A worthwhile plan to map wheelchair-accessible routes in the Central Business District was born out of the frustrating experiences of people with disabilities. Ironically, travel guide Lonely Planet declared that "Singapore has to be the most accessible city in Asia and one of the most accessible cities in the world". Thanks to infrastructure guidelines, the city indeed has step-free access to many places and dropped kerbs on abundant pavements. Further, all SMRT and SBS Transit bus services are wheelchair accessible, and the Land Transport Authority is testing out an automated wheelchair ramp for buses.
Yet, wheelchair users still struggle when moving from MRT stations to CBD workplaces, no thanks to limited exits and obstacles like escalators and bollards erected to stop bikes from entering footpaths. Threading one's way through the city is made all the more difficult by the dearth of handy maps to guide the disabled.
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