The Latest Victims Of The E-Scooter Ban: E-Scooter Retailers, Renters & Guided Tour Operators

2019-11-25 , 8:00 pm

It’s been nearly three weeks since e-scooters were banned on the footpaths of Singapore.

And since then, many things have happened:

The guy who did the PMD video (above) got hired because his voice was too sexy.

PMD users are now more defensive about their riding of e-scooters; although I wished they would’ve practised more defensive-riding on their e-scooters and avoid the ban altogether.

Food delivery e-scooter riders are getting sympathy from the nation.

And a rider getting arrested for trying to test the system.

But today, we’re going to put the limelight on the real victims of the e-scooter ban (from footpaths).

The PMD Retailers & Businesses

Imagine if your main business comes from selling or renting e-scooters. And because just a few months before, the government says everyone must ride UL2272-certified e-scooters so you brought in $1 million worth of e-scooters to sell.

You’re a business that rent e-scooters to tourists or casual users. You rent a shop in the central area where lots of tourists and Singaporeans gather to have fun.

Your main mode of business is renting out e-scooters for them to tour the city area, and have guided tours because touring with an e-scooter is way more awesome than a bus.

Within a day of the government saying no more PMDs on footpaths, you’re left with unsellable stocks and plummeting sales.

JoyScoot

This is an e-scooter rental shop that used to operate in the Singapore Flyer. It is no longer in operations.

And it was pointed out that the ban was the main cause of their closure.

A staff member for the shop said that on Tuesday, the shop has only earned $5 from one e-scooter rental for the entire day.

Guided e-scooter tours are also affected since they’re no longer allowed to ride PMDs on the footpaths, which means they have lesser routes to bring customers on.

CityScoot

Located at North Bridge Road is yet another e-scooter rental company that was hit hard.

“Business was hit by 90%,” the shop’s manager told reporters.

They have also discontinued their e-scooter guided tours, which uses licensed guides to bring visitors around.

To make things worse, they’ve also invested in e-scooters with the UL2272 fire-safety standard to comply with the authorities back in June 2019.

The losses, he estimated, is between S$7,000 to S$10,000.

Daily-earnings for City Scoot has fallen from $1,500 a day to $200.

Adapting To Alternative Ways

Not everyone is impacted much, however, nor are they going to declare bankruptcy.

JoyScoot, for example, might’ve closed its doors but it has another outlet offering walking tours for visitors.

Let’s Go Tour Singapore, which runs e-scooter tours through Let’s Go Bike Singapore, said they’re impacted.

“But it simply means one avenue is closed off.”

E-scooter tour providers are contemplating approaching the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) for help in getting exemptions.

But STB has already responded.

“There Will Be No Exemptions”

Mr Kenneth Lim, STB’s director of travel agents and tourist guides, said they will not be asking for an exemption.

Instead, they will be reaching out to offer help to these e-scooter tour providers.

Help could mean giving assistance in identifying tour routes on cycling paths and the park-connector network or changing the device to a bicycle.

The Land Transport Authority said companies who want to include active mobility modes of travel into their business model may approach them for more information.