However, the BCA should not only be active in encouraging building owners to adopt UD principles. It should also look into the quality and standard of public buildings that may have already adopted UD principles. A good example is the MRT stations.

Though passenger lifts and escalators have been built, they may not necessarily be adequate and accessible to the elderly with weak limbs or poor eyesight.

As such, MRT stations may not be truly user-friendly and barrier-free. The elderly, especially those with weak limbs and knees, should not be denied of their use of the MRT as a means of transport, and more so if they cannot afford taxi fares.

If the BCA's goal is to foster a more inclusive society by creating a user-friendly built environment that caters to the needs of people of different ages and abilities, it will be useful for it to set a recommended accessible speed for escalators leading to, or out of and within MRT stations - such as Bedok, Tanah Merah and Buona Vista, to name a few - where passenger lifts are not available or adequate.

These escalators are running at a speed faster than most at shopping malls, and are much faster than the normal walking speed of the elderly and those with weak limbs. This group needs extra time to orient itself when boarding and exiting.

The authorities may argue that the extra flat steps are sufficient, but in reality, the fast speed of the escalators has actually negated the safety effect in the extra flat steps.

I believe that there are many unreported accidents attributed to falls while riding on escalators.

For a normal user like me, I have no difficulties in walking up and down the stairs or even riding the fast moving escalators. But for this group, the fast speed escalators and stairs pose a deterrence to them in gaining access to the MRT stations.

While it may be costly and impossible to build passenger lifts in all cases, the adjustment of the speed for such escalators for accessibility becomes necessary and will certainly be appreciated by this group.

I sincerely hope that the authorities can look into the above in the interest of this group of people.

Loy Siew Joon