It is sad to note some shopkeepers chose to be nonchalant despite being issued with repeated warnings and summonses.

Generally, the purpose of a five-foot way is to provide shelter for pedestrians from the sun and rain and also a safe walkway for particularly the elderly and the physically handicapped (wheelchair users).

With our greying population, it is a good sign to see the physically handicapped, especially the wheelchair users, coming out of their homes to explore happenings around them. This is because MRT, buses, pavements, et cetera, are more user-friendly.

However, despite the Government's efforts to make our city user-friendly for elderly citizens, we still find some inconsiderate people who care only for themselves.

I once took a walk along Tai Thong Crescent (nearest to 7-Eleven and Bengawan Solo) and was surprised to note a shopowner even erected a raised platform about a foot high to exhibit his goods, occupying almost the entire five-foot way of the shop.

Similar scenarios can be observed along Serangoon Road (Little India) where some shopkeepers occupy the common passageway with loads of their goods, leaving a small gap just enough for a pedestrian to walk through.

My advice to these shopkeepers - please be considerate and have compassion for the more feeble senior citizens and the wheelchair users. Don't expect them to use the congested road when a safe pavement is made readily available.

Jimmy Lim Boh Seng