SINGAPORE — This Children’s Day, Deliveroo Singapore has partnered Singapore Cycling Federation (SCF) to raise awareness about rider safety, through a safe cycling workshop titled “Deliveroo Rides Smart with Heart.” The first-of-its-kind Deliveroo-organized program, it aims to educate riders and their children on best road practices. The initiative is also in conjunction with Deliveroo’s third annual Rider Safety Month, as the company stays committed to raising awareness of rider safety.
Riding towards a safer tomorrow
Over 40 participants, including Deliveroo riders and their children, gathered at SCF’s 100Plus track at the Singapore Sports Hub, as they delved into the immersive, hands-on safe riding workshop. As part of Deliveroo Rides Smart with Heart, SCF kicked off the day by training Deliveroo riders and their children on tangible, actionable tips to stay safe on the road through a practical-based session.
Tips and sharing activities include real-life applications and road etiquette for riders, such as navigating challenging traffic conditions with their food delivery loads and maneuvering crowded pavements all while ensuring safety, particularly useful as they go about their daily food delivery routes.
With Deliveroo Rides Smart with Heart, not only did Deliveroo riders receive supplementary training on road safety, but it also involved the young road users of tomorrow by having their children participate in the workshop. Riders and their children heartwarmingly bonded over best riding practices throughout the session, which also served as a reminder for riders to ride safely when they are out for deliveries, to get home safely to their loved ones at the end of the day.
“Even though I ride for work regularly, Deliveroo Rides Smart with Heart was a good refresher for me and the practical tips that were shared during the session further emphasized the importance of road safety. My son also had an extremely fun and enriching time learning about safe cycling habits, and it was heartening to see him take an interest in understanding what I do at work while reminding me to stay safe. We’ll definitely exercise these tips more as we cycle together as a family moving forward,” said Deliveroo rider Shahfudin Mohamed Sahim.
Education and engagement are key in paving safer roads
According to the Singapore Police Force’s Annual Road Traffic Situation Report 2022, the number of road traffic accidents for all road users rose in 2022 compared to 2021, with accidents resulting in injuries increasing by 13.8%, in 2022. The rise in traffic accidents, particularly those involving users who are exposed to daily road conditions, serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by riders on our roads.
Dr. Hing Siong Chen, President of the Singapore Cycling Federation, said, “We are so excited to team up with Deliveroo again for this year’s Rider Safety Month initiative. Following last year’s campaign where we held safety programs for riders, we are delighted to now extend our workshop to the young as well. It is indeed important to cultivate road safety among the younger generation as they are tomorrow’s road users, and we hope to instill such mindsets through Deliveroo Rides Smart with Heart – encouraging and reminding both riders and their children of safe riding habits.”
“At Deliveroo, the safety of our riders is of our utmost priority, and we are continuously ensuring a safe working environment for them and the wider community. This inspired us to develop this initiative alongside the Singapore Cycling Federation this Rider Safety Month and in conjunction with Children’s Day. We hope this workshop was not only helpful for the children in navigating roads safely, but also served as a refresher for our riders to continue practicing safe riding habits,” said Jason Parke, General Manager at Deliveroo Singapore.
Slew of Deliveroo Initiatives Across Rider Safety Month
Beyond Deliveroo Rides Smart with Heart, Deliveroo’s Rider Safety Month efforts also include several other educational initiatives that are thoughtfully catered for riders. Throughout the month of October, Deliveroo will be rolling out workshops alongside other partners including Singapore Traffic Police, the Singapore Civil Defence Force, and the Singapore Red Cross. In addition to Rider Safety Month, Deliveroo currently also has in place ongoing safety training workshops with SCF and ComfortDelGo (for motorbikes) throughout the year to ensure its continued commitment towards rider safety.
Jason added, “Since Deliveroo’s marking of October as Rider Safety Month in 2021, our initiatives have seen increased participation year-on-year from our riders and like-minded partners. We will continuously play our part in further educating our riders to practice good road safety habits, so we can together achieve safer roads.”
