Tan Kin Lian's Blog: Elevated covered walkways

Monday, September 28, 2009

Elevated covered walkways

I suggest a network of elevated covered walkways to link the MRT station and bus interchange to various parts of the town. This will encourage brisk walking. Read this.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...: EXCELLENT Idea !; September 28, 2009 10:07 AM
Anonymous said...: But not if they increase conservancy charges when such walkways, linking HDB towns and MRT stations, needed repairs. They are very clever in finding excuses to up their charges. Their favourite quotation is - You asked for it!; September 29, 2009 5:02 PM
Anonymous said...: Once I heard a Chinese national who had newly arrived here commented that he was surprised to see walkways, that offered shelter from the rain, all the way from overhead bridges to the bus-stops. There are no such conveniences in his home country. Yes we live in a hot, tropical country, but i think it's a waste of resources if we overdo things. Already our MRT stations are pampering Singaporeans with escalators and lifts, which you do not find such facilities in places like South korea.; September 29, 2009 10:27 PM
Anonymous said...: REX comments as follows:

I am surprised there are actually people who don't like the idea of more covered walkways in the townships and around the MRT stations.

Perhaps these people are in the comfort of their Lexus or Mercedes cars or air-conned offices, 99% of their time and seldom walk everyday more than 20 minutes on the roads at 12 noon on a hot day, or a rainy day.

It is very strange that one poster also made comparisons with China and South Korea. For sure, these places enjoy many months of cool weather like "natural air-con", and even in summer time sometimes the wind that blows can be actually cool and refreshing. In China and Korea, their streets are much bigger and wider, so cost and praticality prohibits the idea. But in Singapore... i can't see a big problem to have more sheltered walkways since the costs are divided up amongst an entire township...

In fact, look around Ang Mo Kio, the government is already doing it. Along Ave. 3, near the junction with Ave 10, suddenly an entire row of instant trees sprung up during the last month. I like it!! It is one of the few things the government is definitely doing RIGHT. A pretty long stretch of covered walkways were also recently completed at Av. 8 along the path of the MRT line. Good job, PAP, despite all the other TERRIBLE things you are doing these days.

Covered Walkway are also great for the infirm and wheelchair bound, who move more slowly and need more shelter from the elements.

I would worry more about my electricity bill than imaginary increased costs of covered walkway maintenance charges, it is small money. Today they increased electricity cost by 12% and i was shocked to see in the straits times someone interviewed said "no problem, minimal impact". Since everybody uses electricity, the 12% really eats into everyone's real cost of living. I think the govt should try to subsidise and stablilise the rates of all essential recurring costs--- what is the purpose of earning billions and billions of dollars and gambling it at the Temasek Holdings Casino Ltd.

REX; September 30, 2009 8:26 AM