- This first-of-its-kind programme is organised in conjunction with Deliveroo Singapore’s annual Rider Safety Month in October
- The workshop by SPD and Deliveroo spotlighted best practices in road safety for delivery riders and Personal Mobility Aid (PMA) users
- Other rider safety initiatives rolled out in the month include engagements with Singapore Cycling Federation, Singapore Traffic Police, Singapore Civil Defence Force, Singapore Red Cross, and more.
This October, Deliveroo Singapore has engaged local disability-focused charity SPD to enhance rider safety through a hands-on workshop, tailored specially for Deliveroo riders to raise awareness on how they can support Personal Mobility Aid (PMA) road users and persons with disabilities (PwDs), including beneficiaries from SPD.
The first-of-its-kind initiative, named ‘Inclusive Roads For All’ marks another milestone in Deliveroo Singapore’s fourth annual Rider Safety Month which was established in 2021 – this time focusing on PMA road users, ahead of new government regulations set to kick in next year.
As well as equipping PMA riders with necessary skills and knowledge to navigate roads and its challenges safely, the interactive workshop also aimed to empower riders without disabilities with safety awareness while actively contributing to more considerate road environments for PwDs, pedestrians, and fellow riders – tapping on the strengths of thousands of Deliveroo riders who are on the roads daily.
“Safety is at the heart of everything we do at Deliveroo, and we have launched various safety initiatives over the past few years. This partnership with SPD underscores our commitment to building a more inclusive environment for all road users. Through initiatives like these, we’re not only enhancing the safety of our riders but also raising awareness about the unique challenges faced by PMA users. Our goal is to ensure that everyone can share the roads safely and confidently,” shared Jason Parke, General Manager, Deliveroo Singapore.
Empowering Riders Through Hands-On Engagement
As part of this year’s Rider Safety Month, over 50 participants, including Deliveroo riders and PwDs, gathered today at AIBI Maxwell for the engaging safe riding workshop, equipping attendees with the knowledge and skills towards safer streets.
Representatives from SPD kicked off the day with a presentation on disability awareness and the use of PMAs, followed by sharing sessions where PMA users from SPD further discussed topics around sharing and navigating the roads safely. Participants then engaged in various hands-on simulation activities utilising PMAs including parking and reversing in tight spaces, tackling kerbs and ramps, handling corners and bends, and reaching for objects at varying heights — all of which are based on real life daily challenges faced by PMA users.
Riders without disabilities were also taught on how to effectively guide their counterparts who use PMAs through other on-road situations, while ensuring their personal safety and that of other road users.
“As a Deliveroo rider, safety is always on my mind, but this workshop made me realise the specific challenges faced by people with disabilities on the roads. It’s a good reminder that we are all responsible to keep the streets safe for everyone. It’s not just about equipping ourselves with knowledge and skills to ride safely, but also about making sure we’re all looking out for each other out there,”said Noel Ong Lee, 46.
Paving The Way For Safe, Inclusive Roads
Concurrently, this year’s Rider Safety Month is also in line with the Singapore Enabling Masterplan 2030, complementing national efforts that have been made over the years to create a more inclusive Singapore towards PwDs – through physical infrastructure developments, policies, education and even the provision of greater job opportunities.
Mr Abhimanyau Pal, CEO, SPD, said, “At SPD, we believe that fostering inclusion begins with raising awareness and understanding of persons with disabilities. As opportunities for persons with disabilities to be financially independent in the current economy continue to grow, this collaboration with Deliveroo Singapore is a welcome move toward creating safer, more shared pathways for everyone, including those who use PMAs. By sharing safe use of PMAs in providing delivery services and equipping riders with the knowledge to navigate challenges faced by persons with disabilities, we are fostering a community where every individual feels supported and safe.”
Partnerships As Key Enablers Towards Road Safety
Throughout the month-long campaign, Deliveroo also rolled out a series of ongoing initiatives and workshops in collaboration with community partners. These were thoughtfully curated for riders across different transport modes, with a focus on enhancing basic riding skills and ensuring preparedness in any situation.
These other activities include the Singapore Civil Defence Force’s (SCDF) Responders Plus Programme (RPP) and ‘Response Ready’ courses, where riders undergo training on basic emergency preparedness knowledge; Red Cross’ First Aid and AED courses; and riding courses with Singapore Cycling Federation and ComfortDelGro to equip riders with defensive riding techniques and ensure continued rider safety, and more.
“Rider welfare is of utmost importance, and we will continuously play our part in further educating our riders and fellow road users to practise good road safety habits, so we can together achieve safer roads,” added Parke.
Last year, Deliveroo Singapore partnered with the Singapore Cycling Federation (SCF) to raise awareness about rider safety on Children’s Day. The initiative named “Deliveroo Rides Smart with Heart”, was aimed at educating both riders and their children about safe cycling practices on the road, urging riders to return home safely to their families.
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About Deliveroo
Deliveroo is an award-winning delivery service founded in 2013 by William Shu and Greg Orlowski. Deliveroo works with approximately 182,000 best-loved restaurants and grocery partners, as well as around 135,000 riders to provide the best food delivery experience in the world. Deliveroo is headquartered in London, with offices around the globe. Deliveroo operates across 10 markets, including Belgium, France, Hong Kong, Italy, Ireland, Kuwait, Qatar, Singapore, United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.
About SPD
Established in 1964, SPD is a charity in Singapore that seeks to enable people with disabilities of all ages, or who may develop disabling conditions, to be as independent and self-reliant as possible. Today, the pioneer in serving people with physical disabilities also provides therapy, early intervention, employment and educational support, as well as case management and social support and respite for caregivers to help people with different disabilities so that they can participate in school, work and daily life within mainstream society.
For more information, please visit www.spd.org.sg.
