LTA says officers could have been ‘more sensitive’ after cyclist seen kneeling before them on bridge

SINGAPORE – The Land Transport Authority (LTA) said its officers could have exercised greater sensitivity after a video of an elderly cyclist kneeling before two of its employees on an overhead bridge surfaced.

The incident occured on Aug 27 at an overhead bridge near Block 95 Aljunied Crescent, The Straits Times has learnt.

In the clip, posted on social media platform Reddit, a woman wearing a yellow shirt can be seen kneeling before two men, who have been identified as LTA enforcement officers. She is also seen gesturing towards a bicycle parked near her.

In response to queries from The Straits Times, an LTA spokesperson said on Aug 29 that the authority empathises with the distress experienced by the elderly cyclist.

Cycling on overhead bridges – which are primarily designed for pedestrians and have relatively constrained spaces – without dismounting and pushing the bicycle is an offence, as it can pose safety risks to pedestrians, the spokesperson added.

The spokesperson said: “Our officers therefore carried out their enforcement duties, in line with the rules in place to keep pedestrians safe.”

Greater empathy

Enforcement encounters can sometimes be “difficult”, particularly when members of the public are distressed, the spokesperson noted.

The officers involved in the Aug 27 incident, while having to carry out their enforcement duties, could have “managed the situation more sensitively”, the spokesperson added.

The officers have reflected on the incident and recognise that they could have handled the situation with greater empathy, the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said: “Enforcement is a difficult job, and our officers have to manage a range of situations while balancing the need to be firm in upholding safety rules with empathy in their interactions with the public.

“We will continue to strengthen our officers’ training so that they are equipped to manage such situations sensitively, while ensuring that safety rules are applied fairly and consistently to all users of our public paths.”

‘Law enforcement has to be fair’

Some social media users expressed support for the enforcement officers.

One of them said: “Law enforcement has to be fair, just because you kneel and beg does not mean you can get away scot-free.”

Other netizens thought it appropriate for enforcement action to be taken against the woman.

One of them, who claimed to live near the bridge, said people cycling across the bridge instead of dismounting and pushing their bikes is a “constant sight”.

But not all netizens cast stones at the enforcement officers or the woman.

A Reddit user said that Singapore needs to be a more gracious society.

Another user said: “Have compassion please.”

Daniel Lai is a journalist at the ST Now team, covering breaking news and international affairs.