earn a living, say food delivery riders | The Straits Times
Over 11,000 sign petition urge Gov reverse PMD ban on footpaths within 24 hrs
PMD users seen riding on grass patch after ban - but it's illegal too
Delivery riders worry about PMD ban, Latest Singapore News
Over 100 PMD users warned on first day of footpath ban
PMD users who ride on grass beside sidewalks could be fined up to S$5000
Fewer riders of e-scooters on footpaths but some are undeterred
PMD users vent frustrations with the sudden ban of e-scooters on footpaths
Netizens pity on woman spotted pushing Personal Mobility Aid along footpath
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
