Effects of active mobility act and parking places (amendment) bill on active mobility devices ridership

Abstract

Quick Response (QR) code geofencing has been proposed in Singapore to counteract indiscriminate parking of shared bicycles. The objective of this dual-student project was to study the effects of the Active Mobility Act and Parking Places (amendment) Bill on Active Mobility Devices (AMDs) ridership (discussed in this report), and indiscriminate parking (done by Mr Kang Kee Hong).

Boon Lay Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station was used as the study area. Count and perception surveys were conducted and compared across several observation periods (April to August 2018) centred around the shared bicycle operator licencing registration period (May to July 2018) to study the shift in people’s travel mode and stated preferences. The count survey of pedestrians, cyclists of both shared and private bicycles, and Personal Mobility Devices (PMDs) was conducted in two separate segments that were identified to have the highest volume of pathway users within the study area boundary. These segments are Jurong West Street 64 and Boon Lay Way.

Results show that the overall number of shared bicycle users have decreased gradually since the beginning of the shared bicycle operators’ business licence registration period. The reduction in number of shared bicycle riders was accompanied with an increase in numbers of pedestrian and private bicycle riders. This strongly suggests that the public is slowly shifting away from using (and less willing to start using) shared bicycles as their primary mode of transport to Boon Lay MRT. This is supported by the perception survey responses which found the primary cause for this is largely due to the decreased convenience caused by QR code geofencing.

By the last count survey conducted (in August 2018), comparing with the first count (in April 2018), the average number of pedestrians increased by 51.8%, the average number of shared bicycles dropped by 37%, the average number of private bicycles increased by 39%, and the average number of PMDs remained relatively constant. Interviews conducted with AMD users revealed that they were aware of the improper parking issue with some admitting that they themselves have committed it. However, they justified it as not being wrong as long as the indiscriminately parked AMD does not hinder others’ movement.

Finally, recommendations are made to increase AMD ridership while curbing indiscriminate parking, furthering Singapore’s progress towards becoming a ‘car-lite’ city.