New licensing framework for bike-sharing operators

A new licensing framework that targets both bike-sharing operators and cyclists will be proposed later this month by the Land Transport Authority (LTA), in a move to curb illegal bicycle parking.

It will require operators to remove improperly parked bicycles on public land within a stipulated period, and penalise users who park indiscriminately, said Senior Minister of State for Transport Lam Pin Min in Parliament yesterday.

He also said operators will have to introduce schemes to discourage users from parking the bicycles indiscriminately.

This could involve high-accuracy geofencing, he added, giving an idea of the scope of the framework.

Geofencing technology creates a virtual boundary that sends out an alert when a bike enters or leaves an area, and is aimed at curbing indiscriminate parking.

Dr Lam said more than 2,100 removal notices and $180,000 in fines and administrative fees have been issued against bicycle-sharing firms since the LTA began enforcement last May. Firms are fined between $100 and $500 for failing to remove the bicycles.

A total of 341 bicycles have been impounded so far.

Five MPs spoke on the issue of illegal bicycle parking, including Mr Lim Biow Chuan (Mountbatten).

"If we fine litterbugs for throwing cigarette butts, why shouldn't we fine bicycle users for throwing their bicycles on the roadside of expressways, flyovers, drains? Surely these are worse litterers," he said.

Replying, Dr Lam said: "We do want the bicycle-sharing operators to impose some form of disincentive with regard to the renting out of the bicycles."

The Street Works Act already has fines of up to $2,000 against cyclists who obstruct and inconvenience others with improper parking on public streets.

But catching cyclists in the act is difficult, Dr Lam said, adding that no riders have been caught or punished so far under this Act.

The operators, town councils and government agencies, including LTA, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) last October that set out guidelines against indiscriminate bicycle parking.

These included removing such bicycles in half a day and implementing geofencing technologies by the end of last year .

Workers' Party MP Pritam Singh (Aljunied GRC) pointed out that many bike-sharing operators were unable to meet the MOU's time limit, and asked if the LTA would look at getting operators to intensify their efforts on this front.

Dr Lam said their inability to meet the MOU targets is the reason for the planned licensing framework.

Meanwhile, the authorities are taking steps to address the problem, including providing more parking spaces, educating cyclists on proper parking behaviour, shaping their behaviour through technology, and stepping up enforcement.

Another 50,000 bicycle parking spaces will be available by 2020, adding to the existing 174,000.

Dr Lam also defended bicycle sharing, saying it has benefits despite the "interim inconveniences and disamenities".

It enables first-and last-mile connectivity, has health benefits, and helps cut down vehicle emissions, traffic congestion and fuel consumption.

"More importantly, it complements our vision of a car-lite society," he said.