There is absolutely no reason why this stupid bitch needs a PMD.
There have been incidents where people have been hurt and six have even died due to reckless PMD (Personal Mobility Device) riders.
I thought the point of view of a PMD user would be enlightening, so late last year I wrote a letter to The Straits Times, and it was published:
When PMD rider, 94, is blocked by pedestrians
While I applaud moves to rein in PMD riders who treat their devices like COE-free motorbikes, we must not overlook the legitimate users whose lives depend on them.
My 94-year-old father is a sharp, active person who suffers from debilitating knee osteoarthritis. For him, a PMD is not a luxury or a shortcut; it is a godsend for an otherwise immobilizing condition.
He rides at a walking pace, and often encounters a wall of pedestrians on the path, oblivious to those behind them. He is often forced to “tail” pedestrians who stroll, converse or stop to window-shop. When he gently sounds his bell, the reaction is often one of provocation rather than courtesy. Instead of yielding to an old man, some pedestrians glare or even scold him.
The real issue is a growing lack of civic grace. It is a sad irony that in an ageing society, a 94-year-old man is treated as an intruder for simply trying to move.
We certainly need a stronger stance against errant riders to protect pedestrians. But we must also ask: How are we protecting legitimate, elderly PMD riders from harassment?
A website reproduced the letter and the comments that followed were alarming. (The Straits Times in which my letter was published generally do not have room for comments.)
Instead of the compassion my father deserved, the response was largely hostile – filled with sarcasm, ridicule, and personal attacks.
One commentator said something to the effect that a 94-year-old has no business being out and about.
Another said that anyone that old should just stay at home and wait to die.
Those were the comments that were printable. Some of the others were just plain bone-chillingly shocking and odious. I find it hard to find that there are such vile, revolting and repulsive retarded spastics and sick, perverted cretins in our midst. Such a fucking nefarious lot!
But I was elated when a reader named Andy Tan later wrote to The Straits Times, referencing my letter.
Enforcement is key to restoring civic grace on footpaths
I read with concern XXX’s letter, “When PMD rider, 94, is blocked by pedestrians.” While I agree that there is a deteriorating sense of civic grace on Singapore’s footpaths, the root cause of this public cynicism should be examined.
Pedestrians often react defensively to legitimate PMD users because of a “hangover” from frequent encounters with errant riders.
It is particularly jarring to see parent-riders whizzing through narrow paths with children perched on their devices, treating a pedestrian space like a high-speed transit lane. Furthermore, public cynicism is fueled by the sight of seemingly able-bodied users operating PMDs as a lifestyle convenience rather than a medical necessity, navigating crowded malls one-handed while drinking bubble tea or using a phone. When the line between genuine disability and casual convenience is blurred, the truly vulnerable, like XXX’s father, pay the price in lost public empathy.
While speed limits and usage rules exist, they are only as effective as their implementation. The lack of civic grace is a symptom of public apathy born from perceived lapses in enforcement. When the public feels that rules are ignored without consequence, frustration often manifests as hostility towards all riders.
To protect users who need to use PMDs, education and awareness are not enough; public trust must be rebuilt. For civic grace to return to paths, the community needs to see that regulations are actively and consistently enforced. Only when errant behavior is reined in will pedestrians feel secure enough to extend the courtesy and patience that elderly riders deserve.
NOTE: As of January 5th, 2026, you would need to pay at least S$8,000/- for a COE (Certificate Of Entitlement) to buy a motorbike in Singapore.
To buy a car, your COE may cost over S$100,000/-
But you don’t need a doctor’s certification to buy a PMD. Anyone can just walk into a shop to buy one.
COE is a bidding system established by some of Singapore’s most brilliant minds to curb the number of vehicles on our roads. Yup, don’t scoff! Read more about COE by clicking here.