SINGAPORE: Electric scooters will be banned from footpaths in Singapore from Tuesday (Nov 5), with offenders facing fines and jail time once the ban is strictly enforced starting next year.
E-scooters will be allowed only on cycling paths and park connector networks, though the use of such devices remains banned on roads here.
AdvertisementAdvertisementThere will be an advisory period until Dec 31, during which errant users will be given warnings, to allow e-scooter riders time to adjust, Senior Minister of State for Transport Lam Pin Min said in Parliament on Monday.
"From Jan 1, 2020, we will carry out strict enforcement, and those caught riding an e-scooter on footpaths will be liable for a fine up to S$2,000 and/or jail up to three months," he said.
[h=3]READ: Mandatory inspection for e-scooters every 2 years from April 2020: LTA[/h][h=3]READ: Panel recommends e-scooter users be at least 16 years old, pass theory test before riding on public path[/h] AdvertisementAdvertisementThe ban will not apply to bicycles or personal mobility aids such as motorised wheelchairs or mobility scooters.
By the first quarter of next year, other types of personal mobility devices (PMDs), such as hoverboards and electric unicycles, are also expected to be banned from footpaths.
In addition, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) will reject existing licence applications for PMD-sharing services, and no new applications for such licences will be accepted because of safety concerns.
[h=3]READ: PMDs to be banned in most void decks and common corridors, pedestrian-only zones to be trialled in some towns[/h][h=3]READ: Slow ride for PMD insurance: Insurers say interest picking up, but riders point out gaps[/h]LTA announced in October that all e-scooters will have to undergo an inspection every two years to ensure that they comply with the criteria for use on public paths.
The inspections will check for UL2272 certification, width, weight and device speed limits.
E-scooter users who fail to send their devices for inspection could face fines of up to S$1,000 and up to three months' jail.
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