KUALA LUMPUR: Bicycle rental operators at Taman Tasik Titiwangsa here claim they are forced to offer electric scooter rental services to cover the business operation costs.
An unidentified operator in his 40s said the vehicles received many requests from customers visiting the park.
"We (operators) know that electric scooters cannot be rented in this area, but we receive many requests from customers who want to ride them compared to bicycles.
"If we rely on bicycle rentals, which cost RM10 per hour, it cannot cover our operating costs compared to renting electric scooters at a rate of RM24 for 40 minutes," he said.
The operator was met during a special enforcement operation by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) at Taman Tasik Titiwangsa today.
According to him, it is difficult for bicycle rental operators in the park to attract many customers due to the large number of operators around the recreational area.
"There are 45 bicycle rental operators here, so it's hard for us to get customers because of intense competition. When there's something different like electric scooters, it gives us more income.
"Just like me, I earn an average of RM2,500 to RM3,000 a month just by renting bicycles. However, this amount is not enough to cover all my operating costs, including paying my employees' salaries and repairing damaged vehicles," he said.
In the operation starting at 9.30am, about 100 bicycles were left unattended and 30 electric scooters were confiscated after being found to violate valid license conditions.
According to the license conditions issued by DBKL, trishaws, electric bicycles, electric scooters, roller skates, skateboards, scooters, and similar engine-powered vehicles are not allowed.
The confiscation action imposed in the operation was carried out according to the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur (WPKL) Licensing of Hawkers Regulations 2016.
