SINGAPORE – You can now cycle or scoot on the pavements without worry, after the government accepted recommendations from an expert panel’s recommendations on active mobility.
Responding to concerns by Members of Parliament about the panel’s recommendation to allow illegally modified power-assisted bicycles, or e-bikes, on cycling paths and shared paths within speed limits, Mrs Josephine Teo said these e-bikes have to be registered.
The Senior Minister of State for Transport also said authorities will clamp down on reckless cyclists with stiffer penalties.
A dedicated enforcement team will conduct joint-patrols with the Traffic Police at hotspots, Mrs Teo said, while NParks will target errant cyclists in parks and park connectors.
Mrs Teo said that details of most of the changes will be announced and implemented at the end of the year.
These moves are part of the government’s strategy to reduce Singapore’s reliance on cars, she added during the debate on the Transport Ministry’s budget in Parliament today.
To educate the public on these policies, a nationwide Active Mobility campaign will be launched in April, which will be supplemented by a new Cyclist Education Programme in May.
The Cyclist Education Programme will be launched in schools, community centres, and foreign workers’ dormitories, with a focus on safe and considerate cycling.
grongloh@sph.com.sg
