On Monday, September 10, a video titled “EBike with a death wish” was shared by a netizen on news and media Facebook page All Singapore Stuff. The uploader was clearly annoyed at the cyclist, saying, “This guy got a death wish ah? Still want to ride on the road after all the new rulings in place?”
To date, the 20-second video garnered 22,000 views, 120 comments and 80 shares.
https://www.facebook.com/allsgstuff/videos/1437786453032630/
The man in the video is wearing a helmet, looks to be keeping to the left side of the road most of the time, and is not weaving in and out of traffic or being lawless or reckless.
In the beginning of the video, the cyclist is keeping to the left side of his lane. The leftmost lane appears to be turning left, so the cyclist is in the correct lane to go straight.
The uploader passing on his right, videoing him.
The cyclist is wearing a helmet and sticking to the left side of the road.
It does not look like the cyclist is doing anything illegal. According to this infographic issued by the Land Transportation Authority of Singapore, he is within his rights to use his bicycle on the road.
The Road Traffic Act section on bicycle rules states that “A person who rides a bicycle, power-assisted bicycle, trishaw or tricycle on a road must ride the bicycle, power-assisted bicycle, trishaw or tricycle as near as practicable to the far left edge of the road.”
Netizens’ responses to the post were all in the same vein – defending the cyclist.
Some pointed out that the uploader of the video does not seem to know the rules of the road and drew the attention to the fact that he was filming while driving.
They made a very important point, which the uploader would do well to remember. The Road Traffic Act section on use of mobile communication devices while driving clearly states that “A driver of a motor vehicle who uses a mobile communication device while the motor vehicle is in motion on a road or in a public place is guilty of an offense and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.”
“Use” of a mobile device is defined by the Road Traffic Act as “to hold it in at least one hand while operating any of its functions.”
It looks like the uploader, who was trying to do the right thing by recording what was a perceived offense, broke the rules of the road in the process.