New and existing buildings, including train stations, that undertake addition and alteration works have to comply with the prevailing Code on Accessibility in the Built Environment, introduced by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) in 1990.
The code periodically undergoes reviews to better meet the evolving needs of the population. It was last reviewed in 2019, and the changes took effect in January 2020.
The 2019 code states that lift buttons should be located at a height that is a minimum of 90cm and a maximum of 120cm from the ground, while the lift itself has to have minimum floor dimensions of 120cm by 140cm.
Due to the number of hospitals in the Novena area, the lift to the platform is heavily used, resulting in longer waiting times. To avoid having to move around in crowded stations, Alister tends to travel during off-peak hours as much as possible. However, he is still thankful that there are people around, he says. “Imagine (being) in a station that has no one except me. It’ll be hard to actually get help for anything.”
The 2019 code recommends that an accessible gate have a width of at least 85cm. In the train stations, the accessible fare gates are at least 90cm wide, according to the Land Transport Authority’s (LTA) Architectural Design Criteria.
Alister says having wider fare gates is helpful not just for wheelchair users, but also for those who enter the station with strollers or bulky luggage.
Judy Wee, executive director of Muscular Dystrophy Association Singapore and the founder of LevelField Consultants, says most older stations have only one lift in service between the concourse and platform levels, which would cause an issue for mobility if it breaks down.
Most new stations, including all stations on the new Thomson-East Coast Line, have two lifts to allow better accessibility for all.
Alister uses the NextStop app to identify which train door gives him the best access to the lift at his destination, to reduce the possibility of having to navigate crowds.
A platform gap is the space between the platform and the train carriage, which can be difficult for wheelchair users to overcome. “If I go too fast, I will fly off the chair; if I go too slow, I might get stuck in the gap,” says Alister.
It is a bigger problem for those who use manual wheelchairs, like Judy, as these lack the power of motorised wheelchairs. If the gap is too high or wide, she may wait for the next train.
On the North-South Line, where Novena is located, underground stations have platform gaps of 11cm, while above-ground stations have gap fillers installed on platform edges, reducing the gap to 7.5cm. Due to the design of the platform screen doors, these gap fillers cannot be installed in underground stations.
While new trains can be fitted with gap fillers, Judy notes they often do not address the vertical height of the gap. She says: “They should be ramped down to meet the platform level, and at the same time, close the gap.”
Alister prefers to wait by the train doors even before the train stops so that he has sufficient time to navigate around the cabin, especially if it is crowded. If he is going to a station he is familiar with, he would remember which side to alight from to make the process easier.
Alister points out that accessible fare gates were previously not available in every station – when he was younger, he would either try to squeeze through the narrow fare gates or get station staff to open the side door for him to enter the station.
Judy hopes that the future of accessible fare gates could be hands-free fare gates, as having to coordinate tapping a fare card with moving in a wheelchair makes the process “very difficult”.
LTA conducted a trial of hands-free fare gates at four train stations in 2018, and a tender for a similar trial was also called in 2020. However, there is no implementation yet.
This accessible train exit features both stairs and a ramp – according to the 2019 code, this is to account for various needs that different people with disabilities might have. The gradient of the ramp is regulated to ensure that it is not too steep for those using wheelchairs, especially manual ones.
Doors that require pulling or heavy doors can be a challenge for wheelchair users like Alister. He usually asks passers-by to help him, and often, they are willing to lend a hand.
Alister is choosing to travel above ground rather than underground to Suntec, as he finds it more convenient and knows the way across. “It also minimises potential challenges of having more doors to open… or if the lift buttons are a little bit too high,” he adds.
The 2019 code extends to accessibility guidelines outside of train stations. The kerb ramp that Alister mentioned is regulated in its width, length and gradient.
Currently, the 2019 code has limited guidelines for accessibility surrounding construction and temporary event structures, where there might be obstacles like cables or steps that were not present before.
In such cases, event organisers can look into increasing accessibility by using cable covers and ramps. Ideally, Judy says, they should be gentle-sloping to ensure safe navigation for both people with disabilities and people without disabilities.
Unexpected road closures and footpath detours happen occasionally, despite Alister’s advance research – especially when there are construction works or events like Formula 1. He would then have to find an alternative route, but he cannot be sure that it will be accessible for him. He often tries to give himself more buffer time to account for incidents like this happening.
This is one instance in which choosing an underground route might be a better option. “Or if the weather is bad, and it starts to rain, for example,” Alister says.
Google Maps suggests two different routes. Alister prefers alighting at City Hall station instead of Esplanade station for a more direct route, despite the longer distance to Suntec City. This is so that he “(doesn’t) have to take multiple lifts” to change trains at Dhoby Ghaut interchange.
Follow Alister as he starts his journey.
This is Alister.
He is a wheelchair user.
Here’s how Alister travels from Novena to Suntec City on public transport.
This is Alister.