Under the Shared Mobility Enterprises (Control & Licensing) Act 2020, depending on the vehicle type, a licence or class licence may be required to operate shared mobility services within public places in Singapore. Currently, dockless bicycle-sharing licence applications are open bi-annually. To improve overall public path safety, from 1 May 2021, businesses who are currently providing or wish to provide shared mobility services with docked motorised devices will also require a class licence.
Shared Mobility Services Licensing
Bicycle-Sharing Application
1) The Land Transport Authority (LTA) opened a new licence application cycle for bicycle-sharing services on 15 January 2021 and the submission deadline for applications was closed on 19 February 2021, 6pm.
2) When evaluating applications, LTA will take into consideration the following factors:
a) The applicant’s plans to manage indiscriminate parking, including user education on proper parking behaviour;
b) Ability to maintain healthy fleet utilisation rates, including managing overall demand for its bicycle-sharing service and the availability of parking spaces; and
c) Overall track record including whether there were previous instances of regulatory contraventions.
3) Under LTA’s licensing framework, successful applicants which are granted Type 2 (sandbox) licences for bicycle-sharing services will be allowed to operate in public places for one year.
4) Type 2 (sandbox) licensees that demonstrate their ability to manage indiscriminate parking well, comply with regulatory requirements and ensure good utilisation rates will have the opportunity to obtain a full licence subsequently and grow their fleet over time.
Class Licence for Docked Motorised Device-Sharing Operators
From 1 May 2021, all businesses that offer for hire docked motorised personal mobility devices (PMDs) and power assisted bicycles (PABs) to be ridden in public places will be regulated under a class licensing regime. These include brick-and-mortar (physical) shops providing motorised PMD and/or PAB rental services to the general public, and hotels or companies that offer the use of such devices to their guests and/or employees.
Affected businesses which currently provide or wish to provide the above shared mobility services will be given till 31 May 2021 to notify LTA for a class licence. The online notification form will be made available on this page from 1 May 2021.
For more information, please refer to this industry circular (PDF, 79KB).
