Use umbrellas at unsheltered areas

Small foldable umbrellas, which are inexpensive and lightweight, can be kept in bags and used when crossing unsheltered areas. This would enable the money for linkways to be saved and used for other purposes.
Small foldable umbrellas, which are inexpensive and lightweight, can be kept in bags and used when crossing unsheltered areas. This would enable the money for linkways to be saved and used for other purposes. ST FILE PHOTO

I appreciate the shelters that the Government has built to link housing estates to public transport facilities (Running short of shelter; March 12).

However, I wonder if we are doing too much and spoiling the population as a result.

Building covered linkways in one area costs a six-figure sum.

If we multiply this by the number of estates we have across Singapore, the cost is millions of dollars.

Surely, this money could be used for other purposes, like helping the poor.

I do not think it is too difficult to buy a small foldable umbrella to use when crossing a few unsheltered metres.

A generic foldable umbrella costs just a few dollars and weighs less than a pencil case. I have been carrying one in my bag for years.

Let us have a heart and use those millions of dollars to help improve the lives of the underprivileged instead.

Alex Yeo Eng Buan

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on March 16, 2017, with the headline Use umbrellas at unsheltered areas. Subscribe