Singapore's Land Transport Authority (LTA) impounded two illegally modified power-assisted bicycles (PAB), or e-bikes during an operation in Bedok town centre on Tuesday night.
The authorities said in a Facebook post that the bicycles were illegally modified with a throttle and did not have a valid LTA seal. The post added that the riders are assisting LTA with further investigations.
According to the social media post, LTA officers have issued brochures to 35 users of e-bikes and other personal mobility devices to help them adopt safe riding habits and follow the rules, during the operation.
All e-bikes must be registered and affixed with a valid LTA seal from Thursday. This also includes bicycles that are equipped with electric motors that assist in pedalling.
If anyone is caught keeping or using an unregistered power-assisted bicycle or one without a valid number plate can be fined up to $2,000 or jailed up to three months, or both.
LTA said that more than 13,000 e-bikes have been registered so far. Riders of e-bikes with orange seals can register their devices online at the official site of One Motoring (www.onemotoring.com.sg) from Thursday. Registration services at SingPost post offices will cease. However, the users of e-bikes with blue seals will not be allowed to register.
Earlier this month, Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan said in Parliament that about three accidents involving users of PMDs take place on public roads and paths each week. The authorities said that it will continue to step up enforcement efforts to keep a check on that.
