Statute Details
- Title: Road Traffic (Bicycles) (Exemption) Order 2010
- Act Code: RTA1961-S71-2010
- Legislation Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Road Traffic Act (Chapter 276)
- Enacting Power: Made under section 142 of the Road Traffic Act
- Commencement: 1 March 2010
- Key Provisions (from extract): Section 2 (Definitions); Section 3 (Exemption); Schedule (area specified)
- Current Version Status: Current version as at 27 March 2026 (per document status)
What Is This Legislation About?
The Road Traffic (Bicycles) (Exemption) Order 2010 is a targeted regulatory instrument under Singapore’s Road Traffic framework. In practical terms, it creates a limited exemption for bicycle riders from a specific rule that would otherwise restrict bicycle use on certain parts of the road system—specifically, the footway.
The Order operates by reference to “Rule 28” of the Road Traffic Rules. While the extract does not reproduce Rule 28 itself, the exemption is clear: the prohibition (or restriction) in Rule 28 does not apply to a person riding a bicycle on the footway of roads located within an area identified in the Schedule. This means that, for those designated locations, bicycle riders may use the footway without falling foul of Rule 28.
From a legal drafting perspective, the Order is narrow and functional. It does not overhaul the Road Traffic Rules generally; instead, it defines key terms (including “bicycle”, “power-assisted bicycle”, “road”, and “expressway”) and then applies the exemption only to the specified class of road users (bicycle riders) and only within the geographically defined area in the Schedule.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. Citation and commencement (Section 1)
Section 1 provides the short title and the commencement date. The Order “may be cited as” the Road Traffic (Bicycles) (Exemption) Order 2010 and comes into operation on 1st March 2010. For practitioners, this is important when assessing whether conduct occurred before or after the exemption took effect, particularly in enforcement or compliance disputes.
2. Definitions (Section 2)
Section 2 sets out definitions that control the scope of the exemption. The most legally significant definitions are:
- “bicycle”: a two-wheeled pedal cycle constructed or adapted for use as a means of conveyance, but excluding a power-assisted bicycle.
- “power-assisted bicycle”: a bicycle equipped with an electric motor that may be propelled by muscular power, the electric motor, or both.
- “road”: any public road and any other road to which the public has access, including bridges over which a road passes, but excluding an expressway.
- “expressway”: defined by reference to section 123A(12) of the Road Traffic Act.
These definitions matter because the exemption is expressly limited to “bicycle” riders. A rider of a power-assisted bicycle is not within the exemption, even if the vehicle is otherwise similar in appearance or use. This distinction can be decisive in cases involving enforcement, licensing, or liability where the classification of the vehicle is contested.
3. The exemption itself (Section 3)
Section 3 is the operative provision. It states that Rule 28 of the Road Traffic Rules “shall not apply” to any person riding a bicycle on the footway of any road within the area specified in the Schedule.
In plain language, the Order carves out a geographically limited exception to the general rule. The exemption is not universal across Singapore; it depends on whether the relevant footway is on a road located within the Schedule’s specified area. Accordingly, the Schedule is not merely descriptive—it is a condition precedent to the exemption.
4. The Schedule (geographical scope)
Although the provided extract does not reproduce the Schedule text, the legal effect is clear: the Schedule identifies the area(s) where the exemption applies. For legal work, the Schedule is typically the most practically important part because it determines whether a rider’s conduct falls within the exemption.
In practice, practitioners should treat the Schedule as a factual/legal boundary. If the rider was on a footway outside the Schedule area, the exemption would not apply, and Rule 28 would continue to govern. Conversely, if the rider was within the Schedule area and the vehicle qualifies as a “bicycle” (not a power-assisted bicycle), the exemption should operate.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
The Order is structured in a conventional subsidiary-legislation format:
- Section 1 (Citation and commencement): identifies the instrument and when it takes effect.
- Section 2 (Definitions): provides interpretive rules for key terms used in the exemption.
- Section 3 (Exemption): states the legal consequence—Rule 28 does not apply to specified bicycle riders on footways within the Schedule area.
- The Schedule: specifies the geographical area(s) where the exemption applies.
Notably, the Order is short and deliberately focused. It does not include enforcement mechanisms, penalties, or procedural provisions. Those elements would be found in the Road Traffic Act and the Road Traffic Rules, with the Order functioning as a carve-out that modifies the application of Rule 28 for the defined circumstances.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Order applies to any person riding a bicycle on the footway of a road within the Schedule area. The exemption is therefore directed at conduct (riding on the footway) and at a particular class of road user (bicycle riders).
However, the exemption is not available to riders of power-assisted bicycles. Because “bicycle” is defined to exclude power-assisted bicycles, a rider using an electrically assisted cycle would generally remain subject to Rule 28 (unless another exemption exists). Additionally, the exemption is limited to roads that fall within the Schedule’s specified area and relates to “road” as defined (which excludes expressways). While the Order’s operative clause refers to “any road within the area specified in the Schedule”, the definition of “road” can still be relevant in edge cases where the location is argued to be an expressway or otherwise outside the statutory definition.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
This Order is important because it clarifies—by legal exemption—where bicycle riders may lawfully use footways without breaching the general rule in Rule 28. For practitioners advising clients (for example, bicycle couriers, recreational riders, or operators of bicycle-sharing schemes), the Order provides a compliance pathway: legality depends not only on the type of bicycle, but also on the location of the footway.
From an enforcement and risk-management perspective, the Order reduces uncertainty in designated areas. Without the exemption, bicycle use on footways could expose riders to enforcement action under the Road Traffic Rules. With the exemption, riders within the Schedule area can rely on the statutory carve-out, provided the vehicle qualifies as a “bicycle” and the rider is indeed on the footway.
For legal disputes, the Order also creates clear interpretive issues that can be litigated or resolved administratively: (1) whether the vehicle is a “bicycle” or a “power-assisted bicycle”; (2) whether the relevant location is within the Schedule area; and (3) whether the rider’s path is properly characterised as being on the “footway”. Each of these points can affect liability outcomes.
Related Legislation
- Road Traffic Act (Chapter 276) (including section 142, the authorising provision)
- Road Traffic Rules (in particular Rule 28, which is exempted by this Order)
- Road Traffic Act (definition cross-reference for “expressway” in section 123A(12))
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Road Traffic (Bicycles) (Exemption) Order 2010 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.