E-scooter sharing is becoming a bigger deal in Singapore.
Last September, the third and most aggressive e-scooter sharing service launched here.
But people are beginning to notice the “messily parked scooters” in shared community spaces.
Members of the public are starting to fear that they may become a nuisance, much like shared bicycles.
Or pose certain dangers to society if they are not driven carefully and considerately.
A reader wrote in to MustShareNews, complaining about the e-scooters parked in a disorganised manner at Tanjong Pagar and Bugis.
The e-scooters from the company, ‘Telepod’ were not parked within a dock.
She went on to ask about the government’s efforts to regulate the parking of e-scooters.
As there are no regulatory requirements for e-scooter parking, companies have to find ways to ensure their scooters are responsibly docked.
Telepod uses PROXIMA, a QR code system that ensures that users park scooters at “designated parking areas without the need to set up docking stations or physical infrastructure”.
That’s probably why the e-scooters weren’t parked within a dock.
As a result, the scene seemed haphazard to the reader.
But not all e-scooter companies have dockless systems.
PopScoot uses GPS technology and dedicated docking to ensure that e-scooters are parked responsibly.
As the number of e-scooter “converts” have increased over the years, the authorities have already seen the need to regulate their use.
The Active Mobility Act (AMA) came into force on 1 May 2018.
AMA requires e-scooters to comply with certain required specifications, such as limits on weight and speed.
Public transport operator, SMRT also sees the potential of e-scooters within the first-and-last mile mobility market.
SMRT’s venture and incubation platform, MomentUM has invested in Telepod’s growing business.
As a results of the increasing popularity of e-scooters, some people are afraid that they may meet the same end as bikes from bike-sharing companies.
Which is of course, a pretty tragic fate — as can be observed by the numerous bike abuses in recent times.
From the second half of 2018 onward, a new licensing regime that will compel bike sharers to park properly will come into effect.
Land Transport Authority (LTA) will require bike-sharing companies to implement QR code-based geo-fencing technology.
Bike users will have to scan the QR code at a designated parking area before being able to end their trip.
Otherwise, operators might have to continue to charge for the trip.
Will such a law one day have to apply to e-scooters as well?
Only time will tell.
Featured image from MustShareNews reader.
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