Riders capping e-scooter speed ahead of new rules
28 Nov 2016|1,234 views
E-scooter users who own devices that can travel at excessive speeds have been tuning them back down to the speed limit, ahead of changes to the law expected to kick in next year. A new Bill regulating these Personal Mobility Devices (PMDs) was tabled in Parliament this month, which will govern where and how they should be used, and what criteria they must meet, such as weight.
Under the Active Mobility Bill, those who use non-compliant PMDs - which include e-scooters - not only face stiff penalties but also risk having their devices confiscated. These devices should not weigh more than 20kg, and the maximum speed is 25km/h. First-time offenders caught riding non-compliant e-scooters could be fined up to $5,000, or jailed up to three months, or both.
Mr. Victor Lee, General Manager of Falcon PEV, estimates there are 20,000 e-scooter users in Singapore and about half of them use cheaper but non-compliant devices, mostly from China. "Higher-end scooters are sold in Europe, which already have regulations in place similar to Singapore's," he said.
Mr. Denis Koh, who heads the interest group Big Wheel Scooters Singapore, which has almost 13,000 members on Facebook, said the penalties are necessary. They also show that the authorities would not tolerate attempts to flout the rules. "It is meant to be a deterrent - I don't think it is meant to discourage people from using e-scooters," he said.
E-scooter users who own devices that can travel at excessive speeds have been tuning them back down to the speed limit, ahead of changes to the law expected to kick in next year. A new Bill regulating these Personal Mobility Devices (PMDs) was tabled in Parliament this month, which will govern where and how they should be used, and what criteria they must meet, such as weight.
Under the Active Mobility Bill, those who use non-compliant PMDs - which include e-scooters - not only face stiff penalties but also risk having their devices confiscated. These devices should not weigh more than 20kg, and the maximum speed is 25km/h. First-time offenders caught riding non-compliant e-scooters could be fined up to $5,000, or jailed up to three months, or both.
Mr. Victor Lee, General Manager of Falcon PEV, estimates there are 20,000 e-scooter users in Singapore and about half of them use cheaper but non-compliant devices, mostly from China. "Higher-end scooters are sold in Europe, which already have regulations in place similar to Singapore's," he said.
Mr. Denis Koh, who heads the interest group Big Wheel Scooters Singapore, which has almost 13,000 members on Facebook, said the penalties are necessary. They also show that the authorities would not tolerate attempts to flout the rules. "It is meant to be a deterrent - I don't think it is meant to discourage people from using e-scooters," he said.
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