Statute Details
- Title: Active Mobility (Footpaths — Temporary Discontinuation) (No. 3) Order 2025
- Act Code: AMA2017-S729-2025
- Legislation Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Active Mobility Act 2017
- Enacting Provision: Powers conferred by section 7 of the Active Mobility Act 2017
- Enacting Formula / Citation: “No. S 729” (SL 729/2025)
- Date Made: 19 November 2025
- Status: Current version as at 26 March 2026
- Key Operative Provisions: Section 2 (definitions); Section 3 (temporary discontinuation); Schedules (maps and footpaths)
- Commencement Date: Not stated in the extract; commencement is operationally determined by the start date/time specified in the Second Schedule for each footpath
What Is This Legislation About?
The Active Mobility (Footpaths — Temporary Discontinuation) (No. 3) Order 2025 is a Singapore subsidiary legislation instrument made by the Land Transport Authority of Singapore (LTA). In practical terms, it temporarily removes specified footpaths from public use for defined periods. The “discontinuation” is not a permanent closure; rather, each affected footpath is discontinued as a footpath only for the start and end date/time stated in the Order’s Second Schedule.
This type of Order is typically used to manage situations where footpath access must be interrupted—most commonly due to works on or near the footpath (for example, construction, maintenance, or other operational needs). During the discontinuation period, the affected segments are no longer treated as available footpaths for pedestrian use, which has direct implications for route planning, compliance expectations, and enforcement on the ground.
Although the extract provided is brief, the legal mechanism is clear: the Order identifies footpaths (through maps and delineations) and then sets out a timetable for when each footpath is temporarily discontinued. The Order therefore functions as a time-bound legal “switch” that aligns the regulatory status of footpaths with real-world operational requirements.
What Are the Key Provisions?
Section 1 (Citation) provides the formal name by which the instrument may be cited. This is important for legal referencing, especially when multiple “No.” orders exist (e.g., “No. 1”, “No. 2”, “No. 3”) affecting different footpaths or different time windows.
Section 2 (Definitions) defines two key terms: “Map 1 footpath” and “Map 2 footpath”. Each term refers to a footpath delineated by a black-coloured line in the relevant map set out in the First Schedule. These definitions matter because they connect the legal description of the footpaths to the visual delineations in the schedules. For practitioners, this is a common drafting approach: the legal status is tied to the map-based identification, reducing ambiguity about which physical segments are affected.
Section 3 (Temporary discontinuation) is the core operative provision. It states that “each footpath specified in the first column of the Second Schedule is temporarily discontinued as a footpath” starting at the date and time specified opposite in the second column, and ending at the date and time specified opposite. In other words, the Second Schedule is the controlling document for the temporal scope of the discontinuation. The Order does not merely authorise discontinuation in general; it specifies the exact start and end times for each listed footpath.
The Schedules are therefore central to legal effect. The First Schedule contains maps (Map 1 and Map 2) showing the delineated footpaths. The Second Schedule lists the footpaths (identified in the first column) and the corresponding discontinuation periods (start and end date/time in the second column). Even though the extract does not reproduce the schedule content, the structure indicates that the Second Schedule is effectively a timetable and the First Schedule is the spatial reference.
Practical legal reading: If you are advising a client (for example, a contractor, a developer, a facilities manager, or a party responsible for works), you must treat the Second Schedule as the definitive source for when the footpath is legally discontinued. Any operational plan, signage deployment, or pedestrian management measures should be aligned to those exact times. If there is a discrepancy between on-site conditions and the schedule, the legal status will follow the Order.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
The Order is structured in a straightforward format typical of LTA subsidiary legislation instruments:
Enacting Formula at the beginning states that LTA makes the Order under the Active Mobility Act 2017, specifically relying on section 7. This establishes the statutory authority and helps explain why the Order can regulate footpath status.
Section 1 provides the citation.
Section 2 provides definitions linking the maps in the First Schedule to the legal identification of footpaths.
Section 3 provides the operative rule: each footpath specified in the Second Schedule is temporarily discontinued as a footpath for the time period stated.
First Schedule contains Map 1 and Map 2, with footpaths delineated by a black-coloured line. This schedule supports spatial clarity.
Second Schedule contains the list of footpaths (in the first column) and the discontinuation start/end date and time (in the second column). This schedule provides temporal clarity.
Notably, the extract does not show additional sections or enforcement provisions. That is consistent with many “discontinuation” Orders: the legal change is effected by the time-bound discontinuation mechanism, while enforcement and general compliance obligations are typically addressed in the parent Act and related subsidiary instruments.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Order applies to the public and to any person who would otherwise use the specified footpaths during the discontinuation period. While the instrument itself is not written as a “duty” provision directed at pedestrians, the legal consequence is that the affected segments are not to be treated as footpaths for the duration specified. In practice, this affects pedestrian routing, compliance with any on-site restrictions, and the interpretation of what constitutes a “footpath” under the Active Mobility regulatory framework.
It also applies to parties involved in works or management of the affected areas. Contractors and project owners typically need to ensure that pedestrian access arrangements, temporary barriers, and signage reflect the legal discontinuation window. For example, if a footpath is legally discontinued from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on a particular date, then pedestrian diversion measures should be in place for that period, and any restoration of access should be timed to the end date/time specified in the Second Schedule.
Because the Order is made under the Active Mobility Act 2017, it sits within a broader regulatory scheme governing active mobility infrastructure. Practitioners should therefore read this Order together with the parent Act and any relevant general provisions on footpaths, pedestrian movement, and enforcement.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
This Order is important because it provides legal certainty about when specific footpath segments are taken out of pedestrian use. In urban environments, footpaths are critical components of the active mobility network. Temporary discontinuations must be legally authorised and precisely time-bound to avoid confusion, ensure public safety, and support enforceable compliance.
From a practitioner’s perspective, the key value lies in the precision of the start and end date/time. Many disputes in the field—such as claims about whether a pedestrian was permitted to use a route, or whether a contractor’s access management was adequate—turn on the exact legal status at a particular time. This Order’s schedule-based approach is designed to minimise ambiguity.
Additionally, the map-based definitions in Section 2 and the First Schedule reduce the risk of misidentification of the affected physical segments. When advising clients, lawyers should emphasise that the delineation by black-coloured lines in Map 1 and Map 2 is not merely illustrative; it is part of the legal identification mechanism.
Finally, the Order’s “No. 3” numbering suggests an ongoing series of discontinuation orders. This means practitioners should check whether other orders (e.g., “No. 1” or “No. 2”) affect overlapping areas or different time windows. Overlapping or adjacent discontinuations can have operational and legal consequences for pedestrian management plans and liability assessments.
Related Legislation
- Active Mobility Act 2017 (authorising Act; including section 7 as the enabling provision for making such Orders)
- Active Mobility (Footpaths — Temporary Discontinuation) Orders (other numbered orders, if applicable, for different footpaths or time periods)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Active Mobility (Footpaths — Temporary Discontinuation) (No. 3) Order 2025 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.