08/01/2020

Singapore’s Elderly Poor


Ploughing on: The faces and insecurities of Singapore’s elderly working poor
'Eddie', 63, and his brother who is 68 , deaf-mute and diabetic, both make a living picking and selling cardboard

 They get taken for beggars sometimes as they poke through the trash, by people who exclaim “eiyuh!” in disgust. Impatient drivers honk as the duo push their laden trolleys along the road. “My brother cannot hear the cars horn,” said the man who asked to be known as ‘Eddie’. “When I tell them he cannot speak or hear, most say sorry. Others curse and say, ‘****, lah, I don’t care’.”

 The 63-year-old has long since learned to swallow his pride and let such comments slide, over 20 years of doing what he must to look after his deaf-mute brother, who is 68 and diabetic. This includes scrounging for odd jobs, in between forays to pick and sell cardboard around their Serangoon one-room rental flat, in any weather. “We’ve collected in the rain. I got sick. It's okay when (my brother) falls sick; I cannot fall sick, because I am basically his ears and head, so he’s in trouble,” said Eddie, who pushes a trolley stacked with cardboard higher than his 1.5-metre frame.

 A good day is when the brothers collectively make about S$20. That’s with a haul of nearly 200kg, depending on price fluctuations. Said Eddie: “After a long time, our bones start to ache. It really hurts.”

Lonely and 'waiting to die', Singapore's elderly poor find hope in many helping hands
Care executive Ahmala Rajoo with Helen Fernandez

Her one-room flat was a cluttered mess, and Madam Helen Fernandez herself never seemed to bathe, said her neighbours who always saw her in the same set of clothes.

 When case workers first visited the unkempt and confused elderly widow, they had to rush her to hospital for very high blood pressure – which resulted because she hadn’t been taking her medication and had been missing doctors’ appointments.

 Since her husband died 17 years ago, Mdm Fernandez had been living alone with no friends or family – and slowly falling prey to loneliness and dementia. There were times when she’d even call up the police just to talk. It was how her case got referred to the Social Service Office, and then to case worker Ahmala Rajoo in 2015.

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 Helping Elderly Cardboard Collectors in Singapore

 A MILE IN THEIR SHOES! PLEASE SHARE!

 We are just about 2 weeks aways from a special rendition of "A Mile In Their Shoes" where we hope to have our political front leaders to participate to understand better, the plight of the growing population in Singapore!

 Good news is SDP and PSP will be participating. We are still waiting for the others to reply. We are still hopeful though. :)

 Please share this post on our page.

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 Hazards being a Cardboard Picker
Death by cardboard collection, more common than…

CARDBOARD collecting isn’t exactly a dangerous activity, but at least three people have died from doing just that over the last two years.

Yesterday (March 30), Madam Poh Ah Gin became the third fatality when a taxi reversed into her at high speed at a carpark in Bedok North Street 2. The 78-year-old was collecting cardboard when the taxi driver lost control of the vehicle while reverse parking and rammed into her twice, killing her.

In November 2014, an 86-year-old woman who had also been collecting cardboard was run down after walking into the blind spot of a bus in Marsiling Lane. Madam Ching Guan Eng was dragged for a short distance, and her trolley and stash of cardboard were stuck under the bus. The coroner ruled her death as an “unfortunate traffic misadventure”.

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Collecting Cardboards from "a form of exercise" to "protecting our environment"
Minister Tan Chuan-Jin was right, some old people do collect cardboards for exercise

In July last year Minister for Social and Family Development, Tan Chuan-Jin, shared several pictures of cardboard collectors on his Facebook with the caption, “Have you ever Spoken to a Cardboard Uncle or Aunty?”.

He met the cardboard collectors with a group of young Singaporeans from Youth Corp on a project they initiated – to get first hand insight into the lives of elderly cardboard collectors.

The Minister shared that he was surprised by the findings of the project, that the normal perception that all cardboard collectors are people who are unable to take care of themselves financially is false.

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Have you ever Spoken to a Cardboard Uncle or Aunty?
Aunty is 80! Lives in Toa Payoh with her sister in a 4-room flat. They are in the karang guni trade. Flat is paid up

While I often chat with them when I meet them, I haven't gone so far up the value chain to know the middle man and the whole set-up. I was most happy to join a group of young Singaporeans from Youth Corp on a project they initiated - to get first hand insight into the lives of elderly cardboard collectors: what motivated them to do what they do; and the challenges they face. The youngsters devoted their weekends over a 2-month period to befriend the cardboard aunties and uncles on the streets in the Jalan Besar area, and spent time talking to them to understand what they are going through in life.

They shared with me that they were surprised by their own findings! The normal perception that all cardboard collectors are people who are unable to take care of themselves financially is not really true. There will be some who do this as their main source of income. Some do so to supplement what they have. Some prefer to earn extra monies, treat it as a form of exercise and activity rather than being cooped up at home. They do this to remain independent, so that they can have dignity and not have to ask their families for help.

For members of the public, the simplest thing that one can do for these people is to talk to them to understand them. More often than not, people make judgements without finding out the facts of the matter, in this instance, the stigma surrounding cardboard collectors. But of course, for those who genuinely need financial help because they are unable to find other jobs to supplement their income from cardboard collecting, the government will do what it can to help these people. If you know of individuals who need help, do let us know.

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 Plight Of The Tissue Peddlers

 I had earlier posted about the PRC man begging (updates below). Curiously, the day after, I met an old lady selling tissue paper outside POMO. I spoke to her at length. She was reluctant to share her personal info but I managed to glean out some. She was going to turn 82 soon. She claimed that both her children didn't give her much hence her need to come out to sell things. She sounded scared to share details even after I assured her of our help because she seemed fearful of her daughter who she claimed had locked her out before. She later said that she was in not too bad a state and only came out to sell occasionally. She also added that she was selling to help someone.

 She seemed in good condition and I couldn't determine if she was in financial distress...but at 82 and needing to do this? And with the fragments she shared...I was concerned at her well being from her children.

 I asked the authorities to follow up and they found her there after visiting POMO twice. They got more details from her. The assessment is that she doesn't need immediate help but she knows who to follow up with if she does.

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 'Tissue and Cardboard' Sellers

 Yeoh Lam Keong, former chief economist of GIC, and current adjunct professor at National University of Singapore Lee Kuan Yew School of Policy, weighed in on a rather heavy issue plaguing Singaporeans – the number of elderly homeless or having to sell tissue packets or collect cardboard boxes for a living.

 In a Facebook post on Friday, November 9, Yeoh shared the story of an elderly tissue seller. He titled his post, “Singapore’s Elderly Shame : Tissue and Cardboard Sellers at Midnight”.

 In his post, he shared the story of Lim, who “would leave her home at 5.30pm each day to sell her tissue papers. It is a cooler time of day. She would only go home close to midnight. She makes about $10 or slightly more daily, just enough for her personal expenses”.

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 Buskers, TissuePaper Peddlers, & StreetWalkers

 Commuters at Raffles Place MRT station were treated to a violin concert on Friday evening, as a three-month trial allowing buskers to perform at train stations began.

 "It's a great idea - some people actually skip their trains and stop to listen," said part-time busker and tuition teacher Daniel Beng, 42, who played tunes including Smoke Gets In Your Eyes and A-mei's Ting Hai (Listen to the Sea).

 The trial, a collaboration between the Land Transport Authority (LTA), the National Arts Council and SMRT, is part of a series of social experiments aiming to enhance commuters' experience.

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 Golden Year For The Elderlies

 There are just about 400,000 of us in Singapore - those aged 65 and older. About 35,000 of us earn less than $1,000 a month.

 Another piece of depressing news - 24 out of 100,000 elderly people committed suicide last year. In the United States, only 14 in 100,000 did so. Also, the rate of elderly suicide is twice the rate of those younger in Singapore.

 Nearly 30 per cent of us in 2011 were living in a four-room Housing Board flat and about 24 per cent of us in a three-room HDB flat. Twenty per cent were in HDB apartments that were five-roomers or executive flats. Fifteen per cent of us were living in private property. Seven per cent live in one or two-bedroom flats. The remaining 3 per cent of us were in institutions.

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 Support for the Needy and Elderly

 Thus far, the Pioneer Generation Package easily ranks as the most universally welcomed policy announcement since the 2011 General Election. Who, after all, would begrudge older S'poreans this expression of gratitude after the sacrifices they endured in those early years of independence.

 Even those not used to praising the government for generosity were probably pleasantly surprised to find out that the package would cover citizens as young as 65.

 The move acknowledges that even if the idea of S'pore had been imagined by a few, it was built by many. And while the majority saw their standards of living rise, they would never enjoy the full suite of opportunities that came to later generations. For example, among baby boomers born in the immediate post-war years, around 60% never got a secondary education. Many who were academically able had to sacrifice school to help their families.
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 1,000 street homeless found in Singapore
A man sleeps near the entrance of an MRT station in Singapore. (Reuters file photo)

 About 1,000 people live on the streets of Singapore, with the highest numbers reported in the city area, Bedok and Kallang, results from a first-of-its-kind nationwide study showed.

 Most of them are men in their 50s or older and hold jobs. A large proportion has slept rough on the streets for years, typically at void decks and commercial buildings.

 Findings from the 52-paged report, unveiled at a public seminar held at National University of Singapore Faculty of Law on Friday (8 November), also showed that while there were more homeless people spotted in larger and older housing estates as well as those with a higher concentration of rental flats, they were unevenly distributed across Singapore.

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 The Surprising Truth About The Homeless In Singapore
A rough sleeper in Singapore. Photo: Yusuf Abdol Hamid

 A landmark study on homelessness in Singapore has found that on any given night, between 921 and 1,050 people sleep in public spaces such as parks and unenclosed lobbies.

 Most are older men who sleep rough because they cannot afford housing, want to be near their workplace or have issues with family members or housemates, among other reasons.

 The study was led by assistant professor Ng Kok Hoe at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, with the help of 480 volunteers, social workers mobilised by the government, and NGOs conducting fieldwork over three months.

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 Elderly in Singapore need S$1,379 a month for basic needs: Study

An older person above 65 years old needs S$1,379 a month to meet his or her basic needs, according to a team of researchers from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYPP).

This precise figure came from a study by the team led by Assistant Professor Ng Kok Hoe from LKYPP, National University of Singapore (NUS). They revealed their findings in a media release on Wednesday (May 22).

The household budgets necessary to meet basic needs were S$1,379 per month for single elderly households, S$2,351 per month for elderly couples, and S$1,721 per month for a person aged 55 to 64 years old, the study said.

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 related:
Singapore’s Elderly Working Poor
Helping Elderly Cardboard Collectors in Singapore
Have you ever Spoken to a Cardboard Uncle or Aunty?
Hazards being a Cardboard Picker
Collecting Cardboards "form of exercise" & "protecting our environment"
When Cardboard Is Gold
Buskers, Tissue Paper Peddlers, & Street Walkers
Karung Guni: The Rag and Bone Men
'Tissue and Cardboard' Sellers
Plight Of The Tissue Peddlers
Singapore’s Elderly Poor
Golden Year For The Elderlies
Support for the Needy and Elderly
Elderly in Singapore need S$1,379 a month
1,000 street homeless found in Singapore
The Surprising Truth About The Homeless In Singapore
The Poor & Homeless in Singapore
Tent Village: Singapore’s nomad families
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07/01/2020

Reheating Fried Chicken Is Actually Really Easy

Here’s How to Do It - If You’re Using an Oven

 If you’re using an oven to reheat fried chicken, take the leftover fried chicken out of the fridge and let it sit on the counter for about 15 minutes to let it come to room temperature. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400°F and layer a baking rack on top of a baking sheet. This two-piece system is essential to ensure that heat permeates all sides of the chicken - without the bottom part turning into mush while lying flat on the pan.

 While your instinct might be to cover the chicken with a piece of tinfoil, please, for the love of Colonel Sanders, don’t do this. Placing a foil tent over your chicken will create a humid environment that will turn the beautiful, crispy crust into a soft mess you’ll want no part of.

 Place the chicken pieces on the wire rack and pop the whole thing into the oven for about 15 minutes. It’s done when the outside is hot to the touch and the skin is crispy.

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06/01/2020

The dust settles on E-scooter footpath ban

After the sound and fury
Have the actions of some black sheep caused authorities to enact a ban to the chagrin of responsible users? E-scooter food deliverers and users discuss how they've adjusted to the ban. (Illustration: TODAY/Anam Musta’ein)

 Like a bolt from the blue, the Nov 4 announcement by the Government that electric scooters would be banned from footpaths the very next day caught many people off guard. A ban on other personal mobility devices (PMDs) will be rolled out progressively by the first quarter of next year.

 The ban came amid a rise in errant behaviour and incidents involving e-scooters or other PMDs. Between Jan 1 and Sep 30, there had been three fatalities. Many pedestrians gave the thumbs up for the ban while e-scooter users were wringing their hands over the loss of a convenient and cheap means of transport — and a potential big drop in earnings for food delivery riders.

 In the immediate aftermath, scores of food delivery riders turned up at the meet-the-people and dialogue sessions held by Members of Parliament to vent their frustrations and unhappiness.

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 Lessons from the PMD saga and where to go from here
From an estimated several thousand units four years ago, the number of e-scooters has ballooned to nearly 100,000 at last count, buoyed by their convenience for daily commutes and food-delivery services

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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 Life after the e-scooter footpath ban

 Like a bolt from the blue, the Nov 4 announcement by the Government that electric scooters would be banned from footpaths the very next day caught many people off guard. A ban on other personal mobility devices (PMDs) will be rolled out progressively by the first quarter of next year.

 Many pedestrians gave the thumbs up for the ban while e-scooter users were wringing their hands over the loss of a convenient and cheap means of transport — and a potential big drop in earnings for food delivery riders.

 In the immediate aftermath, scores of food delivery riders turned up at the meet-the-people and dialogue sessions held by Members of Parliament to vent their frustrations and unhappiness.

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 E-scooter ban on footpaths to extend to all motorised PMDs under amendments to Active Mobility Act
Active mobility enforcement officers talking to a rider on a PMD on Nov 5, 2019. (Photo: Facebook/Land Transport Authority)

 The ban on riding e-scooters on footpaths will be extended to all motorised personal mobility devices (PMDs), under amendments to the Active Mobility Act introduced in Parliament on Monday (Jan 6). The ban came into effect for e-scooters - defined as motorised PMDs with handlebars - on Nov 5 last year.

 Under the Active Mobility (Amendment) Bill, the footpath ban will include devices such as hoverboards and electric unicycles.

 The Bill also allows the implementation of a number of recommendations made by the Active Mobility Advisory Panel in September.

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 E-scooter footpath ban, minimum riding age set to become law under proposed changes to Active Mobility Act

The Amendment Bill also makes related changes to the Road Traffic Act — which regulates road traffic, the use of vehicles and road users — to beef up penalties for offences related to personal mobility devices

The ban on electric scooters on footpaths and a minimum riding age are set to be written into law as the Government tabled amendments to the Active Mobility Act on Monday (Jan 6). The law, which came into force in May 2018, lays out rules governing the safe use of public paths.

 The aim of the proposed changes is to strengthen the regulatory regime governing mobility vehicles and retailers, and promote safety on public paths, the Ministry of Transport (MOT) said in a statement on Monday (Jan 6).

 The Amendment Bill also makes related changes to the Road Traffic Act — which regulates road traffic, the use of vehicles and road users — to beef up penalties for offences related to personal mobility devices.

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 Man arrested for inciting PMD users to attack people at Punggol Park
A Telegram user had posted in Telegram chat groups calling for personal mobility device users to gather at Punggol Park at 9pm on Dec 31 to "cause injury to anyone they see".PHOTO: SCREENGRAB FROM GOOGLE MAPS

 A 34-year-old man was arrested on Tuesday (Dec 31) for using social media app Telegram to incite Personal Mobility Device (PMD) users to attack park users at Punggol Park.

 The police said they received a report on Monday that a Telegram user had posted in Telegram chat groups calling for PMD users to gather at Punggol Park at 9pm that day to "cause injury to anyone they see".

 Officers from the Ang Mo Kio Police Division identified the suspect and arrested him on Tuesday at 10am.

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 LTA catches 2 e-scooter riders on 1st day of strict enforcement
LTA officers catching an errant e-scooter rider on 1 January 2020, the first day of strict enforcement. (PHOTO: Land Transport Authority)

 The Land Transport Authority (LTA) caught two e-scooter riders riding on footpaths on Wednesday (1 January), the day on which zero-tolerance enforcement actions against errant riders began.

 In a post on its Facebook page, LTA said it stationed enforcement officers in areas such as Ang Mo Kio, Punggol, Sengkang, Sembawang and Yishun on Wednesday to catch e-scooter riders flouting the law, which was enacted on 5 November last year following a series of e-scooter-related accidents.

 Up until Tuesday, errant riders were issued warnings by the authorities. From Wednesday, they can be fined up to $2,000 and/or jailed up to three months. “E-scooter users can continue to ride their devices on cycling paths and PCNs (Park Connector Networks). We are ramping up such infrastructure islandwide to better support active mobility,” LTA said in the Facebook post, which was hash-tagged #NoMoreWarnings.

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 Land Transport Authority – We Keep Your World Moving 30 December 2019 at 19:30

 #PSA We have issued more than 6,000 warnings to e-scooter users who were caught riding on footpaths in December 2019.

 ⚠ #LastWarning Today – 31 Dec 2019 – is the final day of the advisory period. From tomorrow onwards – 1 Jan 2020 – we will enforce the ban of riding e-scooters on footpaths strictly. Offenders can be fined up to $2,000 and/or jailed for up to three months. #NoMoreChances


Members of the public are also encouraged to send us a photo or video on the MyTransport.SG app if you should spot any errant riding behaviour.

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 More than 6,000 caught riding e-scooters on footpaths in December

 More than 6,000 people were caught riding their e-scooters on footpaths in December, despite a ban on doing so being announced last month.

 The Land Transport Authority (LTA) said in a Facebook post that Tuesday (Dec 31) was the last day of the "advisory period" for the ban.

 Last month the authorities announced that the use of e-scooters on footpaths would be banned from Nov 5, although those found doing so until Dec 31 would only receive warnings. About 3,400 warnings were issued to riders in the first month of the ban.

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 Teen PMD rider hit pedestrian, 69, causing spine fracture

 A teenager who was riding an e-scooter along a pavement knocked into a 69-year-old woman on her way to a polyclinic, causing the victim to fall backwards, a court heard.

 As a result of the accident on 11 March, the victim had a compression fracture on her spine and feels pain every day.

 At the State Courts last Friday (27 December), the errant e-scooter rider, Mohamad Danial Akid Mohamad Imran, 19, pleaded guilty to one charge of causing grievous hurt by doing a negligent act endangering human life, by failing to keep a proper lookout.

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 Look Back 2019: Cracking down on errant e-scooter users

 The rules have been tightened for users of electric scooters and other personal mobility devices (PMDs), following several accidents and an alarming increase in the number of devices that have caught fire.

 From July 1, it became an offence to ride an unregistered e-scooter on public footpaths. Owners of such devices can receive a $100 incentive if they dispose of their PMDs early.

 But it was the ban of e-scooters from 5,500km of footpaths that grabbed headlines. This was after the death on Sept 25 of Madam Ong Bee Eng, who was on her bicycle when it collided with an e-scooter.

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 Prepare to be jailed up to 3 months if you ride PMD on S’pore footpaths from Jan 1, 2020
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) will take a zero-tolerance approach against e-scooter riders caught on Singapore footpaths from Jan. 1, 2020

 The warning has been sounded in late December as tougher enforcement is going to come into effect in about one week’s time.

 Mainstream media has focused its coverage on personal mobility riders still scooting around Singapore illegally, despite the Nov. 5 ban. A tougher stance to deal with recalcitrant riders translates into fines and possible jail terms for those caught and found guilty.

 Offenders will face a fine of up to S$2,000 and/ or jail of up to three months.

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PMD users caught flouting rules despite ban
Many personal mobility device (PMD) riders have been caught flouting the rules even though e-scooters have been banned from footpaths since Nov 5

 Stompers Ellie and Melvin contributed more videos of these errant PMD riders. Ellie was on her way home with her father when she noticed a group of PMD riders travelling along a pavement at 31 Jalan Bumbong.

 She said to Stomp: "It was about 6.20pm on Thursday (Dec 19) when I saw these PMD riders. "My dad was driving and when I saw these PMD riders, all I thought was that they're very daring."

 Stomper Melvin, who previously recorded a PMD rider going against traffic, said: "I saw these videos of PMD riders on roads circulating on social media."

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 E-scooter user: I'll defy footpath ban so I can feed my kids
With the ban, e-scooters can be used only on the 440km of cycling paths islandwide. The LTA will take a zero-tolerance approach from Jan 1. TNP PHOTO: HIDAYAH ISKANDAR

 After issuing thousands of warnings in two months, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) will take a zero-tolerance approach against e-scooter riders caught on footpaths from Jan 1.

 But one rider will continue to defy the ban despite being aware of the penalties if he gets caught. Wanting to be known only as Mr Ariffin, the full-time food delivery rider of three years feels he has little choice because he has three young mouths to feed.

 He said the ban, which kicked in on Nov 5, was too sudden and did not give users time to adapt.

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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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 What’s next for e-scooters after the footpath ban?

 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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 Can we co-exist with PMDs? Yes, but we need to take a different path

 The move to regulate and ban PMDs from void decks and corridors shouldn’t miss out on the bigger picture: We should be doing our utmost to enable people to move around their city, says Julienne Chen.

 There are five principles I bear in mind when it comes to thinking about e-scooters and other personal mobility devices (PMDs):
  • First, mobility (or, the ease and ability with which one can go from Point A to Point B) can make or break a city.
  • Second, walking is a fundamental human right.
  • Third, Singapore needs more options for environmentally sustainable, affordable and convenient transportation.
  • Fourth, cities have been shaped around cars to the detriment of the above three principles.
  • Lastly, to maintain a high quality of life, the status quo for mobility is not good enough.

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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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 E-scooter users will have to pass theory test, be at least 16 years old to ride on cycling paths

 New restrictions on electric scooters in Singapore will come into place after the Government said on Wednesday (Dec 4) it has accepted all recommendations put forward by a panel studying the use of the devices.

 No start date has been announced for the implementation of the regulations, which include a minimum age of 16 for e-scooter users to ride on cycling paths. Those under the age of 16 will have to be supervised by adults.

 Before riding on cycling paths, e-scooter users will also have to pass a theory test – a requirement which will be extended to electric bicycle users before they are allowed to ride on cycling paths and the roads.

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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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 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
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05/01/2020

The 12th Day of Christmas 2020

A Peranakan Christmas
Kasot Manek
Kerosang
Bakol Sia
Kebaya
Peranakan Tiles
Chengdol
Gula Melaka
Sarong Batik
Ang Pow
Buah Keluak
Ondeh Ondeh
Peranakan Dressings

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04/01/2020

WhatsApp will stop working on these phones soon

Check if yours is on the list
WhatsApp also mentioned that it would 'no longer create new accounts, nor re-verify existing accounts after February 1, 2020' on certain Android and iOS smartphones (Bloomberg)

 Come 2020, WhatsApp will stop working on a number of smartphones. As updated on the FAQ section of the Facebook-owned messaging app, there are several Android and iOS phones that may not be able to run the app as the company will withdraw support for older versions of OS from 1 February, 2020.

 According to the information on WhatsApp FAQ section, Android phones running on Android 2.3.7 operating system and lower as well as iPhones running on iOS 8 and lower will not be compatible with the chat app from next year.

 WhatsApp also stressed on the fact that these older versions of Android and iOS operating systems "can no longer create new accounts, nor re-verify existing accounts after February 1, 2020."

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