Statute Details
- Title: Active Mobility (Exemption for Use of Vehicle on Specified Footpath — Marina Bay) (No. 2) Order 2022
- Act Code: AMA2017-S589-2022
- Legislation Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Active Mobility Act 2017
- Power Used: Section 66 of the Active Mobility Act 2017
- Commencement / Period in Force: In force from 11 July 2022 to 11 July 2029 (both dates inclusive)
- Current Status: Current version as at 26 Mar 2026
- Key Provisions: Sections 2 to 5 (definitions and exemptions), plus Schedules 1 and 2
- Key Sections (as provided):
- Section 2: Definitions
- Section 3: Exemption for driving a specified motor vehicle
- Section 4: Exemption for driving forklift, boom lift and scissor lift
- Section 5: Exemption for driving lorry crane
- Schedules:
- First Schedule: Specified footpaths (Marina Bay area, defined by maps)
- Second Schedule: Specified persons (authorising/covered persons)
- Related Legislation Mentioned: Road Traffic Act 1961; Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Driving Licences) Rules (R 27)
What Is This Legislation About?
The Active Mobility (Exemption for Use of Vehicle on Specified Footpath — Marina Bay) (No. 2) Order 2022 is a targeted regulatory instrument that temporarily relaxes restrictions under the Active Mobility Act 2017 for certain vehicles to be driven on certain footpaths in the Marina Bay area. In plain language, it creates a controlled “exception zone” where specific types of motor vehicles and work vehicles may be used on designated footpaths, but only for defined operational purposes and only by authorised persons who meet strict safety and insurance requirements.
Under the Active Mobility Act 2017, there are general prohibitions on driving vehicles on footpaths (or on footpaths used by active mobility users). This Order does not repeal the general rule; instead, it carves out exemptions from the relevant prohibition (notably, the provision referenced as section 16(1)(b) of the Act). The exemption is conditional: it applies only within the geographic boundaries shown in the First Schedule and only when the driver and vehicle satisfy the conditions in the Order.
Practically, the Order is designed to facilitate legitimate activities that may require vehicle access to footpaths—such as event-related transport, maintenance works, and emergency response—while still protecting pedestrians and other footpath users. It also recognises that certain specialised equipment (forklifts, boom lifts, scissor lifts, and lorry cranes) may be necessary for construction and maintenance in dense urban areas, and it therefore provides separate exemption pathways for those categories.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. Definitions and the scope of the exemption (Section 2)
Section 2 sets the conceptual boundaries for the Order. Several definitions are particularly important for practitioners advising clients on compliance:
- “Specified footpath” is defined by reference to maps in the First Schedule, bounded by black-coloured lines. This is a geographic limitation; if the vehicle is driven outside those mapped boundaries, the exemption does not apply.
- “Specified motor vehicle” is defined by exclusions. It is essentially “any motor vehicle” except a list of specific categories (e.g., motorised personal mobility devices, power-assisted bicycles, motorised wheelchairs, mobility scooters, and certain autonomous/robotic vehicles). Notably, the excluded list includes the very categories that are typically governed by separate active mobility rules.
- “Specified purpose” limits the permitted reasons for driving on the specified footpath. The permitted purposes include: transport connected with a specified event; transport connected with maintenance works; carrying out maintenance works; and standing by to respond to, or responding to, an emergency.
- “Specified person” refers to persons listed in the Second Schedule. This matters because authorisation by a “specified person” is a recurring condition for the exemption.
2. Exemption for driving a “specified motor vehicle” (Section 3)
Section 3 provides the core exemption. It states that section 16(1)(b) of the Active Mobility Act 2017 does not apply to an individual who drives a specified motor vehicle on a specified footpath for a specified purpose, provided all conditions are met.
The conditions include:
- Authorisation: the driver must be authorised by a specified person to drive the vehicle for the specified purpose.
- Driving licence or exemption: the driver must either (i) hold a valid driving licence under the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Driving Licences) Rules (R 27) authorising the driver to drive the class of vehicle, or (ii) be exempted under section 49 of the Road Traffic Act 1961 from the requirement to hold such a licence.
- Speed limit: the driver must not exceed 10 km/h, unless responding to an emergency.
- Pedestrian priority: the driver must give way to other users of the specified footpath.
- Lighting at night: during hours of darkness (7 p.m. to 7 a.m., inclusive), the vehicle must be kept lit in a manner visible to other users.
- Insurance: there must be a policy of insurance in force covering liability for (i) death or bodily injury to persons other than the driver or passengers, and (ii) property damage suffered by persons other than the driver or passengers. The Order also requires that the insurer is lawfully carrying on insurance business in Singapore.
For legal practice, the insurance condition is often the most operationally significant. It is not enough to have “some insurance”; the policy must be in force and must cover the specified categories of liability. Advisers should therefore check policy wording, insured parties, and coverage limits to ensure the policy aligns with the Order’s requirements.
3. Exemption for forklift, boom lift and scissor lift (Section 4)
Section 4 extends the exemption framework to specific work vehicles used for lifting and maintenance activities. The structure mirrors Section 3 but adds training/certification requirements tailored to each equipment type.
For each category (forklift, boom lift, scissor lift), the driver must:
- Be authorised by a specified person for the specified purpose; and
- Have attended and passed the relevant Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) course (Operate Forklift / Operate Boom Lift / Operate Scissor Lift), or obtain an equivalent certification approved by the Singapore Armed Forces.
- Comply with the same operational safety conditions: 10 km/h speed cap (unless emergency), give way to other footpath users, and visible lighting during hours of darkness.
- Maintain the required insurance coverage for death/bodily injury and property damage to persons other than the driver or passengers, with the insurer lawfully carrying on business in Singapore.
The WSQ requirement is a key compliance lever. Where a driver lacks the specified WSQ certification (or approved equivalent), the exemption fails—even if the driver is otherwise authorised and insured. Practitioners should therefore treat training records as essential evidence for compliance.
4. Exemption for lorry crane (Section 5)
Section 5 similarly exempts driving a lorry crane on a specified footpath for a specified purpose, subject to conditions. From the extract provided, the Order requires:
- Authorisation by a specified person;
- Attendance and passing of the WSQ — Operate Lorry Crane course (or approved equivalent);
- Either possession of a valid driving licence authorising the driver to drive the lorry crane, or an exemption under section 49 of the Road Traffic Act 1961;
- Operational safety conditions consistent with the other exemptions (speed, giving way, lighting) and insurance coverage.
Although the extract truncates the remainder of Section 5, the pattern across Sections 3 and 4 strongly indicates that Section 5 continues with the same core safety and insurance conditions. In advising clients, counsel should verify the full text of Section 5 to confirm the exact wording of the remaining conditions (particularly the insurance and night-time lighting provisions).
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This Order is structured in a conventional subsidiary legislation format:
- Enacting formula: states that the Minister for Transport makes the Order under section 66 of the Active Mobility Act 2017.
- Section 1 (Citation and period in force): identifies the Order and sets the validity period (11 July 2022 to 11 July 2029).
- Section 2 (Definitions): defines key terms such as “specified footpath”, “specified motor vehicle”, “specified purpose”, “specified person”, “hours of darkness”, and “emergency”.
- Sections 3 to 5 (Exemptions): each provides a conditional exemption from the Active Mobility Act’s prohibition for different vehicle categories.
- First Schedule: lists the specified footpaths by reference to maps.
- Second Schedule: lists the specified persons who can authorise drivers to use the exemption.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Order applies to individuals who drive the relevant categories of vehicles on specified footpaths within the Marina Bay area, but only when the driving is for a specified purpose. It is therefore not a general permission for all drivers or all vehicles; it is a narrow, conditional permission.
In addition, the Order’s operation depends on the involvement of specified persons listed in the Second Schedule. Practically, this means that contractors, event organisers, maintenance entities, or other stakeholders (depending on who is listed) must ensure that any driver they authorise meets the Order’s licensing/training and insurance requirements. If the authorisation chain is defective (e.g., the driver is not authorised by a specified person), the exemption will not apply.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
This Order is important because it balances two competing policy goals: (1) protecting pedestrians and active mobility users on footpaths, and (2) enabling essential operational activities in a high-density urban environment. By limiting the exemption to mapped footpaths and defined purposes, the Order reduces the risk of widespread encroachment onto pedestrian areas.
From an enforcement and litigation perspective, the conditional nature of the exemption means that compliance evidence matters. A driver may be able to show authorisation, but if the driver lacks the correct licence category, WSQ certification, speed compliance, lighting, or insurance coverage, the exemption may fail. For practitioners, this creates a clear checklist approach for advising clients: confirm the vehicle category, confirm the location within the First Schedule, confirm the purpose, confirm authorisation by a specified person, confirm training/licensing, and confirm insurance coverage.
Finally, the Order’s time-limited validity (ending 11 July 2029) is significant for contract management and risk allocation. Parties planning maintenance or event operations in the Marina Bay area should treat the exemption as time-bound and ensure that any reliance on it is reviewed before expiry or amendment.
Related Legislation
- Active Mobility Act 2017 (including section 16(1)(b) and section 66)
- Road Traffic Act 1961 (including section 49)
- Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Driving Licences) Rules (R 27)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Active Mobility (Exemption for Use of Vehicle on Specified Footpath — Marina Bay) (No. 2) Order 2022 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.