The Ministry of Transport (MOT) announced a Transition Assistance Package (TAP), to provide comprehensive assistance to e-scooter riders working with food delivery companies, affected by the ban on footpaths which took effect on 5 November 2019.

In a statement, MOT said that a whole of Singapore approach involving MOT, Ministry of Manpower, Ministry of Social and Family Service together with the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), Land Transport Authority and the various food delivery companies, was taken to assist riders to tide over the transition period.

The TAP comprises of three components:

1. For riders who want to stay in their current delivery job, the Government and food delivery companies have set up a $7 million e-scooter Trade-in Grant (eTG) to provide funding assistance of up to $1,000 for riders to switch over to bicycles, Power Assisted Bicycles (PABs) or Personal Mobility Aids (PMAs)

2. For riders who intend to consider other job options, NTUC’s employment and Employability Institute (e2i) and Workforce Singapore are working with the food delivery companies to provide career services and job support search under the Adapt and Grow initiative

3. For riders facing immediate financial difficulties, MSF and ComCare schemes are available to provide temporary financial assistance

Reiterating that the decision to prohibit e-scooters from footpaths arose from many instances of irresponsible riding, MOT said that delivery riders should be mindful of their own safety and of other path and road users and at the same time abide strictly by safety rules.