SINGAPORE – Frustrated with what they say is a lack of progress in their conversation with the National Environment Agency (NEA) over a ban on old motorcycles, a group of enthusiasts and affected owners have created a petition to raise awareness and support for the matter.

“The main target is to repeal the overarching ban and to keep the current in use inspection standard,” said biker Joseph Tan, who started the petition on Thursday (Dec 27) on behalf of the group.

The online petition aims to collect 1,500 signatures, and by Friday noon had met more than 80 per cent of its target.

Once the target is met, Mr Tan, 45, said a new target will be set and the petition will continue until Jan 12, which will mark the end of the Wicked Wallop event, at Carros Centre in Kranji. The event is billed as a gathering for riders of custom and classic motorcycles, with a focus on lifestyle, custom culture, music and people.

Then, the group will decide on their next course of action.

“We don’t have a hard number target, the more the merrier. And we are targeting not only affected owners, but people who understand the flaws in NEA’s ban and support our cause,” said Mr Tan, who works in the finance industry.

He said the ban has affected owners from different backgrounds, from bikers who have held on to their rides for sentimental or heritage reasons, to those who need it to sustain their livelihoods.

On April 6, the NEA announced new rules to curb carbon emissions.

Among them, motorcycles registered before July 1, 2003, will no longer be allowed on roads from July 1, 2028, and must be exported or scrapped.

The agency said it would offer a cash incentive of up to S$3,500 to riders who deregister their older, more pollutive vehicles over the next five years.

While the group of motorbike enthusiasts agrees with the need to combat climate change and pollution, Mr Tan said any new initiatives or rules should also make sense.

“We saw the statistics and the ban, and we cannot agree that the ban will have any significant impact as the readings are plain unrealistic,” he said.

NEA figures indicate that older bikes emit up to 30 times more pollutants than new machines, and that they contribute 40 per cent of the total carbon monoxide emitted by motorcycles on the road.

The group met with NEA representatives in June to challenge these statistics, according to the petition.

It also stated that the group also corresponded with the NEA on the issue through their appointed law firm RHTLaw Taylor Wessing LLP.

“To date, NEA has failed to prove their statistics and admit that their ban is unjustified,” the petition says.

The petition also states that if the first two goals of repealing the ban on old motorcycles and maintaining in-use emission inspection standard as of April 6, 2018 are not met, it hopes that the agency can provide clarification on three points.

First, it is seeking data on how the agency’s statistics on the carbon dioxide emission was derived.

Second, it wants an explanation on why motorcycles which are already certified EURO I or equivalent but registered before July 1, 2003 are also affected by this ban.

Finally, it wants to know what are all the contributing factors to air pollution in Singapore, including those from foreign contributors, such as vehicles as well as airborne industrial pollution from neighbouring countries.

“This is to illustrate the actual pollution contributors in Singapore and to act as a comparison with the 27,000 motorcycles,” the group wrote.

Mr Tan said he is not against NEA’s initiative to give a cash incentive for riders to deregister their motorcycles — he just wants it to be voluntary.

“We only ask NEA to be realistic,” he said.

The NEA said it has received feedback from motorcycle owners and the Singapore Motorcycle Trade Association, arising from the association’s dialogue session with owners on April 28. The NEA also met representatives from other groups such as the Malaysia and Singapore Vintage Car Register and motorcycle Facebook groups to understand their concerns.

A spokesperson said the NEA has explained to those who provided feedback that in estimating motorcycle emissions, the composition of the motorcycle population, their respective emission standards, mileage and other factors affecting their emissions such as engine size were considered.

Some affected owners who wish to retain their motorcycles have informed the agency that the Classic Vehicle Scheme offers a viable option. For owners of motorcycles that do not qualify for this scheme, the NEA is studying other measures to address some of their concerns.

About 27,000 motorcycles are eligible for the cash incentive and response has been encouraging, said the NEA. The weekly de-registration rate of such motorcycles is about four times the rate before the scheme. As of Dec 20, more than 6,100 such motorcycles have been de-registered, said the spokesperson.