With the recent announcement of the government banning the use of PMDs on footpaths all over the country, many PMD users are exploring ways on how to circumvent the newly set law in place.
However, the National Parks Boards (NParks) has advised users of personal mobility devices (PMDs) to not ride on the grass turf as it constitutes an offense under the Parks and Trees Act.
NParks Issues Warning for Driving PMDs on Grass Lawns in Singapore
Based on the cited Act, offenders can be fined up to SGD 5,000 if convicted, as shared in a report by Mothership.
The use of PMDs on these surfaces will damage the turf and lead to soil erosion.
Aside from this, there is also a safety concern for PMD users due to the uneven ground.
The recent update on the use of PMDs in footpaths has caused riders to come up with “clever” ways to bypass the law, and some even posted their methods online without fully understanding how these affect other societal regulations, including those under the authority of agencies such as the NParks.
Earlier this week, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has issued more than 100 warnings to errant PMD users as of 5 pm on Tuesday, Nov. 5.
It was the first day a ban on e-scooters from footpaths took effect. The decision was brought about by the increasing number of PMD-related accidents in footpaths, which are both shared by PMD users as well as pedestrians before the regulation update.
Since Tuesday (Nov. 5), an “advisory period” will be observed until the end of the year.
Those caught during this period will receive warnings instead of more punitive punishments as per authorities.
Furthermore, the LTA noted that a similar ban on all other PMDs, including hoverboards, will be progressively implemented by the first quarter of 2020.
Regrettably, the public’s response to the new law was not positive as authorities may have hoped for.
Though it may seem funny or even “cool” to some, breaking the law will have no place in Singapore that has earned the respect of other countries for effectively enforcing laws down to the very letter of each.
The adjustment or “advisory” period was set to primarily help PMD users adjust to the new law and to curb the incidences of PMD-related accidents involving pedestrians on footpaths.
The goal of the new law basically is to uphold order and the safety of residents in the country, which, unfortunately, had not been the case when the initial PMD management scheme was released earlier this year.
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