Our entire neighbourhood, consisting of 22 blocks, one community centre and a secondary school, is inter-connected with covered walkways - except for the link to the MRT station, which is largely a road apart.

We asked for a covered walkway from our homes to the station because we have a baby and a toddler. Family outings via the MRT will be practical if we are sheltered from the rain - and the heat. My MP replied that the covered walkway was not possible because of an LTA ruling which disallowed covered roads. I wonder why. It cannot be because of safety or engineering considerations. Otherwise our roads will not have gantries or overhead bridges.

Whatever the reason, it is time to re-look the rule, especially in view of the Government drive to persuade Singaporeans to switch from cars to public transport.

In this respect, there are three groups of people. The first group, comprising the rich and car-obsessed, will buy a car regardless of its cost or quality of public transport.

The third group, the poorer ones, cannot afford to own one and will always have to rely on public transport.

Targeting either or both groups will not help reduce car ownership. It is the middle group that the Government should be targeting. These are people like me for whom a car is expensive but still affordable, and more practical than public transport.

For this group, a journey does not start and end on the bus and rail network. The choice of transport depends on point-to-point convenience, that is, from our homes to the shopping centre or office.

Public transport convenience does not only lie in the efficiency of the rail or bus network but also in the ease of the journey by foot from the home to the MRT station.

Our bus and rail system is largely air-conditioned and sheltered. But on hot, humid or rainy days, braving a short, open stretch is enough to negate that advantage.

Cars, by comparison, have that 'door-step' edge. Matching their practicality as much as possible will help persuade this middle group to switch.

Tey Chee Meng