Active Mobility Act takes effect: 8 non-compliant devices confiscated in first enforcement blitz

SINGAPORE — He bought a 28kg e-scooter for about S$2,000 more than a year ago, and used it to ride from his home to the workplace and do food deliveries. After accessories like battery packs and lights were added, the mobility device weighed 37.5kg – nearly double the maximum weight allowed under new laws that kicked in this month.

On Wednesday (May 2), deliveryman Mr Wong, 37, was among eight people who had their e-scooters and e-bicycle impounded by Land Transport Authority (LTA) officers in a two-hour enforcement blitz.

The officers stopped him at a park connector along Yishun Ave 7, while he was on his way home, and asked to weigh the device.

Mr Wong, who declined to give his full name, told reporters he was aware that the LTA would be tightening restrictions on mobility devices like e-scooters and power-assisted bicycles. The authority had said in January that the Act would take effect in early 2018, but did not give an exact date.

“My e-scooter already weighs 28kg when I bought it more a year ago. Then, the new laws have not yet been enforced. I can’t possibly sell my e-scooter after buying it,” said Mr Wong.

Instead of a 15-minute e-scooter ride to his workplace, he will now have to contend with a 30- to 40-minute bus ride.

The Active Mobility Act spells out where personal mobility devices (PMDs), bicycles and power-assisted bicycles (PAB) – or e-bikes – can be used and how fast they can go.

PABs are not allowed on footpaths – where the speed limit is 15 km/h – while e-scooters cannot be used on public roads.

The Act also sets weight and width limits for PMDs used on public paths.

These devices cannot weigh more than 20kg each and cannot go faster than 25km/h. They must not exceed more than 70cm in width so as to allow devices to pass each other safely on public paths. This is usually determined by the length of the device’s handle bar.

First-time offenders who flout the usage rules and speed limits may be fined up to S$1,000 or jailed up to three months, or both. Repeat offenders may have their fine and jail term doubled.

The maximum penalty is a S$10,000 fine and six-month jail term.

Previously, the LTA had no enforcement powers against PMD riders who flouted rules along footpaths.

“A key aspect of the Act is to protect and ensure the safety of path users. Along pathways, we have the elderly and children, and they need a safeguard,” said Mr Willy Soo, manager of the Active Mobility Enforcement Section.

Of the eight devices confiscated on Wednesday, one was an unregistered e-bicycle. The seven e-scooters – which weighed 30kg on average – were confiscated for exceeding the weight limit.

The new law will also allow LTA to target retailers of non-compliant devices, who may be fined up to S$5,000 and jailed for up to three months.

Errant PMD users who are involved in accidents will also face a maximum fine of S$3,000 or a jail term of up to one year, or both, if they do not stop and help the victims.

Mr Soo said the LTA patrolled areas in Yishun, Ang Mo Kio and Sembawang on Tuesday in an attempt to reach out and educate users on the new rules. It has about 60 roving active mobility enforcement officers. No PMDs were impounded on Tuesday, said Mr Soo.