PMDs, foldable bikes, allowed on public transport after trial
Commuters can now bring their foldable bicycles and personal mobility devices on board public buses and trains all day, following a six-month trial. Photo: Koh Mui Fong/TODAY
SINGAPORE — Commuters can now bring their foldable bicycles and personal mobility devices (PMDs) on board public buses and trains, following a successful six-month trial that began in December to provide passengers with another option for their first- and last-mile commute.
In announcing this on Sunday, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) stressed that the devices, which include e-scooters, unicycles and hoverboards, must be within specified dimensions (120cm x 70cm x 40cm), while their users must comply with a set of guidelines.
For instance, commuters should keep their devices folded as they push, pull or carry them, hold them securely so as not to block doors and pathways, and wrap up wheels that are dirty or wet.
These devices are prohibited on the upper decks of buses and on the staircase leading to the upper deck. Users who do not abide by the rules, which can be found in full on the LTA website, face enforcement action and can be fined up to S$500.
The LTA will also be working with bus and rail operators to put up posters at train stations and bus interchanges islandwide to highlight the rules and guidelines.
During the trial, LTA observed about 15 to 20 commuters bringing these devices onto trains and buses during peak hour periods, an average of less than 0.1 per cent of the total commuter population.
Most commuters were accepting of others bringing foldable bikes and PMDs on board public transport, said LTA, while those who were carrying these devices were “responsible and observed the stipulated rules and guidelines”.
LTA deputy director (Active Mobility Unit) Tan Li Yen said it received positive feedback during the trial.
“(Users) have asked for us to make the trial permanent because they find that this really makes the first and last mile more accessible if you are using mobility devices,” she said.
The public transport commuters TODAY spoke to welcomed the news, although some were concerned about overcrowding during peak hours.
Said marketing executive Ashton Chong: “I welcome the initiative, but feel that it would be inconvenient for other commuters during peak hours due to the scarcity of space.”
