Written Reply by Minister for Transport Ong Ye Kung to Parliamentary Question on Making Helmets and Lights Mandatory for Bicycles and Mobility Devices in Park Connectors

Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Minister for Transport whether helmets and lights are mandatory for bicycles and mobility devices in park connectors and, if not, whether the Government will consider making them mandatory for the safety of riders and other park connector users.

Reply by Minister for Transport Ong Ye Kung: 

1.     Users of bicycles, power-assisted bicycles (PABs) and personal mobility devices (PMDs) are required to display a front white light and a rear red light or reflector on their devices when riding on all public paths, including park connectors, from 7pm to 7am the following day.

2.     We strongly encourage all active mobility device users, including cyclists, to wear helmets while riding on all public paths, for their own safety. But we have thus far decided not to make this mandatory, because unlike riding on roads, bicycle and PAB users on public paths do not ride alongside larger and faster vehicles. The current rules are a result of the Active Mobility Advisory Panel’s 2018 review, where the Panel conducted a nation-wide public consultation exercise featuring diverse groups of active mobility device users.