Finally, the Active Mobility Bill has been passed! This long-awaited bill was ratified in parliament yesterday, and lays out the regulations applicable to the use of all personal mobility devices in Singapore, including mobility scooters and motorised wheelchairs.
To summarise, LTA classifies mobility devices into 4 categories:
a) Personal Mobility Aids (PMA's) e.g. motorised wheelchairs, mobility scooters
b) Convention Bicycles
c) Personal Mobility Devices (PMD's) e.g. skateboard, kick scooter, electric scooters, hoverboards, e-wheels
d) Power-Assist Bicycle i.e. electric bicycles
What is relevant to us is the first category i.e. PMAs. As can be seen in the first diagram, PMAs can be used on cycling paths, footpaths, and is the only category of devices to be allowed at locations with "No Riding" signs, such as overhead bridges. PMAs are, however, not allowed on roads.
But does this mean that they cannot cross the roads? Of course not. What this means is that PMA users MUST follow pedestrian rules. So crossing of roads must be done at proper zebra crossings and traffic lights. Not doing so would mean flouting rules related to jay-walking, or in this case, jay-driving.
In the 2nd diagram above, there are some physical criteria being specified for devices allowable on public paths, namely that they should weight no more than 20 kg, with a maximum speed of 25 km/h and maximum width of 700 mm.
While the speed limit is no problem for PMAs, which go below 10 km/h, almost all PMAs weigh above 20 kg, and some bariatric motorised wheelchairs are also more than 700 mm in width. Does this mean such PMAs are not allowed on pavements?
No, this is not true. PMAs are exempt from these criteria, and you can also see from the diagram that the wheelchair-like picture representing PMAs is missing. These criteria cover only Conventional Bicycles, Personal Mobility Devices and Power-Assisted Bicycles.
For more details pertaining to this, you can read the relevant LTA documents here:
https://www.mobilityscooters.sg/blogs/blog/are-mobility-scooters-above-20-kg-allowed-by-lta
So what does this all mean? Well basically, you can use your mobility scooter or motorised wheelchair anywhere, as long as you follow pedestrian rules!
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