Those who flout the ban on personal mobility devices (PMDs) from common areas in the majority of Singapore’s housing estates face a maximum fine of S$5,000 (about US$3,600) upon conviction, it was announced today
The ban kicked in yesterday, about a month after it was introduced in parliament in light of a recent spate of accidents involving PMDs.
During a Sept. 1-Oct. 31 grace period, violators will only get a warning letter, according to a statement from People’s Action Party’s (PAP) coordinating chairman for town councils Teo Ho Pin, who added that strict enforcement will take place thereafter.
The two-month period was set to give riders time to adjust to the new regulation, which prohibits people from riding devices like e-scooters and power-assisted bikes on void decks and common corridors of public housing estates managed by the PAP.
It does not apply to motorized wheelchairs or riders along pathways located at roadsides or neighborhood connecting parks, which are managed by the Land Transport Authority.
Those in the Aljunied and Hougang housing estates, which are managed by the opposition Workers’ Party, aren’t affected by the ban.
Teo also noted that the PAP would make use of the 70,000 police and lift CCTV cameras available at its housing estates to identify offenders who flout the new regulation.
According to Senior Minister of State for Transport Lam Pin Min, there were 228 accidents involving PMDs over the course of 2017 and 2018.
Proposed measures to prevent future accidents include establishing pedestrian-only zones where riders must dismount from their e-scooters and e-bikes.
Changes to neighborhood infrastructures, such as the widening of footpaths, are also in the pipeline, and funds will be set aside to cover up to S$50 million in cost.
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