Transportation in Singapore has been giving people a headache every other day, and we’re not just talking about the trains. Personal mobility device (PMD) riders who regularly break the rules (knowingly or unknowingly) will soon face fines of up to $2,000 or a jail term of three months, on top of having your ride impounded.
If you’re caught using your PMD on local and major roads, you will be slapped with a composition fine of $300 and $500 respectively for first-time offenders. But if you’re one of those fearless heroes who take 70km/h joyrides down the expressway on a PMD, you will be charged in court and have your device taken away. If convicted, you’ll have to pay a fine of up to $2,000, and possibly face jail time of up to three months. And if that doesn’t hurt enough, a tougher sentence of up to six months and up to $5,000 fine will be imposed on repeat offenders.
Obviously these measures were going to be put into place; it was just a matter of time, especially when there were already close to 90 accidents in the first half of 2017 that involved e-bikes and other PMDs. There’s even a whole community of vigilantes under the Active Mobility Patrol scheme who will watch out for offenders in their own constituencies and educate people on safe riding practices.
For now, this means that it might become a little more annoying to get to the local market from home, especially if these riders don’t understand how to graciously share the pathways and sidewalks. But until all the towns get proper bike paths like in Bedok, let’s all exercise caution, be wary and be responsible on the road.
