PARKING LOTS FOR MOTOR-CYCLES AND SCOOTERS IN CITY AREA

Mr Teo Hup Teck asked the Minister for Law and National Development if he will consider the provision of more parking lots for motor-cycles and scooters in the City area.

Mr Ho Cheng Choon (for the Minister for Law and National Development): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Car Park Division has to date established 347 bays in which about 2,594 motor-cycles and scooters can be parked. A survey was recently carried out in respect of parking lots for motor-cycles and scooters. The survey indicates that the bays provided have not been fully used. For example, in the City centre only about 66 per cent of the space provided is occupied. Apparently motor-cyclists and scooterists prefer to park their vehicles as near to their destination as possible on verandahs and side-walks.

Mr Teo Hup Teck (Jalan Kayu): (In Mandarin): The Parliamentary Secretary has said in his answer that many riders of motor-cycles and scooters park their motor-cycles and scooters in the five-foot way. This proves my point that it is difficult to get parking lots for scooters and motor-cycles. According to regulations, the parking of a motorcycle or a motorised vehicle in the five-foot way is against the law.

Mr Speaker: I did remind Members of the provisions of the Standing Orders. Perhaps your question should be, "How does the Parliamentary Secretary reconcile the reasons for not providing more parking lots with the fact that people park their motor-cycles and scooters on the five-foot way?" Is that what you wanted him to explain?

Mr Teo Hup Teck: (In Mandarin): Sir, what I wanted to ask the Ministry concerned was whether it would consider increasing the parking lots for scooters and motor-cycles.

Mr Ho Cheng Choon: Mr Speaker, Sir, I have just now given my answer that the parking lots provided for scooters and motor-cycles are not fully occupied. Only 66 per cent of these parking lots are occupied. I do not see any justifiable reason for increasing the parking lots for motor-cycles and scooters.