A wheelchair bound individual would have to be an expert on cross terrain to pass this hurdle.
By Joseph Wong
We have all seen them. Sidewalks, walkways and paved shoulders that end abruptly with no continuity.
Worse, the walkways are poorly maintained with uneven pavings to trip pedestrians or with cracks big enough to trap feet or a small child to fall into.
Worst are the ones where a utility pole, tree or signage sprouting in the centre of the walkway or to have the meandering walkway narrowing to the point where only one pedestrian can balance precariously alongside traffic.
This tree, growing in the middle of the sidewalk, has caused the pavement to crack.
Nightmares for the impaired
As scary as it gets for normal pedestrians, this is a bigger nightmare for wheelchair-bound individuals or the physically challenged.
For the longest time, sidewalks, walkways and paved shoulders have never been a priority of many property developments or local councils.
But the completion of the mass rail transit (MRT) line 1 and greater connectivity via interconnecting public transportation lines has made people realised one thing - to increase walkability, better attention is needed for the walkways.
In the city, this is less of an issue because sidewalks, walkways and paved shoulders have been acknowledged to play a vital role in city life as conduits for pedestrian movement and access.
Not only do they enhance connectivity and promote walking, sidewalks serve as the front steps to cities, activating streets socially and economically.
Not only are the steps going up the sidewalk uneven but the owner of the house has decided to use garbage to block it.
Change is needed
But when it comes to housing estates, these walkways are sadly non-existence. While there is usually a narrow strip of land between the road and drainage system, these strips are usually occupied by trees, shrubs and grass.
With the public transportation leading up to residential estates, there is now an awareness of having safe walkways to the stations and to the users’ homes.
For people to get to the stations and back home safely and easily, the need for sidewalks is now becoming more apparent.
But to date, many sidewalks remain unchanged with all their glorious flaws. Only the immediate areas around the MRT, light rail transit, monorail and some train stations have better walkway amenities like lifts, escalators and wider lanes.
Ironically, many walkways are still missing in housing estates with pedestrians having to brave walking on the side of the road as cars whizz by.
This needs to change if the general public is to be encouraged to walk more and for their safety.
This walkway just outside of Starling Mall in Uptown Damansara is a good example of well-planned pedestrian and cycle paths.
