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		April Chong Thu, Mar 20, 2008 The Straits Times
Make cab stands disabled-friendly?
YES, let's have more taxi stands in the Central Business District (CBD), but how about making them accessible for the handicapped too? The initial hue and cry over the CBD taxi rule has eased, with the rule change on Monday allowing taxis to stop along side roads in the CBD, and news that more taxi stands will be built in the city centre to bring the number to 115. Now, a smaller group of passengers hope their concerns can be addressed too.

Wheelchair-bound bank analyst Bay Meng Chien, 27, has little trouble getting into a cab at Suntec City where he works. But moving around within the CBD is not as easy.

'For example, getting to Commerce Point along Phillip Street is difficult because there is a high kerb at the drop-off point outside,' he said of the building close to Raffles Place.

He hopes that more taxi stands with ramps and shelters can be installed in areas such as Bugis and Raffles Place.

Right now, some of the cab stands have ramps that are just too steep or there is a kerb.

Going by feedback from disabled passengers, Orchard Road is the most wheelchair-friendly stretch of the CBD.

Another group of passengers who may have some special needs is the elderly.

Mr Phua Kok Tee, head of the Singapore Action Group of Elders, pointed out that in Shenton Way and Chinatown, steps often separate the road from the pavement.

He said: 'The elderly in Singapore are by and large independent, but exceptions may need to be made for those with mobility problems...Let's give the new rule some time to run first before seeing if further refinements are needed.'

Most of the cab stands in the CBD, with the exception of about 10, are obstacle-free, said a Land Transport Authority spokesman, and LTA will continue to look into ways to make the infrastructure more accessible for the handicapped and elderly.

aprilc@sph.com.sg

Difficult spots

OF THE 353 buildings in the Central Business District, only eight do not have a driveway, side road or taxi stand in the immediate vicinity.

But it will not take more than a 100m walk to get to any of the buildings after alighting from a cab close by, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said.

One such building identified by LTA is the BMC Building in Orchard Road, which is hemmed in by buildings on either side and a canal at the back.

Staff working at the private school there told The Straits Times that visitors do not have any problems getting off in Handy Road or at Plaza Singapura.

LTA has not identified the other seven buildings, but a check with commuters and cabbies found others with some 'site constraints'.

These include Shenton House in Shenton Way, Hitachi Tower at Collyer Quay and Hotel 81 Chinatown in Upper Cross Street, all of which require visitors to get off elsewhere to reach the premises.