2 Errant E-Scooter Users Caught On 1st Day Of PMD Ban
1 Jan 2020 may be the start of a new year for most of us, but for PMD riders, the date also marked the end of the ‘advisory period’ for the footpath ban which started last November.
During this period, errant PMD users were merely issued warnings if they were caught riding their e-scooters on footpaths, but now, they could get a fine or jail sentence.
Despite the 2-month transition period, 2 errant riders were caught on Wednesday (1 Jan) — the first day when the law came into full effect.
Errant e-scooter rider caught in Yishun
Source
Errant e-scooter users will now be fined or jailed
According to The Straits Times, over 9,000 warnings were issued during the 2-month ‘advisory period’.
However, some PMD riders continued to defy the authorities.
On Wednesday (1 Jan), LTA enforcement officers were patrolling the heartlands of Ang Mo Kio, Punggol, Sengkang, Sembawang, and Yishun when they caught 2 errant e-scooter users riding on footpaths.
Errant e-scooter rider caught in Sengkang
Source
The 2 offenders were caught in Sengkang and Yishun.
Errant e-scooter rider caught in Yishun
Source
If the riders had been caught one day earlier, they would have received a warning, but since the law came into full effect on 1 Jan, they could now be fined $2,000 or jailed for up to 3 months.
On the other hand, one law-abiding e-scooter user was seen dismounting from hi mobility device and pushing it on a footpath.
E-scooter rider pushes his device on a footpath
Source
While e-scooters users are not able to ride on footpaths, the authorities stated in a Facebook post that they are “ramping up” infrastructures like cycling paths and park connectors “to better support active mobility”.
Ride responsibly and safely
Kudos to the enforcement officers who sacrificed their public holidays to help ensure the safety of our footpaths.
If you know anyone who still rides their e-scooters on footpaths, please advise them to stop doing so, or risk getting fined or even jailed.
Featured image adapted from Facebook.Â
