Parliament: MOT to unveil guidelines for use of bikes and personal mobility devices next year

A woman riding her bicycle on a bridge at Bishan Park. ST PHOTO: JAMIE KOH

SINGAPORE - Rules and norms governing the conduct of cyclists and personal mobility device users will be proposed by the second quarter of next year, Parliamentary Secretary for Transport Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim said on Tuesday.

A national voluntary cyclist education programme will then be developed based on the revised guidelines, he added in reply to a question from Tampines GRC MP Ms Irene Ng.

Prof Faishal also gave an update on the Government's plan to build an island-wide, off-road cycling path network spanning over 700km by 2030.

He said cycling path networks have been completed in four towns - Tampines, Sembawang, Pasir Ris and Yishun, and will be completed in 11 more towns in the next five years. In addition, existing cycling path networks are being linked up to connect to the city.

"These include linking Alexandra Canal Linear Park and Ulu Pandan Park Connector in the west, and linking Geylang Park Connector to a future Park Connector along Sims Avenue in the east," he said.

However, apart from building up the national cycling infrastructure, it was "equally important" to develop a clear and consistent set of rules and norms to ensure safe and responsible cycling conduct, he added.

To that end, a recently formed Active Mobility Advisory Panel comprising 14 representatives from key groups such as seniors, youth, grassroots leaders, cyclists, motorists, and users of personal mobility devices, and chaired by Prof Faishal will look at formulating the set of cycling rules and norms.

In a supplementary question, Ms Ng asked if the Ministry of Transport (MOT) would consider interim guidelines, and if authorities had any plans to ensure that footways remain safe for pedestrians and that they have the right of way, "even as cyclists continue cycling on footways as it is not being enforced right now".

Prof Faishal said that authorities have been stepping up enforcement at problem areas.

"We are currently working and we have been working together with the community to see where are the spots where we need to enhance our enforcement, and we have done so and certain areas have improved, others we can do better and we will do better," he said.

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