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HDB PMD ban: Residents, tenants hope for strict enforcement

(FILE PHOTO: Personal mobility device/Yahoo News Singapore)
(FILE PHOTO: Personal mobility device/Yahoo News Singapore)

By Karen Lim

SINGAPORE – It may become illegal to use Personal Mobility Devices (PMDs) at Housing Board void decks and common corridors in 15 PAP town councils from 1 September, but residents and shopkeepers say they are still looking both ways before stepping out of elevators, homes, and stores.

“It’s a good move to ban PMDs from void decks because of high pedestrian flow, but unless the ban is strictly enforced, it is not going to change anything,” said Loo Jun Wei, 35, who runs a photocopy shop at Ang Mo Kio Ave 10.

Kembangan resident Sheela Narayanan, 46, worries that the ban will not fix the key problem - the “behaviour of the riders”.

"The ban needs to go further than void decks and corridors. When I am out with my eight-year-old daughter, I constantly worry that one of these reckless riders will run into us. They ride like they are in an F1 race, with little to no regard for pedestrians,” she said.

The new rules require PMD riders to dismount and push their motorised devices in such spaces, instead of whizzing around as they do now.

Last year, not far from Loo’s store, a 65-year-old woman was hit from behind as she walked out of the elevator. She suffered multiple bruises and a cut on her nose. It is one of several reported void deck incidents involving PMDs.

According to the Ministry of Transport, a total of 228 accidents involving PMDs on public paths were reported in 2017 and 2018. Of these accidents, 196 cases involved injuries.

Over the last 12 months, the 15 PAP town councils also received around 190 pieces of feedback on the reckless behaviour of some PMD users, coordinating chairman of PAP town councils Teo Ho Pin said on 7 August.

More eyes on PMDs

The popularity of PMDs, including among commuters and deliverymen, continues to rise. There are currently some 90,000 e-scooters registered with the Land Transport Authority (LTA).

To keep a closer eye on them, LTA is looking at expanding its enforcement team to some 200 officers by the end of this year. Town councils will also use 70,000 police CCTV cameras and lift surveillance cameras to identify reckless PMD riders.

Around $50 million will go into expanding infrastructure in hotspots where accidents tend to occur. Some improvements may include widening footpaths, erecting clear warning signs and installing speed-regulating strips on the paths to slow down PMD users.

Yet, Bishan resident Alvin Chen, 33, is less than reassured, pointing out that PMDs are still allowed on footpaths and other potential blindspots, such as bus shelters and pedestrian access points.

“It may not necessarily solve the safety issue,” said Chen.

Bedok Reservoir resident, retiree Linda Huong, remains ready to jump out of the way.

“They (PMD riders) go very fast. They don’t use bells like cyclists do, so when I see them coming, I make way,” said the 61-year-old.

More clarity needed on “share the path”

Some PMD users are wary about the proposed changes, like Denis Koh, an Active Mobility Advisory Panel member and chairman of PMD enthusiast group Big Wheel Scooters Singapore (BWSS).

“Don’t erect bollards to prevent riding and cause a hindrance to wheelchairs or Personal Mobility Aids,” advised Koh, adding that some safety measures will even more problems. His suggestion: to look at causes of actual accidents and address those.

“Decisions made based on mere complaints... often leads to endless changes and confusion, which in turn makes mobility more dangerous,” he added.

Co-founder of cycling group Love Cycling Francis Chu feels that authorities need to take a clearer position on what it means to ‘share the path’.

“LTA has not clarified that pedestrians have priority on footpaths and some riders feel pedestrians should give way in order to ‘share the path’. This is confusing and a dangerous assumption that leads to many accidents,” said Chu.

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