Riding Mobility Devices Safety

With the rise of e-commerce and online food delivery, demand for delivery services has grown rapidly. This demand is increasingly met by bicycles, power-assisted bicycles (PABs), personal mobility devices (PMDs) and personal mobility aids (PMAs) in recent years because they offer flexible and cost-effective alternatives for businesses.

The hazards/risks associated with riding which includes:

• Reckless riding;
• Speeding; and
• Distractions (e.g. making phone calls while riding)

All responsible rider must observe the applicable legal legislation that are relevant to safe riding which include

• Workplace Safety and Health Act
• Road Traffic Act
• Active Mobility Act

Irresponsible use of these mobility devices can injure pedestrians, other road users and the riders themselves. With more bicycles, PABs, PMDs and PMAs (see Figure 2) used for work, companies need to take steps to ensure the safe use of these mobility devices for all their riders.

Employer's Role

You are encouraged to:

• Implement a zero-tolerance policy against unsafe riders (e.g. penalties for reckless riding).
• Review remuneration scheme to introduce incentives for safety performance.
• Employ riders with valid licences (for motorcycle riders).
• Ensure equipment and mobility devices (company-owned) are suitable for the job and regularly maintained.
• Provide PPE such as gloves, helmets, boots, riding jackets and pants.
• Familiarise riders with emergency response procedures.
• Remind riders to take care of their health and hydrate regularly.

Employee's Role

As a rider, you should:

• Plan delivery routes to avoid hazards (e.g. avoid major roads with heavy or fast-moving traffic).
• Keep to the left and adhere to traffic rules at all times (do not ride against the traffic).
• Avoid riding into the blind spots of other vehicles (especially heavy vehicles like trucks).
• Keep a lookout for and give way to pedestrians (e.g. on shared pathways).
• Dismount from bicycle or PAB when navigating through a crowd.
• Stop riding during heavy downpours.
• Conduct visible check on your mobility device before riding.
• Watch out for the elderly, young children and even pregnant women sharing the same pathway .
• Carry out routine maintenance and timely repairs on your mobility device.

Who should read this guide

In this guide, bicycles, PABs, PMDs and PMAs are collectively termed active mobility devices. Users who ride motorcycles or active mobility devices are referred to as riders.

Companies and riders who will find this guide useful include those who:

• Offer delivery services using motorcycles and/or mobility devices.

• Engage delivery services through contractual agreements.

• Provide active mobility devices for staff to travel within the workplace, e.g. security officers using PMDs for patrols

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