From today, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) will roll out a dedicated team of Active Mobility Enforcement Officers (AMEOs) to encourage safe sharing of paths as well as deter reckless behaviour on bicycles and personal mobility devices (PMDs). This is part of efforts to encourage safe and gracious sharing of paths as more people take up active modes of commuting such as walking, cycling and using PMDs.

2.  “Even as we continue to roll out enhancements to cycling infrastructure as well as step up education efforts, we will still need to ensure that all users respect each other’s needs and be mindful of each other’s safety. The presence of our dedicated enforcement team will provide the reassurance that we will not tolerate any reckless behaviour by cyclists or PMD users. At the same time, our officers will also double up as ambassadors to help educate cyclists and pedestrians of the proper way of using our shared paths. This will go a long way towards encouraging more people to take up active modes of commuting, such as cycling and the use of PMDs,” said LTA Chief Executive, Mr Chew Men Leong.

3.  The AMEOs can be identified through their bright yellow shirts with the LTA Enforcement Crest and black Bermuda pants. Over the next few months, they will also be equipped with foldable bicycles to facilitate their patrols, and speed guns to deter speeding. Please refer to the Annex for a photo of the AMEOs.

4.  The AMEOs will conduct patrols at areas with high pedestrian and cyclist traffic, such as near crowded bus-stops and traffic junctions. Many of these locations would be hotspots where there is high interaction between pedestrians, cyclists and PMD users and therefore a need to highlight to the different users to look out for one another and behave graciously.

5.  For a start, the AMEOs will patrol hotspot locations and issue advisories to errant cyclists and PMD users such as those who are moving at very high speeds, riding in a manner that endangers the safety of other path users or using power-assisted bicycles (PABs) on the footpaths. The AMEOs will also distribute educational collaterals to inform cyclists and PMD users on the new set of rules and code of conduct. The AMEOs will also join the Traffic Police on joint-enforcement exercises at hotspots. NParks will also play their part by conducting targeted enforcement in parks and park connectors.

6.  Cyclists and PMD users found riding rashly and cause hurt to another person could be prosecuted in Court under Section 337(a) of the Penal Code and be liable on conviction to a fine of up to $5,000 or imprisonment for up to one year, or both.

7.  More details of the active mobility enforcement framework including the registration of Power Assisted Bicycles, together with supporting legislative changes will be announced in the second half of 2016.