July 19, 2024, 05:02 PM
UPDATE on Jul. 22 at 3:15pm: This article has been updated with a statement from the Land Transport Authority (LTA).
A Land Transport Authority (LTA) camera was spotted in Jurong near The Frontier Community Place.
Photo via SG Warehouse Sale & Events/Facebook
The active mobility enforcement camera was located at the side of a sheltered pedestrian path.
The logos on the signage indicated that the camera was intended to catch errant cyclists and personal mobility device (PMD) users.
Several netizens were confused as to why the camera was looking out for cyclists, as cyclists are allowed on pedestrian footpaths while PMDs are not.
Why catch cyclists on pavements?
Although manual bicycles are allowed on pedestrian footpaths, they need to follow a set of regulations, including:
- Having a maximum weight of 20kg
- Having a maximum width of 70cm
- Having at least one functioning handbrake installed at the handlebar of the device
- Not exceeding the maximum speed of 10km/h
Power-assisted bicycles (PABs) and PMDs, on the other hand, are not allowed on pedestrian footpaths.
Screenshot via LTA website.
Not a new thing
LTA's mobile CCTVs have actually been around for five years.
First trialled for 18 months in 2019 under a partnership with the Government Technology Agency, the cameras were implemented to catch PMD users who flout the law, prior to PMDs being banned on pedestrian footpaths.
They were placed in "hotspots" around Singapore, including Jurong West, Punggol, Sembawang and Woodlands.
The cameras were also referenced in Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Transport Baey Yam Keng's speech at the Ministry of Transport's Committee of Supply debate in 2023.
The technology was meant to "augment" existing enforcement efforts by officers, as well as to conduct joint operations with other agencies.
"With that, I am glad to say that we have made good progress in improving active mobility safety over the years," said Baey.
He said that the number of active mobility-related incidents on public paths have decreased from 155 in 2021 to 101 in 2022.
CCTVs deployed after "successful trial" in 2019
Responding to Mothership's queries, LTA said in a statement on Jul. 22 that the mobile CCTVs have been deployed since September 2022, and that this followed a successful trial in 2019.
LTA said the mobile CCTVs are rotated frequently to hotspots around Singapore.
"This allows LTA to leverage technology not only to detect active mobility offences such as riding on the wrong path, but also to deter errant behaviour," LTA explained.
LTA also said that it has a team of Active Mobility Enforcement Officers and Auxiliary Police Officers who conduct daily enforcement operations island wide to enforce against errant path users.
The number of active mobility offences has also fallen by about 35 per cent from 2021 to 2023, according to data from LTA.
In 2021, 8,014 offences were recorded, in contrast to the 5,228 offences recorded in 2023.
The number of offences detected by enforcement officers in 2022 was 6,996.
LTA also shared that the most common offences include riding PABs and PMDs on footpaths, using a non-compliant active mobility device on a public path, and riding a PAB or e-scooter without a Mandatory Theory Test certificate.
The non-compliant devices detected include PABs, motorised PMDs and manual bicycles. LTA said such devices are often illegally-modified, and do not comply with safety standards or specified device dimensions.
Top photo via SG Warehouse Sale & Events/Facebook
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