More than 700 cyclists and Personal Mobility Device (PMD) users have been caught for unsafe riding by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) since May. The LTA, which launched its Active Mobility Enforcement team then, have conducted over 400 enforcement operations so far; the authority said in a statement on Wednesday, 5th October.
At the moment, the enforcement officers only issue advisories to reckless riders and distribute brochures on safe riding. The legislative changes that will give them powers to issue fines have not been passed into law. These will likely be brought before Parliament before the end of the year. The changes will allow the use of bicycles and PMDs on the footpaths, as part of a move to encourage the use of these devices for short trips.
On Wednesday morning, the LTA officers conducted an enforcement blitz in Taman Jurong, together with the Traffic Police. The area is well plied by residents who often cycle or use other PMDs to get to work in the Jurong Port area. Besides giving out brochures to cyclists and PMD users, the officers also checked electric bicycles in case they were illegally modified. Users of illegally modified bikes were issued fines.
Wednesday's operation comes just after a spate of accidents involving these devices last month. On 25th September, a four-year old girl was injured and taken to KK Women's and Children's Hospital after an accident involving an e-scooter near Marina Bay Sands. And on 17th Sept, a 53-year old woman was knocked down by an e-scooter in Pasir Ris. The accident left her in the intensive care unit, and she had to undergo brain surgery.
