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Grab extends deadline for e-scooter trade-in claims; NTUC unveils safety training for all eligible riders

SINGAPORE — Grab is giving its food delivery riders three more months to submit claims under the trade-in scheme for e-scooters. In a separate move, a new safety training programme is being rolled out for all eligible food delivery riders in Singapore.

Food delivery rider Dzulfiqar Ismail at the bicycle station, part of a training course designed by Grab.

Food delivery rider Dzulfiqar Ismail at the bicycle station, part of a training course designed by Grab.

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SINGAPORE — Grab is giving its food delivery riders three more months to submit claims under the trade-in scheme for e-scooters. In a separate move, a new safety training programme is being rolled out for all eligible food delivery riders in Singapore.

In a statement on Wednesday (Dec 11), Grab said that GrabFood riders opting to trade in their devices will now have until March 31 to submit claims. The previous deadline was Dec 31.

The firm said the later deadline would give affected delivery riders more time to buy bicycles or power-assisted bicycles (PABs) to replace the e-scooters they are trading in after the devices were banned on footpaths from Nov 5.

Amid the transition to alternative vehicles, the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) has developed a safety training programme to support affected food delivery riders, the labour movement said on Wednesday.

All eligible delivery riders will receive a subsidy of up to 90 per cent from NTUC and its partners to take the courses. For eligible Grab delivery riders, the courses will be free.

DEADLINE EXTENSION

A Grab spokesperson said on Wednesday that the extension until March 31 would give food delivery riders “more time to submit supporting claim documents and trade in their Land Transport Authority (LTA)-registered e-scooters”.

Applications for the scheme will still have to be submitted before Dec 31, said the spokesperson.

Grab has said that more than 45 per cent of its riders have applied for the trade-in grant. Of those, 90 per cent have had their applications approved. Foodpanda said 75 per cent of its eligible riders had applied. Of those, more than 90 per cent had been granted approval.

Meanwhile, Deliveroo said that it had received applications from 15 per cent of its PMD fleet since the grant was announced and most of these applications are being reviewed by LTA. 

When asked, none of the companies disclosed the number of riders who have successfully taken up a new mode of transport such as a PAB via the grant.

The three food delivery companies opened applications for the trade-in grant on Nov 15, after the LTA announced on Nov 8 that it would set aside S$7 million for this purpose.

Under the scheme, qualifying riders looking to buy PABs can receive a full grant of S$1,000 and those purchasing bicycles, a full grant of S$600.

When the ban of e-scooters on footpaths took effect on Nov 5, 7,000 food delivery riders were using e-scooters. LTA had said on Nov 21 that it had received 2,500 applications for the grant.

TRAINING FOR AFFECTED RIDERS

NTUC's training programme comprises five modules covering topics related to safety, service, digital skills and mindset change, said NTUC, adding that more than 2,000 food delivery riders are expected to benefit from the course over the next few months.

The five one-day modules, each spanning seven hours, will be completed in weekly cycles and have been running since Monday.

Foodpanda also said it had already been training its delivery riders on safer riding through programmes it had worked with LTA to create — even before the ban.

“To ensure that we maintain a reliable and safe rider fleet, we have been working with the LTA since July this year to conduct safe riding programmes for our fleet,” said a Foodpanda spokesperson.

“Through theory and practical sessions, riders will be briefed and trained on safety riding knowledge.” When asked, it did not provide more details on these sessions.

MODULE BY GRABFOOD

One of the five modules offered by NTUC — “the safe riding on pedal and power-assisted bicycles” module — is designed by GrabFood together with LTA-appointed facilitator Asian Detours.

The course will educate food delivery riders on traffic rules, vehicle safety checks and maintenance, and navigation in off-road and on-road scenarios.

Mr Andrew Chan, the head of transport for Grab Singapore, said that the module is designed to help riders affected by the e-scooter ban on footpaths adjust to their new modes of transport.

“We want to help them transition with peace of mind,” he said.

Related topics

ETG Scheme Grab food delivery e-scooter safety trade-in

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