SINGAPORE — Following the ban of e-scooters from footpaths, food-delivery riders interviewed by TODAY said that it would affect the number of orders they can fulfil. One company warned that its customers may face delays in their orders or experience more cancellations as its riders try to switch to other modes of transport.

A Grab spokesperson said in response to TODAY’s queries: “During this period, we would like to seek consumers’ understanding that they may have to wait longer for their orders or may experience an increase in cancellations by delivery-partners who may not be able to cover the delivery distance on foot.”

More than one in three GrabFood delivery riders rely on e-scooters to fulfil orders, the spokesperson added.

However, food deliveries of its competitors — Deliveroo and Foodpanda — might not be affected as much because their riders who use personal mobility devices (PMDs) comprise a smaller group, Parliament heard on Monday (Nov 4). For Deliveroo, only 5 per cent of its riders use PMDs while for Foodpanda, it is 12 per cent.

The ban kicks in on Tuesday.

The Grab spokesperson said that while the company respects the Government’s decision, its riders will now have to consider other modes of transport which “may not be readily available to them”.

“Grab plans to engage the Government in further dialogue on the possibility of allowing delivery-partners who have displayed responsible riding behaviours the option to continue using e-scooters under certain conditions for delivery,” the spokesperson said.

A representative from Deliveroo told TODAY that the firm anticipates “minimal impact” to customers' deliveries, noting that it had stopped taking onboard PMD riders since May.

The 5 per cent of its riders who use a PMD include users of power-assisted bicycles as well.

“Safety is of utmost importance for Deliveroo and we are speaking with our current riders on PMDs on how to best support them moving forward, including the possibility of helping them to transition to different vehicles if they prefer,” she added.

Foodpanda has not responded to TODAY’s queries.

When the matter was aired in Parliament on Monday, Dr Lam Pin Min, Senior Minister of State for Transport, said that the group of riders who use a PMD to perform their deliveries will be encouraged to convert to using motorcycles or bicycles instead.

Dr Lam revealed that 16 per cent of Foodpanda riders are already using bicycles. He also pointed out that the authorities will be working with the food-delivery companies and government agency Workforce Singapore to help those who might face lost income if they are unable to find an alternative mode of transport to perform their deliveries.

IMPACT ON RIDERS’ WORKLOAD

Riders told TODAY that the ban will affect the number of deliveries they are able to fulfil.

GrabFood delivery rider Gabriel James, 21, said that he was able to triple his deliveries since switching from a bicycle to an e-scooter six months ago, a move that he said was to have a “better livelihood”.

Following Monday’s announcement, he said that he would either cycle or pick up a motorcycle licence. Owning a motorcycle will be costlier, requiring a capital of tens of thousands for a start, he said.

Mr Alan Lim, a first-aid trainer who used to work as a food-delivery rider, said that not everyone will be willing to switch to a bicycle.

“For myself, I have knee problems, so asking me to ride on a PMD, then suddenly switching to bicycle, it will be a big issue,” the 41-year-old said.

Most riders lamented that the announcement of the ban was too abrupt, while some pointed out that the move will hurt those with mobility issues.

GrabFood rider Muhammad Shafiq, 22, said: “I have a friend who works with Deliveroo who is handicapped and uses a PMD to work. I feel sad for him. For me, I can still work with another job.”

Mr George Chow, 32, who works for both GrabFood and Deliveroo, said that he will have to give up his job because he cannot ride a bicycle due to a suspected heart condition. He cannot afford a motorcycle, too.

He said that he is at a loss because he has to take care of both his parents.

“The Government can help those who depend heavily on PMDs and e-scooters to successfully switch over to an alternative device or vehicle, or (to find) a new job before (enforcing the ban),” he said.

SHARING SERVICE OPERATORS SAY...

Apart from the ban, it was also announced on Monday (Nov 4) that the Land Transport Authority (LTA) is scrapping plans to offer e-scooter-sharing licences.

Ride-sharing firm Anywheel founder Htay Aung said that he had already foreseen the move, given growing public sentiment against PMD users and the delays by LTA in handing out licences to companies seeking to operate PMD-sharing services.

The firm was among 14 that, in February, had submitted applications to operate PMD-sharing services under sandbox licences here.

Anywheel had “multiple meetings” with the LTA, Mr Htay Aung said, and that the authority had “seriously considered bringing PMDs into Singapore”, but it ultimately did not work out.

Ms Janice Lim, general manager of GoGreen Holdings, which also applied for the sandbox licence, said that the firm “totally understands” the reason for banning e-scooters on footpaths.

Though she acknowledges that it is difficult to “clamp down” on individual users, she said that operators of e-scooter-sharing services can ensure their devices are “safety-certified and non-modifiable”.

For example, the maximum speed can be capped at 8km/h or 10km/h, and geo-fencing technology can be employed to restrict usage to certain areas, which means e-scooters can shut down when entering prohibited areas such as narrow paths.

Agreeing, Mr Louis Goh, co-founder of e-scooter startup Telepod, said that his firm has a speed-limiter technology that can control a device’s speed based on its location.

Ms Lim said that ride-sharing operators can ban irresponsible riders because they have their particulars, or report them to the authorities.

Beam, another e-scooter-sharing operator, said that it was “dissatisfied and frustrated by the decision to effectively ban PMDs in Singapore”.

Its vice-president of corporate affairs Christopher Hilton said that Beam had worked with the authorities to propose “viable technological and policy solutions”. Banning PMDs from footpaths has “essentially eliminated an important transportation option”, he added.

“That it was done without investigating several options that are currently available to make these journeys safe — including moving PMDs to the road, as has been done in most jurisdictions around the world — is frustrating,” Mr Hilton said.

Following the announcement, Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan said on Facebook that “technological progress and continuing innovations have been a boon for the transport sector. New devices like e-scooters help make intra-town connectivity a reality for those who are less able to cycle”.

However, he added that “they can also be a menace and downright dangerous by irresponsible users”.

“Our approach is to regulate lightly, especially in the beginning, closely monitor their usage and then tighten regulations as necessary.

“Nobody likes regulations, but I hope Singaporeans will accept that some regulations are necessary so that we can all be safe.”

WHAT'S NEXT FOR SHARING SERVICE OPERATORS

Anywheel founder Htay Aung said that he will likely move his e-scooters overseas. The company started an e-scooter-sharing service in Penang in October and will expand to two more Malaysian cities by the end of the month.

Likewise, Mr Goh said that Telepod has been supplying e-scooter-sharing services to seven countries including the United States and Japan, and “will continue to do so”.

He added that Telepod has 200 to 300 scooters in Singapore, which he will either sell them secondhand to overseas operators or partners looking to run e-scooter-sharing programmes.

Mr Hilton of Beam said that despite the announcement, the firm still views Singapore as a “viable market”.

It is hoping to discuss with LTA on the possibility of operating a service that is restricted to park connector networks and bicycle lanes, saying that it has the technology to keep its vehicles there.

“We have to look at a new way of operating,” he said. “This is not something that we ever shared with them in the past.”

Mr Htay Aung has also not given up hope of operating in Singapore.

“Hopefully, one day, LTA grants (e-scooter-sharing) licences, when there’s better infrastructure in Singapore,” he said