The 14-member panel Active Mobility Advisory Panel (AMAP), on Mar 17, submitted several suggestions for proposed rules and a code of conduct for the safe use of personal mobility devices.
One such suggestion was to require motorised or electric bicycles be registered.
According to Parliamentary Secretary for Transport Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, this proposed move ensures riders would think twice before illegally modifying their e-bikes as their names are tied to their e-bikes.
The panel also recommended that e-bikes are not allowed to be on footpaths, but they are allowed on cycling/shared paths capped at a top speed of 25 km/h.
E-bike is not the biggest problem, it's the people riding them
You know the saying 'Guns don't kill people, people kill people'? It is quite apt here.
We see new dashcam videos popping up regulary which show e-bikes getting into accidents not because they were speeding, but mostly because the e-bike riders don't obey traffic rules.
Check out two recent ones that went viral:
href="https://www.facebook.com/sgreckless/videos/1096679670395057/">Motorised Bicycles Near MissMotorised bicycles near miss along traffic junction of Sims Ave road on 15 March 2016. Two motorised bicycles riding across the road without due care and ignoring traffic rules. Just a second away from crashing with the cam owner.
TanSingapore Reckless Drivers Community SRD Community Video Librarysgreckless.com/video
href="https://www.facebook.com/sgreckless/videos/1085517398177951/">Motorised Bicycle Crash AccidentMotorised bicycle crash accident at a traffic junction. Two young boys on the motorised bicycle were seen riding at high speed and beating red light resulted an accident with the cam owner.
ChuSingapore Reckless Drivers Community SRD Community Video Librarysgreckless.com/video
You can get these riders to register their e-bikes with the authorities, but that does not solve the issue of them not being familiar with traffic rules.
Take the example of the two boys from the second video above, could it be a case of them being unfamiliar with how the traffic lights work?
They may not have known that despite a red light, there could be vehicles turning because of the green turn arrow.
Check out LTA's public survey of more than 5,000 respondents on the code of conduct for cycling and the use of e-bikes.
You will realise that the public was generally open to sharing paths, but with the caveat that everyone behaved in a safe and considerate manner.
E-bike riders should pass tests just like other motorists
The AMAP's first line-item on its proposed rules to on-road cycling said, "Observe traffic rules".
Getting e-bike riders to pass the theory tests taken by all motorists would ensure that they know how traffic works in Singapore. Otherwise, how else will these riders know about traffic rules, much less observe them?
It sounds like an overkill at first, but the reality of the situation now is that people of all ages can get onto an e-bike, and ride it on the roads with speeds far exceeding those achieved on bicycles.
The panel also proposes a code of conduct for on-road cycling:
This code of conduct is similar to what motorists have to learn at driving school, but the difference is that motorists have to pass tests before being allowed on the roads.
How can authorities ensure e-bike riders even know about this code of conduct, much less adhere to it, without forcing them to pass a licence test?
Administering tests does raise the entry bar for e-bike riders, but it's for the safety of all road users.
Let's remember the AMAP's guiding principles
As Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, who is also the Chairman of AMAP, noted, the recommendations must reflect the following principles:
1) to prioritise the safety of the more vulnerable users;
2) to ensure that rules are simple and easy to understand; and
3) to balance the needs of different users in the best possible way.
href="https://www.facebook.com/muhammad.faishal.ibrahim1/videos/563419420484521/">Active Mobility Public Consultation HighlightsToday, the Active Mobility Advisory Panel submitted our recommendations to Ministry of Transport, Singapore and I want to thank everyone who has contributed to this report. Over the last eight months, more than 5,000 participated in the survey while many others joined our focus group discussions. Most of you agreed that sharing paths with cyclists and personal mobility device users can be done, as long as clear rules and guidelines are followed, and that we need to build a culture of graciousness and safety to better take care of everyone’s needs. The Panel has considered the various concerns and we have developed a set of rules and code of conduct. Our recommendations reflect three key principles:1) to prioritise the safety of the more vulnerable users;2) to ensure that rules are simple and easy to understand; and3) to balance the needs of different users in the best possible way. To view the full report – http://www.lta.gov.sg/data/apps/news/press/2016/20160317_AMAPPanelReport(final).pdf Here’s a video to share on some of the highlights of our journey. I hope you’ll enjoy!
While it is good to be as inclusive ("balance the needs of different users in the best possible way") as possible, the principle of safety should always be the first among equals.
An e-bike license, rather than just a code of conduct, will go a long way to alleviating pedestrians' concerns.
March 19, 03:58 PM 
514 Chai Chee Lane 03-16, Singapore 469029 
