E-scooter footpath ban: LTA officers issue over 100 warnings on first day
SINGAPORE — Land Transport Authority (LTA) enforcement officers issued over 100 warnings to e-scooter riders on Tuesday (5 November), a day after the government announced a ban on the use of such devices along footpaths.
Active Mobility Enforcement Officers were deployed at Ang Mo Kio, Toa Payoh and Jurong, said the LTA in a Facebook post. With the ban taking effect on Tuesday, such devices are only allowed for use along cycling paths and Park Connector Networks.
When Yahoo News Singapore visited Jurong East Street 21 on Tuesday afternoon, about a dozen e-scooters were spotted travelling on footpaths there. The majority of the devices were being used by food delivery riders.
“During the advisory period from 5 November 2019 to 31 December 2019, LTA officers will issue warnings to motorised PMD riders found riding on footpaths. LTA will take strict enforcement action against egregious cases,” said the authority in response to queries from Yahoo News Singapore.
“As at 5pm today, LTA officers have issued more than 100 warnings to PMD riders.”
In the wake of the ban, a GrabFood spokesperson revealed that more than a third of its delivery riders rely on e-scooters for their work and warned customers to expect delays. Rival food delivery service Deliveroo, on the other hand, said it expected the ruling to have a “minimal impact” on its operations.
In its post, the LTA said that it would be issuing warnings at this stage to “give users some time to adjust to the new rule”. From 1 January 2020, the LTA said it would take a “zero tolerance approach” and offenders risk being fined up to $2,000, jailed up to three months, or both.
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