On 8 Nov, the Ministry of Transport (MOT) announced that it has formulated a Transition Assistance Package (TAP) with the Land Transport Authority (LTA) to provide comprehensive assistance to food delivery riders affected by the ban on the use of e-scooters on footpaths.
It was reported that there were about 7,000 riders who use e-scooters for work, and that the Government was working with food delivery companies Grab, Deliveroo and foodpanda to mitigate the impact.
Together with NTUC, MOM, MSF, and the food delivery companies, TAP comprises of three main components for three distinct groups – those who intend to stay as food delivery riders, those who are considering other job options, and those who have immediate financial difficulties.
For riders who intend to stay on in the job, the Government and the three major food delivery companies set up a S$7 million e-scooter Trade-in Grant (eTG) to provide funding assistance for the affected food delivery riders to switch to bicycles, Power Assisted Bicycles (PABs) or Personal Mobility Aids (PMAs).
Each rider will receive an eTG of up to $1,000 for PABs or $600 for bicycles, and those with mobility difficulties who wish to continue working for their delivery company will also receive an eTG of up to $1,000.
Trade-Ins Have Been Approved By LTA
Yesterday, a report on The Straits Times revealed that about 18% of GrabFood delivery riders and “more than a third” eligible foodpanda riders have had their requests for trade-in approved by the LTA.
Grab has the most e-scooter riders on its platform, while foodpanda has about 960 e-scooter riders on theirs.
Deliveroo is the least affected among the three, but didn’t give an update of the number of riders who have received the approval.
Riders who have the approval will be able to buy their new modes of transport before trading in their e-scooters.
About 1,000 out of around 7,000 food delivery riders using e-scooters were reported to have applied to trade in their e-scooters last Friday, the first day of the scheme.
Affected riders will have until 31 Dec to apply.