E-Bike & E-Scooter Riders Must Pass Their Theory Test By End of This Year

If you were boiling with rage or drowning in your own tears after learning about the personal mobility device (PMD) ban in 2019, you might want to stop reading this article.

Back then, PMDs were banned on footpaths and roads after numerous accidents were pedestrians occurred.

The ban dictated that PMD riders would only be allowed to use their devices on cycling paths.

Two years later, the authorities have announced this:

E-Bike & E-Scooter Riders Must Pass Their Theory Test By End of This Year

That’s right, if you ride a PMD or power-assisted bicycle (PAB), you’ll have to pass a mandatory online theory test by the end of this year.

Otherwise, you won’t be able to continue using them in public. 

The tests aim to improve awareness of active mobility rules, code of conduct, and safe riding practices.

PAB users will have 40 minutes to answer 40 multiple-choice questions, while PMD riders will have 30 minutes to answer 30 multiple-choice questions.

The passing score for both tests is 80%. Those who pass will receive a digital certificate with no expiry date.

That sounds like a better deal than all our school exams: this one doesn’t even require essays and even has a higher passing rate.

From 1 January 2022, riders will need to show this digital certificate when requested by enforcement officers, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said.

“We encourage riders to register and obtain the test certificates as soon as possible, once the test is made available on June 30.”

Just like the ban, this new requirement is taken rather seriously.

Those caught riding without the certificate can be fined up to S$2,000 and even jailed for six months for the first offence.

Repeat offenders can be fined up to S$5,000 and/or jailed for 12 months.

Register Before 30 Jun & Pay $5 Per Test

You might want to register for the test sooner rather than later, because those who do so between 30 June and 30 September will pay a discounted rate of $5 per test.

Retests will be free if you fail on your first attempt.

If you’re a procrastinator like me and only register after 30 Sept, then you’ll have to pay $10 (in other words: double the price) for your test.

The test will be available in English, Chinese, Malay, and Tamil. LTA has uploaded e-handbooks online to help riders prepare for the tests.

Of course, since the minimum age for riding PABs and PMDs is 16, you’ll have to be at least 16 to take the tests.

Adults who are supervising riders below 16 will also be required to pass the theory test.

If you want to take the test in person and have a compelling reason for doing so, you can contact LTA here. Such requests will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Feature Image: Oleg Elkov / Shutterstock.com