Statute Details
- Title: Active Mobility (Footpaths — Temporary Discontinuation) (No. 2) Order 2025
- Act Code: AMA2017-S693-2025
- Legislation Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Active Mobility Act 2017
- Authorising Provision: Section 7 of the Active Mobility Act 2017
- Enacting Authority: Land Transport Authority of Singapore (LTA)
- Legislation Citation: SL 693/2025
- Made Date: 29 October 2025
- Current Version Status: Current version as at 26 Mar 2026
- Key Operative Provision: Section 2 (Temporary discontinuation)
- Schedule: Footpaths (identified by reference to a map)
What Is This Legislation About?
The Active Mobility (Footpaths — Temporary Discontinuation) (No. 2) Order 2025 is a targeted regulatory instrument that allows Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) to temporarily discontinue specific footpaths for a defined period. In practical terms, it is a legal mechanism used when a footpath needs to be closed temporarily—typically for works, safety reasons, or other operational needs—so that the public is not permitted to use the affected walkway during the closure window.
Unlike broader “framework” legislation, this Order is narrow in scope. It does not create a general rule for all footpaths. Instead, it identifies particular footpaths by reference to a map in the Schedule and specifies the exact time period during which those footpaths are discontinued as footpaths.
For practitioners, the key point is that this Order is not merely administrative guidance. It is subsidiary legislation made under statutory authority. That means it has legal force and can affect enforcement, compliance obligations, and liability considerations for both members of the public and parties responsible for works or site management.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. Citation (Section 1)
Section 1 provides the short title of the instrument: “Active Mobility (Footpaths — Temporary Discontinuation) (No. 2) Order 2025.” This is standard legislative drafting, but it is important for referencing the correct instrument in correspondence, enforcement actions, or legal submissions.
2. Temporary discontinuation (Section 2)
Section 2 is the operative provision. It states that each footpath delineated by the black-coloured line in the map set out in the Schedule is “temporarily discontinued as a footpath” during a specific period: from 2 a.m. on 1 November 2025 to 9 p.m. on 2 November 2025.
This drafting has two practical legal effects. First, it defines the scope of the closure by reference to the delineated footpaths on the map (black-coloured line). Second, it defines the duration of the discontinuation with precision down to the hour. For compliance and enforcement, the relevant question is not whether the footpath is partially obstructed or whether signage is present; the legal discontinuation is tied to the delineated areas and the specified time window.
3. The Schedule (Footpaths)
The Schedule contains the map identifying the footpaths affected. The Order’s text does not list street names or coordinates in the extract provided; instead, it relies on the map delineation. For lawyers advising clients, this means that the factual determination of whether a particular walkway is within the discontinued area will typically require consulting the Schedule map.
4. Enacting formula and statutory authority
The Order is made “in exercise of the powers conferred by section 7 of the Active Mobility Act 2017.” This matters for legal validity and interpretation. It signals that LTA is acting within the powers granted by Parliament, and it frames the Order as an instrument intended to implement the Active Mobility regime for footpaths. If a dispute arises (for example, about whether a closure was properly authorised), the statutory hook—section 7—will be central.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This Order is structured in a conventional subsidiary legislation format with a short title and an operative section, followed by a Schedule.
Section 1 sets out the citation (short title). Section 2 provides the main rule: the temporary discontinuation of delineated footpaths for a specified time period. The Schedule then identifies the affected footpaths by reference to a map, using a black-coloured line to delineate the closed segments.
There are no “Parts” or multiple chapters in the extract, reflecting the Order’s limited purpose. It is essentially a time-bound closure order rather than a comprehensive regulatory code.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Order applies to the footpaths delineated in the Schedule during the specified period. While the extract does not expressly state “who” must comply, the practical effect is that the public and any relevant stakeholders must treat the delineated footpaths as not available for use as footpaths during the closure window.
In legal practice, this typically affects: (a) members of the public who may otherwise use the footpaths; (b) contractors or parties conducting works in the vicinity, who may need to coordinate access and safety measures; and (c) enforcement agencies or LTA officers who may rely on the Order to determine whether a person’s conduct occurred during a legally discontinued period and within a legally discontinued area.
Because the Order is time-specific, the applicability is also temporal: even if a footpath is physically blocked outside the stated hours, the legal discontinuation under this instrument is only for 2 a.m. on 1 November 2025 to 9 p.m. on 2 November 2025. Conversely, if a footpath appears open but is within the delineated map area and within the specified time, the Order still governs.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the Order is brief, it is important because it converts a temporary closure need into a legally enforceable discontinuation. For practitioners, this is significant in three main ways: compliance, enforcement, and risk allocation.
First, compliance and public notice. Temporary discontinuation orders are often used alongside physical barriers, signage, and public communications. However, the legal effect does not depend solely on whether signage is visible at the time. The Order creates a legal status change for the delineated footpaths during the specified period. Advising clients—whether corporate clients managing sites or individuals—requires attention to the legal discontinuation window and the map-defined area.
Second, enforcement and evidential clarity. The Order’s reliance on a map and precise time boundaries provides a clear evidential framework. In disputes, the key factual questions will likely be: (1) whether the location in question falls within the black-coloured delineation on the Schedule map; and (2) whether the relevant conduct occurred within the discontinuation period. This can be crucial in matters involving alleged breaches of active mobility rules or incidents occurring near closed footpaths.
Third, liability and safety planning. If an incident occurs on or near a footpath during a legally discontinued period, the existence of the Order may influence how responsibility is assessed. While the Order itself does not determine negligence or civil liability, it can be relevant to whether reasonable steps were taken to prevent public use, and whether the public had notice (or at least legal entitlement) to use the footpath. For contractors and site managers, the Order underscores the need for robust site safety measures and coordination with LTA requirements.
Related Legislation
- Active Mobility Act 2017 (authorising Act; in particular, section 7 as the power under which this Order is made)
- Active Mobility Act 2017 (footpaths and the broader active mobility regulatory framework)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Active Mobility (Footpaths — Temporary Discontinuation) (No. 2) Order 2025 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.