CYCLING OFFENCES

CYCLING OFFENCES: 10.

Er Lee Bee Wah asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs (a) how many cyclists were booked by the Police for cycling at night without any headlight and back reflector light during the past six months; (b) what were the fines meted out to these offenders; and (c) what is the fine for repeat offenders.

11.

Mdm Cynthia Phua asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs (a) whether he will elaborate on the education programme against cycling on road pavements for the general public and foreign workers; (b) what constitutes a proper bicycle for night cycling; (c) whether summonses have been issued to cyclists for accidents with pedestrians while cycling on pavements; (d) does the Police classify such cases as Non-Seizable Offences and does the pedestrian have to lodge the case with the Magistrate of the Subordinate Court; (e) out of the 700 summonses issued in 2009 for cycling on pavements, how many were issued to foreign workers; and (f) how many of these summonses issued to foreign workers have been paid.

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The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Home Affairs (Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M) (for the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs): Sir, may I have your permission to take Question Nos. 10 and 11 together?

Mr Speaker: Yes, please.

Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: Sir, 699 summonses were issued last year to cyclists for cycling along the footways of roads, which is an offence under the Road Traffic Rules. Of these, 566 summonses or 81% were issued to foreign cyclists. More than 95% of these summonses have already been paid. For cycling at night without front lights or rear reflector lights, 226 summonses were issued in 2009. Based on the circumstances of each case, errant cyclists may be offered a composition amount of $20 for these offences. A repeat offender could be similarly offered the same composition amount.

However, for more serious cases, especially where the cyclist injures a pedestrian, the cyclist will likely be prosecuted in Court under section 131 of the Road Traffic Act, section 279 (Rash Driving or Riding on a Public Way) or section 337 (Causing Hurt by an Act which Endangers Life or the Personal Safety of Others) of the Penal Code. Police are also empowered to arrest the perpetrator without a warrant if the case is classified under sections 279 and 337 of the Penal Code. A pedestrian will therefore not need to lodge the case with a Magistrate.

Mdm Cynthia Phua asked about the education programme against cycling on road pavements for the general public and foreign workers.

To ensure that cyclists ride in safe manner that will not only ensure their own safety but also that of pedestrians, Traffic Police has been actively reaching out to

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cyclists through platforms such as road safety talks and exhibitions in schools, workplaces and neighbourhoods. At these sessions, the Traffic Police outlines safe cycling tips and highlights road traffic rules that should be obeyed when cycling including requirements imposed for night cycling. Under the Road Traffic (Bicycles) Rules, to ensure the cyclists remain visible to other motorists who are riding at night, bicycles are required to carry a headlamp showing a white light to the front and a lamp or reflector showing red light to the rear of their bicycles during hours of darkness.

As for reaching out to foreign workers, the Traffic Police has been working closely with various foreign dormitories, corporate partners and organisations that employ a large number of foreign workers to promote safe cycling amongst their workers. The Traffic Police, in partnership with the Ministry of Manpower, produced a road safety video for foreign workers that focuses traffic specifically on the safety of pedestrians and safe cycling behaviour of cyclists. The video is screened at the premises of MOM, ICA and major foreign dormitories. These efforts have bolstered efforts by the local Neighbourhood Police Centres (NPCs) in promoting road safety awareness amongst both local and foreign residents.

I would like to remind cyclists to obey all traffic rules as well as to be considerate to other road users especially pedestrians who are the more vulnerable road user group. While Police will press on in its efforts to educate the public and take the necessary enforcement action, roads can be shared safely only if all users exercise courtesy and personal responsibility in ensuring their own safety and that of others. Travelling on Singapore's streets would then be a safe and pleasant experience for all users.

Mdm Cynthia Phua (Aljunied): Sir, I would like ask the Senior Parliamentary

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Secretary to elaborate on the number of foreign worker cases that has been taken to court. The second question is this. Currently, the two critical areas are bus-stops and pedestrian crossings. Cyclists are speeding across the bus-stops as well as pedestrian crossings. Has the Ministry of Home Affairs been working with the Land Transport Authority (LTA) to see whether we can install some physical barriers to prevent cyclists from speeding across the bus-stops? Until now, even as we are speaking on this issue, I have not seen any circular or poster by MHA, LTA or the Ministry of Transport so far. We have been talking about educational materials, so I really do not know what these educational materials are –

Mr Speaker: Mdm Phua, please keep your questions short.

Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: In total, there were 1,513 summonses that we issued to cyclists. This, compared to 471 in 2008, is threefold. It shows that the enforcement action that the Traffic Police has taken has been more vigorous and frequent, in response to the complaints and feedback from our Members of Parliament as well as members of the public. Most of these summonses involve cycling along footways of a public road. Next is riding along flow of traffic and then riding other than an orderly manner. For most of them, the fine had been paid, for compounding, like I mentioned, 95%. Certainly, we will look at ways specifically to educate further the people to whom we should target safe cycling, including foreign workers as they make up 81% of the summonses. I can share the materials that we have published for these foreign workers as well as for the national education for our local residents with our Member. We also encourage Members to co-organise such workshops for the residents as well as the foreign workers in the vicinity together with the Traffic Police and LTA so that we can better reach them.

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There was another question on barriers to prevent cyclists cycling to bus stops. This is an infrastructure issue. Perhaps, it should be best directed to LTA or MOT.

Er Lee Bee Wah (Ang Mo Kio): Sir, I received feedback from quite a number of motorists that very often, they have near-miss accidents because of the lack of headlights or the back reflector lights on bicycles. I would like to ask the Senior Parliamentary Secretary whether the Ministry would be stepping up action to take action against those cyclists.

Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: The number of accidents that involved cyclists on the road is not huge. Of the 583 accidents that were reported involving cyclists in 2009, 1.9% involved cyclists and pedestrians, and the rest involved cyclists and motorists. So, on the one hand, we talk about footways just now, it is not a huge problem in terms of injuries. But yes, I agree with the Member that there is a much bigger problem when it comes to cyclists on the road. There are existing regulations and laws that we can enforce against motorists to make sure that they give enough space, for example, when they are overtaking cyclists. But we are also mindful that cyclists should be aware of their own vulnerabilities when they are riding on the road. When they do not give enough time to signal correctly or to move against traffic flow, that, inevitably, exposes them to the dangers of cycling on the road.