Use of PMDs: Pedestrians no longer feel safe

There has been yet another accident and death involving users of personal mobility devices (PMDs). (“52-year-old man dies after e-scooter accident at Bedok Reservoir”; Nov 30).

Did the Government give careful thought, or did any planning or research before allowing or encouraging the use of such devices here?

Was it a hasty move, and is there really a need, to use these for “last mile connectivity”?

Is there adequate control over their usage or abuse even with regulations in place?

Are the recent accidents just the tip of the iceberg?

Pedestrians no longer feel safe walking on footpaths nowadays. Anything running on electrical or motorised systems can go out of control more often than, say, a bicycle. We have to give way to these e-bikes, e-scooters to avoid being hit, especially on “old and narrow” pedestrian walkways that have not undergone any upgrading or expansion to accommodate such modes of transport.

Even though e-bikes and e-scooters are banned on pedestrian-only footpaths, riders are having a field day because enforcement is lacking.