6. Declaring and classifying public paths

Amended

Last amended by an amending law of 2020.

(1)

Subject to this section, the Authority may, by order in the Gazette, declare that a path, or a path‑connected open space, located on land of a kind mentioned in subsection (2) is set aside for use by members of the public as —

(a)

a pedestrian‑only path;

(b)

a footpath; or

(c)

a shared path.

(2)

A public path of a kind mentioned in subsection (1) may be declared over —

(a)

any public land; or

(b)

any private land that is subject to an access agreement in favour of the Authority for the purposes of this Act.

(3)

A public path may only be declared over public land that is not State land if —

(a)

an agreement in relation to the declaration of the public path is entered into between —

(i)

the Minister; and

(ii)

the Minister charged with the responsibility for the public authority in whom the land is vested or which has the care, control or management of the land; and

(b)

the order under subsection (1) for the public path conforms to that agreement.

(4)

An order under subsection (1) must —

(a)

identify or describe the public path; and

(b)

specify whether the public path is a pedestrian‑only path, a footpath or a shared path.

(5)

An order under subsection (1) may —

(a)

include terms and conditions as to the use and management of the public path; and

(b)

provide for periods during which the public path is closed, partly closed or used temporarily for a purpose other than as a path.

(6)

An order under subsection (1) in relation to private land must conform to the terms of the access agreement on which it is based.

(7)

An order under subsection (1) (or as varied under section 7) —

(a)

attaches to the land; and

(b)

is binding on all persons who from time to time have an interest in the land.

Terms defined in this Act

access agreement
Defined · s 5
“access agreement” means an agreement under Division 2 of this Part;
Open s 5
Authority
Defined · s 2
“Authority” means the Land Transport Authority of Singapore constituted under the Land Transport Authority of Singapore Act 1995;
Open s 2
footpath
Defined · s 2
“footpath” means a length or area of path (whether or not contiguous with another path or a road) provided for pedestrians to use, or individuals to ride a bicycle or non‑motorised personal mobility device on, and ending at the nearest of the following:(a)a pedestrian‑only path sign or pedestrian‑only path marking;(b)a shared path sign or shared path marking;(c)a road;(d)the natural end of the path (which may be a dead end);
Open s 2
land
Defined · s 2
“land” includes any permanent buildings on, under or over the land;
Open s 2
path‑connected open space
Defined · s 2
“path‑connected open space” means a courtyard, plaza, square, quadrangle, atrium, peristyle or other substantially level and unenclosed open space that —(a)is surfaced and is not a green verge or other area provided for the growing of grass, trees or other vegetation;(b)is fronting, adjoining or abutting, or connected by stairs (mechanised or otherwise) to, a path (whether or not a public path); and(c)is used or capable of being used as a means of access to and from a path by pedestrians from any direction,but does not include an area with barbecue or open‑fire cooking facilities, an outdoor children’s playground, a spray pool, a fitness park, a court for basketball, badminton, sepak takraw or other similar sport, a parking area for bicycles or other vehicles or a similar amenity or facility that is ordinarily a stop or journey’s end;
Open s 2
pedestrian‑only path
Defined · s 2
“pedestrian‑only path” means a length or area of path (whether or not contiguous with another path or a road) —(a)provided solely for pedestrians to use; and(b)starting at a pedestrian‑only path marking or a pedestrian‑only path sign, and ending at the nearest of the following:(i)an end‑of pedestrian‑only path marking or an end‑of pedestrian‑only path sign;(ii)a shared path sign or a shared path marking;(iii)a road;(iv)the natural end of the path (which may be a dead end);
Open s 2
private land
Defined · s 5
“private land” means land that is not public land;
Open s 5
public authority
Defined · s 2
“public authority” means a body established or constituted by or under a public Act to perform or discharge a public function, and includes a Town Council;
Open s 2
public land
Defined · s 5
“public land” means land that is —(a)dedicated land;(b)State land that is not dedicated land;(c)common property or open space vested in or under the care, control or management of the Housing and Development Board or a Town Council; or(d)vested in or under the care, control or management of any other public authority by the operation of written law.
Open s 5
public path
Defined · s 2
“public path” means a path or path‑connected open space declared under section 6 as a public path;
Open s 2
shared path
Defined · s 2
“shared path” means a length or area of path provided for use by both riders and pedestrians, starting at a shared path sign or shared path marking, and ending at the nearest of the following:(a)an end‑of shared path sign or an end‑of shared path marking;(b)a pedestrian‑only path sign or a pedestrian‑only path marking;(c)a road;(d)the natural end of the path (which may be a dead end);
Open s 2