Update on Enforcement and Other Measures after Ban of PMDs on Footpaths

5 Mr Zainal Sapari asked the Minister for Transport given the ban on users of personal mobility devices from all footpaths, whether there are plans to distinguish the different types of public paths so as to avoid confusion.

6 Mr Zainal Sapari asked the Minister for Transport whether there are plans to regulate the usage of electric bicycles on the roads in terms of age, insurance coverage, traffic rules and others.

7 Mr Ang Wei Neng asked the Minister for Transport (a) how many people have been warned for riding e-scooter on footpaths since 5 November 2019; (b) how many e-scooter riders have been summoned for speeding and other offences since 5 November 2019; (c) how many e-scooter riders have signed up for the trade-in grant to convert to e-bicycles or other personal mobility devices; and (d) how many more kilometres of cycling paths will be built by end-2020.

8 Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Minister for Transport whether the Government has committed additional resources to police the ban of PMDs from footpaths from January 2020 such that the public will not witness the same level of day-to-day flagrant breaches of law by errant e-scooter users as seen prior to the announcement of the ban.

9 Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Minister for Transport in light of some food delivery riders switching from e-scooters to electric bikes (a) whether the Government is putting in place additional measures to ensure that the increase in electric bike riders will not lead to more accidents or road traffic or active mobility offences; and (b) whether such riders will be given sufficient training sessions to encourage all to ride responsibly and considerately.

The Senior Minister of State for Transport (Dr Lam Pin Min) (for the Minister for Transport): Mr Deputy Speaker, may I have your permission to take Question Nos 5 to 9 together?

Mr Deputy Speaker: Yes, please proceed.

Dr Lam Pin Min: The decision to ban e-scooters on footpaths is to restore footpath safety. Since the implementation of the ban on 5 November 2019, the number of accidents involving e-scooters on public paths has dropped by about 30%. As we step up enforcement, we can expect further reduction in such accidents. From a recent telephone poll commissioned by REACH, two out of three respondents agreed that safety on footpaths had improved since the ban. I believe Members of the House would have received similar feedback from friends and residents.

Till 31 December 2019, LTA had issued about 6,000 advisories to remind riders on the new regulations and more than 300 summons against reckless riders.

Since 1 January this year, LTA has imposed strict enforcement. Those caught riding an e-scooter on footpaths are liable for fines up to $2,000 and/or face imprisonment of up to three months, if convicted. LTA has expanded its team of active mobility enforcement officers, including Auxiliary Police Officers, from 100 to 182 officers. Recruitment efforts are underway and LTA targets to enlarge the team to 200 soon. LTA has also deployed technology trials using roving CCTVs to complement existing enforcement efforts. As of 5 January this year, 27 errant riders have been caught.

We are aware that the ban of e-scooters on footpaths has an immediate impact on the livelihoods of some riders. This is why we launched the Transition Assistance Package. This includes the e-scooter trade-in grant (eTG), to help food delivery riders switch to alternative devices. There are about 6,120 food delivery riders who have done at least one delivery over the 30-day period prior to the ban and are therefore eligible for the grant. Amongst them, about 34%, or 2,100 do four deliveries or more per day. As of 31 December 2019, LTA has received 3,550 applications from eligible riders and approved all applications after accounting for duplicates. Twenty percent of these applicants have already transited to alternative devices. To facilitate the transition, food delivery companies have offered free bicycle rentals to the riders who are waiting for their new devices.

Other partners have also leaned forward. Workforce Singapore and NTUC’s e2i are providing career placement support for riders who wish to transit to a different job. MSF and People’s Association have offered temporary financial assistance to affected riders in need.

As some e-scooter users may switch to using power-assisted bicycles (PABs), NTUC launched a fully subsidised safe riding programme to support food delivery riders in making such transition. As of end-December 2019, 130 riders have completed the NTUC programme. This is useful as on-road accidents involving PABs are not uncommon. From January to November last year, there were 21 such accidents. LTA is working with Traffic Police on greater public education and awareness efforts.

We are updating the regulatory regime for PABs. All PAB riders must comply with road traffic regulations such as travelling in the direction of traffic, wearing helmets and riding safely. Their PABs need to be registered and only LTA-approved models are allowed to be used in Singapore. These LTA-approved models are pedal-assisted PABs and without throttles, where gradual motor assistance is provided as the user pedals, but is gradually reduced and cut off as the PAB reaches a speed of 25 km/h. In addition, they have to comply with the EN15194 device safety standard for electrical and fire safety.

Since November 2019, we have caught 70 non-compliant PABs. Non-compliant PABs caught will be seized and forfeited. The offenders can face a maximum fine of $5,000 and/or imprisonment of three months.

Over the last few years, we have strengthened our active mobility regulatory regime, including mandating e-scooter registration. The Active Mobility Advisory Panel (AMAP) has been a great help. The Government has accepted the latest set of AMAP recommendations. I will shortly introduce a bill to amend the Active Mobility Act to strengthen the regulatory regime. This includes setting minimum riding ages, requiring third-party liability insurance coverage and introducing mandatory theory tests.

At the same time, we are upgrading the cycling infrastructure. First, we have implemented improved markings on footpaths to clearly distinguish them from cycling paths. There will be logos indicating "No PMD" at selected intersections of footpaths and cycling paths to indicate that e-scooters will not be allowed on footpaths.

Second, we are stepping up the construction of cycling paths to improve first-and-last-mile connectivity within towns. We had previously announced a plan to extend the network of cycling paths from 440 km to 750 km by 2025 and 1,300 km by 2030. We will accelerate the pace of implementation by a few years. We are discussing with HDB, NParks and the local Town Councils on a practical timeline. We are also discussing with our MOF colleagues to secure additional funding for this purpose. Our preliminary estimate is that we may have to spend more than $1 billion to complete the island-wide cycling path network. We will provide more details at the Committee of Supply.

Finally, Mr Deputy Speaker, let me take this opportunity to thank Members of this House for their advice and many suggestions. I look forward to their continued support.

Mr Ang Wei Neng (Jurong): Thank you, Deputy Speaker, Sir, and thank you, Senior Minister of State, for the comprehensive reply. I just want to ask a few supplementary questions. He mentioned about 3,000, if I can remember correctly, that have opted for the scheme to convert their e-scooters to other PMDs. Can I ask how many of these are for e-bicycles and others? The second supplementary question is about the bicycle lane that he had announced. He has not announced how many more kilometres; he has just announced that it is being accelerated. But what are the planned parameters? Are you going to increase another 100 km by the end of this year or is this something that is not sure as yet?

Dr Lam Pin Min: I thank Mr Ang for those supplementary questions. For the first one, out of those who have applied for the eTG – which is about 3,600 applicants – about 74% of them opted for e-bikes, about 25% opted for bicycles, and less than 1% for personal mobility aids. As to the exact number of kilometres of cycling path that we are going to develop by the end of this year, like I have mentioned, we will share more of these details during the Committee of Supply debate.