A tripartite workgroup is working to tackle common delivery challenges faced by food and parcel couriers in Singapore’s malls, condominiums, and office buildings.
Food delivery riders in Singapore often encounter issues such as lack of sheltered access in condominiums and high parking fees in busy areas like Orchard Road and the Central Business District. To address these challenges, a workgroup led by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and Land Transport Authority (LTA) has been formed to enhance last-mile delivery efficiency and safety.
Recent surveys involving over 2,000 delivery workers revealed various pain points experienced across 416 condominiums, 153 malls, and 112 office developments. These surveys, conducted between December 2023 and May 2024, highlighted that some malls do not provide parking grace periods for delivery personnel, adding to the difficulties they face.
The workgroup aims to identify and implement solutions that could include converting spaces into waiting areas for delivery riders, extending parking grace periods, and installing common lockers for parcel collection. These initiatives will be presented at an exhibition later this year to promote wider adoption.
Additionally, URA and the Housing Board are looking to expand a trial from 2021 that allowed logistics firms to use designated spaces in HDB car parks for unloading and sorting parcels. A recent “courier hub” trial resulted in a fourfold increase in productivity for logistics firms, and plans for a full-scale courier hub are underway.
During a focus group discussion on June 26, various stakeholders, including delivery workers and representatives from malls and management corporations, came together to discuss potential solutions. National Development Minister Desmond Lee noted the rising importance of e-commerce in Singapore and emphasized the need to resolve current friction points affecting delivery workers, such as poor signage and inadequate parking facilities.
Some stakeholders expressed their willingness to consider changes, like extending parking grace periods, to accommodate delivery riders better. For example, Frasers Property Singapore, managing several shopping malls, currently allows a 30-minute grace period for motorcycles but is open to discussions on extending this.
Overall, the collaborative effort aims to create a more efficient and accommodating environment for delivery workers, ultimately enhancing the delivery experience for both workers and customers.
