Bukit Batok West is third town with pedestrian-friendly streets completed
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Among the new pedestrian-friendly features are new signalised pedestrian crossings, and shorter pedestrian waiting times with longer green-man signals at crossings.
ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN
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SINGAPORE – Measures to make streets more pedestrian-friendly – dubbed Friendly Streets by the Land Transport Authority – have been completed in the third town, Bukit Batok West.
Friendly Streets have been rolled out in Ang Mo Kio since July 2024, and West Coast Road since August 2024.
Works in Tampines and Toa Payoh estates are ongoing and slated to be progressively completed by 2025.
Dr Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State for Transport and MP for Hong Kah North, revealed this in a Facebook post on Nov 28, adding that the authorities have started engaging local communities for the next batch of Friendly Streets in 10 more towns.
These 10 towns are Bedok, Buangkok, Bukit Panjang, Holland/Buona Vista, Choa Chu Kang, Jurong East, Pek Kio, Punggol, Sembawang and Tiong Bahru/Havelock.
The Friendly Streets initiative will be expanded to all towns by 2030 to make walking and cycling safer, more inclusive and comfortable.
Among the new pedestrian-friendly features are new signalised pedestrian crossings, shorter pedestrian waiting times with longer green-man signals at crossings and green road surfaces with speed limit markings to encourage motorists to slow down.
They also include kerbless crossings, which will allow seniors in wheelchairs, users of personal mobility aids and families with strollers to cross the road more conveniently.
Green road surfaces with speed limit markings in Bukit Batok Avenue 5 to nudge motorists to slow down.
ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN
Kerbless crossings, such as this one in Bukit Batok Street 33, enable seniors in wheelchairs, users of personal mobility aids, and families with strollers to cross the road more easily.
ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN
Dr Khor said: “I’m happy to hear from residents that these improvements have made walking and cycling around the neighbourhood safer and more convenient.”
She added that these features have made it easier for Bukit Batok West residents to get to key amenities such as the Hong Kah North Community Club, Bukit Gombak Neighbourhood Centre, Bukit Gombak MRT station, Bukit Gombak Sport Centre and Little Guilin.
Launched in 2023, the Friendly Streets initiative aims to make streets that are close to key amenities and transport nodes more people-friendly, encouraging the use of public transport and active mobility.
