The Small Motorised Vehicles (Safety) Bill (SMV Bill) and Active Mobility (Amendment No. 2) Bill (AM Bill) were passed by Parliament, strengthening active mobility regulations aimed at stemming the inflow of non-compliant^[1] devices and ensuring safe active mobility journeys.

Small Motorised Vehicles (Safety) Bill (SMV Bill) for Path and Fire Safety

The SMV Bill introduces new import control measures for small motorised vehicles to improve public path and fire safety. From 1Q 2021, all persons who import^[2] motorised Personal Mobility Devices (PMDs) and Power Assisted Bicycles (PABs) will be required to obtain an import approval from LTA before they can bring in these devices. This will also apply to individuals bringing in motorised PMDs/PABs for personal use. More details will be available later.

An individual who imports motorised PMDs and PABs without valid approval from LTA can be fined up to $5,000 and/or face a jail term of up to 6 months, if convicted for the first offence. Businesses can be fined up to $10,000 for the first offence.

This is a key upstream measure to stem the inflow of non-compliant motorised PMDs and PABs into Singapore. It reinforces LTA’s existing efforts to promote public path and fire safety, including adopting the UL2272 and EN15194 safety standards for motorised PMDs and PABs respectively. LTA also regulates the display, advertisement, sale, alteration and use of non-compliant active mobility devices, and requires all registered e-scooters to undergo mandatory inspection.

Active Mobility (Amendment) Bill for Safety and Connectivity

The AM Bill enables LTA to immediately forfeit non-compliant devices posing fire hazards and dispose of them once the 30-day notice period to make an objection has lapsed.

The Bill also extends the scope of the public path system under the Active Mobility Act 2017 by including path-connected open spaces, which will be designated as footpaths later this year. Please see here for examples of these open spaces. They include courtyards, community/town plazas and squares, which are commonly used as thoroughfares by pedestrians and active mobility device users. In so doing, the Bill will improve clarity of rules and facilitate connectivity for active mobility users on public paths.

Active mobility users will be required to comply with the regulations in these spaces, such as the speed limits for active mobility device users, and the prohibition of use of motorised PMDs on footpaths.

^[1] Refers to: (1) PMDs that do not comply with the device criteria of maximum unladen weight of 20kg, maximum width of 70cm, maximum motorised device speed of 25km/h, and the UL2272 standard. The UL2272 standard is a safety standard that Singapore has adopted for motorised PMDs. Non-UL2272 motorised PMDs cannot be used on public paths from 1 July 2020; (2) PABs that do not comply with the EN15194 standard, and/or technical requirements such as not exceeding more than 20kg in maximum unladen weight, having a start-up assistance feature/throttle, among others. The EN15194 is a European standard.

^[2] “Import” means to bring or cause to be brought into the customs territory by land, water or air from – (a) any place outside Singapore; or (b) a free trade zone. However, “import” does not include to tranship or transit.