2019’s hottest keyword, PMDs, which were only knocked off the headlines by 2020’s COVID-19 pandemic, is making a comeback this year in the face of new regulations.
The ban of such personal mobility devices on footpaths following an increasing number of errant riders and accidents caused left many unable to move from the news – literally.
Cycling paths remained the only roads such devices could be used on.
Well, for riders who had been depending on such devices, including e-bikes and e-scooters, to get around, a new roadblock has appeared.
Last month, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced that all PMD or power-assisted bicycle (PAB) riders are required to take and pass an online theory test or face not being able to ride in public anymore.
As they’d have to receive their certification by doing so by the end of this year, you can bet many jumped at it.
96% Of Test Takers Passed
You read that right – that’s a passing rate that you won’t see anywhere in school.
The LTA has announced that on the first day of testing itself, 1st July, 96% of the 177 test-takers as of 5pm that day have already passed and could receive their certification.
Now that’s called efficiency.
Starting from the 30th of June, Wednesday, these riders were able to begin registering for the test, which began the next day.
30 minutes will be given to e-scooter riders to complete 30 MCQ questions, while PAB or e-bike users get 40 minutes to complete 40 MCQ questions.
The questions are aimed at improving awareness of active mobility rules, safe riding practices and the code of conduct.
They would also have to achieve at least an 80% score in order to receive a digital certification that has no expiry date. Sounds doable, right?
Over 1,900 riders have registered for the test thus far, where they will have 90 days to complete the assessment upon receiving an online test link.
However, there’s still a long way to go.
Singapore had a total of 6,671 e-scooters and 31,660 PABs registered as of May, which is way more than the number of users who signed up for the test as of now.
Food Delivery Riders Make Up That Bulk
We’re well on track to becoming a delivery nation, hopefully.
Quite a large percentage of a few thousand of these PMD and PAB riders are actually likely to be working as food delivery riders for the Big Three food delivery corporations.
Grab, Deliveroo and Foodpanda had actually stopped accepting PMD riders at the end of 2019 when the footpath ban came into place.
Yet, they still have a number of riders using PABs to do their deliveries.
The companies clarified that they have reminded these riders to sign up for the test, with Grab saying that they have been encouraging delivery partners to do so in order to continue with food delivery.
More initiatives will be pushed out in the following weeks to encourage more riders to complete their tests earlier, said Deliveroo.
Foodpanda also commented that they would be doing the same to get riders to sign up for the theory tests, disclosing that a third of their riders are PAB users.
Certification to use these devices are important, for it could land you in trouble if you ride them in public without one.
One can be jailed for up to six months or fined S$2000 or both for the first offence.
Subsequently, one may face a jail term of a year, a fine of S$5000, or both.
Featured Image: Oleg Elkov / Shutterstock.com
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