The 10TouchPoints Competition Exhibit was up on Level 7 of National Library from the 31 March to 15 April. We had scrapbooks for the public to leave their ideas and comments on the 10 items up for redesign. Here are some highlights of the comments as possible source of ideas and perspectives for the Competition.

“They should start a whole lane just for cyclists.”

“More stuff should be implemented to safeguard the cyclists’ interest. Look at China, they cycle with ease.”

“Can have a dismounting area made of a soft substance so that the speed of the bicycles will slow to a snails pace. This eliminates the need for building obstacles.”

“Have cyclist lanes as most cyclists cycle on the road and sometimes in the night. Danger arises due to poor visibility. Lighting of the roads is thus important too.”

“Add lights, (eg blinking lights) to help them take notice of the signs. Signs should be clearly visible at night.”

“In a world of global warming and increasing amount of obese people and complaints about not having time for exercise, making it easier to use your bicycle as a means of transport is very important. Cyclist should not be ranked third, after cars and pedestrians as it is now, but rather after pedestrians but before cars for the rights on the roads and the right of way in intersections.”

“I support cycling but not at the cost of crippling the economy. The road does not need an extra road hazard from slow cyclists or more accidents from mixing high speed cars with slow traffic.”

New!
"Have bigger notice boards to show the buses that are available at the bus stops."

"Please make the bus routes (maps) easier to see, especially for tourists like myself as we are not familiar with the street names. Often, even the locals and bus drivers have no idea of which bus they are supposed to take to reach the desired destination.

"Have all surround music (e.g. Nature, new age) to keep us cool and patient while waiting for the bus."

"Effective systems to help gauge arrivals and the amount of seats."

"Bus stops should have proper shelter that can cover more than just the heads, so as to prevent people from getting wet, or getting their feet wet."

"Provide the arrival time and schedule of the buses at all the bus stops. Best to also have a satellite to show when the next bus is arriving."

1. " Rain-proof: Shelter from the rain.
2. Maximise seating capacity.
3. All bus stops should be equipped with bus routes panel."

"Have toilet cubicles at bus stops as sometimes nature calls."

“No need for over-engineered specs. ( eg. Formidable looking and use of I –beams, unless it is used to stop a runaway bus)

What is important is:

• safety barriers should the unthinkable happen, (eg. runaway bus or failed brakes)
• effective shelter from torrential wind-swept rain
• leaning rests and seats facing arriving buses is excellent.
• well lit, especially in remote and outlying places
• simplicity is key. Get me to my destination with clear route schemes and fair prices. No need for fancy electronics to convey information unless its cost effective.”

“Reduce the number of bus stops. Currently there are too many bus stops on the route. Lets be more eco-friendly. There may be three or more bus stops within 50m. it is too many in the same area.”

“Bus stops should have wheel chair friendly facilities. Older buses can be upgraded for wheelchair accessibility, like London and HK.”

“Air conditioned bus shelters! Estimated time for bus arrivals! Weather forecasts! Umbrella vending machines!”

“Should attach an electronic device like GPS to buses so that people at the bus stop can track where their bus is.”

“Light up bus information panels. They can’t be seen at sight. Some panels are located behind the bus stop, how to see when it rains or at night?”

“Sms your location and the bus number you want, get an sms reply saying approximately how long a wait you will have before the bus arrives. “

“More often than not, bus stop seats are wet due to rain sweeping in from the back of the bus stop. This is due to a lack of backing that protects the seats, especially since the seats are located further away from the road to provide standing space.”

“Also, some bus stops are in ridiculous positions, such as inside a bend, where it is impossible to see the bus until it is only ten metres away from the bus stop. This leads to delayed flagging of buses and causes one to miss the bus.”

"Functional shelters which keep out rain and sun, which are lighted and provide route info."

New!
"In order to build great playground for children is to ask children what they think playground for children should like, should have and always ask them why. Help them grow not only physically but also include cognition, emotion and positive social interaction."

"Let's have more swings built in to not just accommodate two or three kids. I don't want to wait for my turn anymore."

"Playgrounds back in those days were so much cooler and exciting! We could climb all over and fall down. Nowadays with all the plastics make the playground very boring."

"Include the children in the design process because children understand children better."

"Create a quiet environment for graceful living."

"Swings are still vital! For remembrance of childhood, as well as the 'fun' factor."

"I would like a 'Green' playground. Since Singapore has been embarking on programmes that will help reduce global pollution etc."

"Think simple, create the basics."

"Playgrounds should involve inspiring creative thinking."

“Compromise fun for safety? Bring back the “kampong environment”. Bring nature into the playground.”

“Bring sand back to the playground. You want creativity? Use sand. Kids use sand to harness their imagination and it’s a whole lot of fun. Take that away and produce a whole generation of children who are physically compromised and lethargic.”

“The playground should be made as an exercise centre as well. So the parents can have something to do when watching their children.”

“Playgrounds should have more open play concepts, where children can climb, (eg. spider webs.)”

“Playgrounds should have more open concepts for bird lovers and for working –out too.”

“Playground should be bigger and interesting, so the bigger it is the better the children can play. But please don’t have the high-up element as it is dangerous for the children’ safety.”

“Why not consider some playgrounds that have shelter, less exposure to weather conditions.”

“Build playgrounds with musical tones and sounds of birds and other sounds that we often hear in the jungle. May be also good to include a basic wash area.”

“The reintroduction of sandboxes, or sand based playgrounds is encouraged. In terms of creativity, what better to shape ideas than something with no definite shape. It allows children to build fantasy structures if they wish and the shifting of the sand trains the movement of the children. Furthermore, sand is not very harmful to children or otherwise. Even if wet, it provides enough traction that the children can run without slipping.”

“A playground should be built to enhance the interactive development of a child and this can be done by installing user-friendly mazes.”

New!
"Air ventilation should be improved."

"Have sanity cleansing fluids available in the public toilets just like the ones in the Singapore airport."

"Increase the privacy of guys for the urinals. Don't give the other guys an opportunity to take a peek!"

"We should aspire to have toilets just like Japan's. It's not the money that matters, but the culture of human. To 'look after' toilets!"

“Presently, toilets in older buildings are still rather lacking. It would be great if we could do certain things to improve the condition of the amenities without a heavy amount of renovation. “

“Include soft calm music, gentle scents in most public toilets to give people a sense of well being and satisfaction.”

“Ever notice NLB’s toilets hand-washing sink design? It looks nice but can’t function well. You wash your face and the water splashes back cos of the square design. There’s a reason why basins and sinks are oval shaped. Function over form!”

“There should be paper and books in the toilet so people can read!”

“The type of trash bin in the toilet matters. The worst common type is the kind where the toilet paper gets stuck when people don’t push hard enough when throwing it in. “

“Users must have a cosy feel or hotel feeling when using the toilet. Maybe that’s when they will know how to take care cos the toilet is so high class.”

“Toilet air fresheners!”

“Why need to design? Look at South Korea. Most toilets have seats with so many functions. Washing stream, (front and back), blow dry, toilet seat cover (disposable). Maybe the reason why its messy is because we never designed based on needs. Need to study our needs.”

“Of public toilets looked better, people would treat them with more care. Quite superficial, but the world is like that no? “

New!
"Great work!"

"Clean up the canals. It is very unsightly and embarrassing when we have visitors and they look at our canals in disgust."

"Consider sections of naturalized aquatic vegetation to create habitat."

"Maybe you should instill more colonial designs for the grills by the sides of the drains."

"How about changing canals to water boat rides?"

"To make them more beautiful can put swans inside."

“Make it less concrete, less plastic and more natural looking!”

“Recreational sports like canoeing and kayaking in canals”

“Beautify those drains and canals. Make it a romantic place for Singapore”

“Clean up the canals, its very unsightly and embarrassing when we have visitors and they look at the canals in disgust.”

“Bio treatment systems in micro-cosm.”

“Canal base should be sloped so that dirt is not so easily collected.”

“Cover it! Use it for water collection.”

“Water rides in canals!”

New!
"A sustainable "well managed & organised" system of recycling all kinds of recyclables should be implemented. Have recycling bins of different sizes and colours according to the different types of recyclables. Standardised those at the HDB estates, while have more 'trendy' ones at the tourist areas would encourage the active participation of the Singapore *society as a whole."

"Have one more bin for the non-recycle waste put together with the other 3 recycling bins and people will feel embarrassed if they don't throw to the right bin."

"How about having recycling bins that are built inside our home?"

"In schools, we encourage children to recycle but the absence of recycling bins prevent such acts. Recycling bins should be available at all schools and preschools.

"The design and layout of the bin can be less congested. They look very unfriendly to approach."

"Recycling bins are too small and too few. Every one i have seen are full, overflowing and ugly to see. As a tourist, it makes Singapore look very dirty."

“Have more recycling bins in HDB areas or beneath HDB flats. However, how are the products that we contribute being handled? Who recycles them and how? Perhaps by showing some transparency, the public would be more willing to support the cause. Let’s save the world!”

“Have recycling Bins under each block as existing ones are too far from our HDB block. Singaporeans are too lazy to carry things so far! Also, state carefully

• Paper/ clothes
• Cans
• Plastics
• Glass
• Flammable eg. Batteries

Right now there are too little categories for the recycling bins.”

“Why can’t there be a compartmentalized recycling bin/ waste bin in each household. This would bring recycling into the houses and everyday life. “

“When given the choice, there is no reason for people to choose not to recycle. The only thing we are concerned with is our convenience. Humans are lazy! Put recycling bins everywhere and people will recycle. Education is not enough to conquer our laziness.”

“Remove the normal trash bins from public areas and replace them with recycling bins. People will have no alternative but to use the recycling bins. Eventually this will cultivate a habit of recycling.

• Keep the design simple, make it look like a collection point like a mailbox instead of conventional trash bin.
• Promote this concept in places like schools, busy office areas (eg. Raffles place), hospitals and near MRT stations. “

New!
"Signs should have various languages. - Convenient for those aunties/uncles as this country is a greying society."

"Streamline & standardise all signs for all hospitals in Singapore."

"Where are the useful street direction maps/location diagrams when you need them?"

"Have directions on the road itself."

"Have signages especially for the way in and out of the hospital, as well as the shuttle bus timings."

“Consider the multiple entrances and exits within the hospital. Signs should ‘flow’ accordingly. Another point for consideration would be communication and transportation of documents (ie. System used in SGH presently). Perhaps another system for inter-building transpotation?”

“Use all 4 languages on road signs, English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil. Arab countries do that and even China uses Sino English signs.”

“Design an electronic device like a touch screen where we can search for location and directions.”

“True! But create more than one station and situate them around the hospital. Do something like the library’s search system.”

“Electronic devices to give location directions.

• cater for all languages
• easy to use
• with voices (for the elderly)

However this would be expensive, so don’t have to have too many.

Arrows on the floor may help.”

“Maps of bus stops or train stations. Easy to locate even for tourists. Something to think about when promoting Singapore to foreigners. MRT trains should announce popular sites for each location: eg. “next stop, city hall, train stop for raffles city shopping centre, esplanade, padang, etc etc”.”

In different languages

• Big signs so people with poor eyesight can see
• Make signs more colourful
• To find elements to go with signs

New!
"How about bento boxes like the Japanese?"

"Make those takeaway mealboxes interesting & re-usable!"

"Revert to biodegradable packaging."

“The new containers should be microwave compatible for those who need to warm up their food later.”

“Produce different packages in different shapes and sizes for different food. Eg. Fish fillet can be put in a fish shaped container.”

“Go back to plant wraps, use bananas.”

“Idea: use edible packaging, made out of organic material.”

New!
"Have a rolling mailbox like the wheel! In this way, we are able to save more space as well."

"Can we have mailboxes that sounds an alarm when the owner forgets to take the key out of the lock and simply walk away? This is important as the Singapore population grows older."

"Mailboxes should be customised to give us a sense of belonging."

"Is there a way to make mailboxes not just functional, but delightful as well? Aesthetical?

“Mailboxes should be quaint and colourful, not like the ones we have here - boring!”

“Conveyer belt system”

“Mailboxes should be opened by cards instead of keys.”

“Make flyer distributors pay for slots next to letter box. NO need to insert into our individual boxes. Those not registered ought to be fined.”

“Please make slots to insert letters more secure as with the present ones, spammers are still able to squeeze their junk mails between the small spaces.”

“Mailboxes that connect to our homes. How about that?”

“Current design mailboxes at HDB, still prone to those who are able to dump useless flyers into the mailboxes. How are these people able to access HDB mailboxes and slot in flyers? How do they get the keys?”

“We should have see through mailboxes!”

“Go for rounded corners on the mailbox rather than sharp edges. Sharp edges can cause injuries. Make the door of the mailbox open downwards, to add support to taking out the mail instead of horizontally to the right. Especially helpful when only one hand is free!”

“Observations: rainwater splashes into gaps whenever it rains. (especially where the roof protrusions are inadequate). Key and hinges stick fast. Quite a struggle to engage and disengage.”

“Colour coded mailboxes!”

“Bigger mailboxes, so can put more things and act as storage lockers as well?”

New!
"Pink is so passe, i would like a rainbow colour IC. It brightens up my life."

"How about incorporating a GPRS chip? If the ID card is reported lost, the police can track & locate it via GPRS. This will cut the risk of people stealing it to get a loan from the loan sharks!"

"How about an IC that is like a thumb drive that stores all kinds of passwords?"

"Can build in computer chip."

"Identity card should be of multi-purpose rather than just for identification."

"They should start making IC in new shapes and not always rectangle."

"Change the colour of it that define a true Singaporean that is evolving with time."

“The identity of the 21st century Singaporean should not only come up to be a fashion icon, but should also serve common functionalities in everyone’s daily life!”

“The NRIC should be worth carrying around, useful for more than just identification”

“The NRIC should be multi purpose and every Singaporean should be proud owning one!”

“ID cards the shape of Singapore. Change the colour of the IC. Pink is ugly! Make us an IC which we can actually be proud enough to show it to our overseas friends. ”

“Different coloured ICs for each gender. Pink for females, blue for males and purple for “others””

“IC combined with EZ link card.”

“ICs should be designed by us. Everyone can have a different design.”

“Combine IC with driver’s license.”

“Full length pictures on ICs!”

Alice Rawsthorn, culture and design critic of International Herald Tribune, finds out New Yorkers' thoughts on the redesign of public amenities of the city under the "most design-conscious" mayor Bloomberg. Is it a needed facelift or irrelevant accessory? Take a look at the various opinions of this undertaking and proposed redesigns of bus shelters, newsstands, and street lights. Does this inspire us, or is there any lesson to learn in Singapore's redesign process?

28 Feb 2007 09:20
A.K.A.
1.If you have been to a bus-stop,you would have realized that there are quite a few flaws at the bus-stops such as that street name is on the roof of the bus-stop which is very inconvenient for commuters to see which street the bus stop is at if you were lost and callint a taxi to pick you up and it is raining.
Well,I have encountered it before and it was not a pleasant experience for me as I had to stand in the rain to see where the bus-stop is to know.I think that it could have been better if it were to be under the shelter of the bus-stop.I don't think that the street name is for the bus driver,as he/she would have known where are the stops for the bus he/she is driving or even people on the second deck to see,is it?

2.The second flaw is that the boards for the number plates of the buses that will arrive at the stop as it emerges above the shelter of the bus-stop,it is difficult and awkward for commuters to lift their heads up to see the signs as it would have been better if it were to be placed at eye level.
There is also a sign of the location of the bus stop such as:opp. Clearwater condo,outside Tampines stadium and so forth at the top above the number plates sign.I find it very small to be read and that if I found it small,what about the senior citizens?I think that it should be enlarged and as mentioned before,it would be better at eye level.

The third flaw that I find in the bus-stops is that there is an irregular interval of the arrival of buses even though they arrive at about the same time every day.But,I think that it would be better if there is a television like in the MRT stations to show how long it would take for the buses to arrive to let commuters have a sense of how long they would be waiting. :

New-York-based design journal Metropolis recently published an article that showed just how much play has to do with politics - that in a day when kids spend more time on their computers, the design of playgrounds has everything to do with the child's development.

The New York Times also gave an overview of the evolution in the design of playgrounds according to the social and cultural factors of the time in the article "Playgrounds Grow Up".

Looks like the articles show just how much the creative play-scape is an integral part of a child's social and spatial interactivity.

So how much have we progressed with our playgrounds in Singapore? If you think they should be redesigned, vote for our existing nomination - 'Unengaging Playgrounds'.

09 Feb 2007 10:01AM
Haylie

Has it occured to people that one of the prone areas for children to get injured is the playground? The way the playground is designed is not safe especially when children are running around. They tend to get injured easily by the obstacles build. The shape may be interesting bhut if its not safe , why do parents still let their children play?

From deep-garbage bins, NRIC design, flats' hanger racks, HDB sealed windows, parking lots for the disabled, MRT map, burning container, offer-seat sign, uncovered walkways, parking coupons, to the Singapore skyline - what are your thoughts on the existing nominations? What else could be better designed?

22 Feb 2007 06:06PM
Sam Narasimhan
People even after many months not familiar with usage of easy link cards. When they alight from FRONT doors, some times they TAP the EX link card reader and a re entry is made instead of exit. A more easy solution must be found for this.

21 Feb 2007 05:53PM
Thomas Tan Kok Tin
The handicapped parking lot should be camera-eyed,so that illegal parking could be traced and the vehicle owner should be fined. This is because I am a handicapped and holding a valid car parking label 1 assigned by the National Social Welfare Council, but I always find that the said parking lots being occupied by loading and unloading vehicles, or taxi or private cars (driver opening doors and read newspapers, or listening radios).
It is better to assign a special box ( like yellow box ) for handicapped, weak, pregnant and elderly persons to wait for MRT to arrive, right in front of a special MRT cabinet for these people when the MRT to stop at stations, so that other passengers are not allowed to wait in this box. Moreover, a special cabinet for these people to sit on in MRT as well as a special bell for these people to press when they want to alight at next stop. I myself am a handicapped, and dare not take either bus or MRT without a helper.

09 Feb 2007 09:31AM
ES
taps are re-design to save water such as the automated tap. these tap function by detecting object e.g hands to allow water to flow through within a specific time and amount.
however the user might not know where is the sensor and often being "fool" by the tap. when they expect water to flows, nothing comes out and vice versa. to save water or to save time?

09 Feb 2007 10:01AM
fizah
In the morning the bus will usually be crowded as people are going to work and students are going to school.There is not much seats available and some of the handles are faulty and thus it will be a problem as passengers has nothing to hold on to.And for small kids there will be facing troubles as they are small in size n they can hardly reached the handles n because of this some of them will be late for school or work as they have to wait for another bus which is not so crowded.

31 Jan 2007 06:19
Gwee RenKai
TINY TOUCHPOINTS LIKE CLOTHE HANGER NEED ATTENTION
I think its time that we look at tiny little items at we use in our daily life to re redesign. For e.g the cloth hanger. We use it almost everyday at home, and for retailer, the shops. The cloth hanger is a wonderful and invention. However, the current design makes it difficult for people to retrieve it from the clothing. More than often, we have to stretch or pull the neck opening of the shirt to remove the hanger, thus damaging the quality or life span of the shirt. As such, we should design something that is more user-friendly, that is to us and the shirt...!

Jan 26 2007 10:39 AM
ES
Plea for Better Grip and Ride on Buses and Trains
Public transport such as buses is usually packed during peak hours. Bus journey is very long, as the bus has to stop at various stops to aboard and alight passengers. The passageway is able to accommodate one person comfortably and often passengers have to squeeze through to alight, as the exit is at the middle of the bus.
The handle-design for passengers in buses and MRT, to grip for support, have a fixed point and it is unstable for the user when the bus or MRT make a big turn or brake suddenly. Solution: make the whole support for gripping more rigid so that it doesn't move about when the bus or MRT make a big turn or brake suddenly. This will help the passengers to prevent them from falling or bumping into each other.

Jan 7, 2007 1:11 PM
Ju|
10 Reasons For a new system of parking payment
It is time to have a new system of payment for parking in place of the ubiquitous and irritating parking coupon system.

10 top reasons why they should be replaced:
1. Parking coupons are simply...ridiculous!
2. It wastes paper and produces additional and unnecessary trash. Hence it's a strain on the environment.
3. It encourages "cheating". Who hasn't "stole" 10 minutes from this system?
4. It is reliant on whether drivers have coupons in the vehicle and is hence very inconvenient. Have to run to the nearest 7/11 and hope that A. they have stock and B. the parking pontianak doesn't catch you first!
5. It encourages litter.
6. Tearing of the "chads" is time consuming and prone to error, hence wasting more time and money.
7. Coupon books take up precious space in the vehicle otherwise reserved for the IPOD and makes the prize possession of every Singaporean look ugly. Have to re-design the IU for that matter!
8. The orange, purple, blue, etc design of the coupon is ugly!
9. We can't even make paper airplanes with it...or crush it into a neat little ball easily and throw it at the driver who just took your spot!
10. It makes Singapore look stupid!

Jan 4, 2007 10:07 AM
mei
Why are we still tearing URA/HDB carpark coupons...
... in this high tech age? Stop killing trees printing these coupons and littering carpark with all the coupon stubs. Install parking meters or ERP-type parking system in all carpark for goodness sake!

Jan 3, 2007 3:51 PM
Ed Liew
Redesign for the betting systems?

You know what needs redesigning? Well, I think someone should look into the whole ordeal of Singaporeans queueing up to get their weekly fix of 4Ds, toto and football betting from Singapore Pools. Just too much unproductive time is spent by people queueing up!

Automate the betting systems at Singapore Pools with phone or internet betting systems.

a) When one intends to put a wager on 4D, Toto or football betting at Singapore Pools, there is a need to mark the numbers/teams and the wager amount with the supplied betting slips.
b) The betting slips are then presented to the betting counter for "processing"; which involves the wager paying the counter and the counter printing the betting ticket.
c) The betting slips which were earlier used to mark out numbers/teams would then be discarded by the counter after the transaction. Also, a lot of the printed betting slips which do not win any prize would be discarded by the wager.
.d) I believe a lot of paper is wasted every week with the not so environmentally friendly wager system at our Singapore Pools outlets.
e) Redesign the betting system to merge the functions of the betting slip and betting ticket into one.
f) One suggestion would to redesign the system (and paper slips) to enable the printing of the betting ticket directly on the betting slips.
g) This would at least minimise the paper wastage.

Jan 3 2007 01:36 PM
Li
WHAT SHOULD BE ON THE ROAD HERe versus what's in america
(1) in the US , there are signs posted on traffic lights to indicate what lanes are going straight or turning. this would be particularly useful for drivers at night or when it is raining cats and dogs and the painted signs on the roads aren't as apparent.
(2) there should be road signs to inform drivers when lanes are merging. it is very frustrating to drive in SG when lanes would suddenly disappear or become a turning lane. In general, there should be more signs for construction areas - drivers should be encouraged to go slower or be more courteous and give way.
(3) markers should be on the roads like they have in the US - this helps a driver to stay in their lane especially during the rainy season or at night since they reflect light.

Jan 3, 2007 1:20 AM
Joseph
better air at our hawker centres please!
I have noticed that the "upgraded" designs of old Hawker centres like the Lau Pa Sat (Old Market), the Jalan Bukit Merah Hawker centre and the Tiong Bahru Market/Hawker Centre, have not taken into consideration the issue of ventilation/air circulation. Whilst the "newer/upgraded" hawker centres offers a cleaner environment, the poor ventilation makes the dining experience almost unbearable especially during the warmer/drier months of the year. The heat generated by the concentration of stalls serving piping hot food seems to be trapped within the entire food centre by the high walls surrounding the dining areas (that are mostly situated in the centre, surrounded by food stalls on the outer perimeter). The low ceilings and badly situated fans also add to the problem. I find it inexplicable that a such an important aspect of a building's design is so blatantly overlooked time and time again.

Jan 2, 2007 9:44 AM
Jer
Better Squatting Toilet Bowls
I think one of the most fundamental things we can look into for redesign is the design of the squatting toilet bowls in Singapore. As we all know, it is definitely better for personal hygiene if we use the squatting toilets over the sitting ones. However, most of the time (other than when the toilet has just been cleaned), the area around the squatting toilets are very wet with other people's urine which makes it very unwelcoming to the next user. Can the new squatting toilet bowls be made longer or installed with dome covers over the end of the toilet bowl (like those in Japan) that minimises spillage?

Dec 29, 2006 10:33 AM
scado frewida
REDESIGN rants
It's very interesting to read the types of nominations people have come up with. Majority request to build shelters from rain. Things to do with improved, convenient living. No doubt, a lot of which should have been looked into a long time ago. However, do you think that it may encourage a lazy society? A society based purely on convenience, plastic reality, concrete shelters and fast traffic? If we seriously want to change the skyline, we should start tearing down buildings instead of building more skyscrapers. There are so many old building interiors that can be redesigned into something new without destroying the raggedness of age. Greenery should be kept, not constructed. That's a bit of my ranting. What do you think?

Dec 28, 2006 11:36 PM
Louis Teo
REARRANGE SEATS ON MRT TRAINS
I'm very curious that people standing in the MRT/LRT train can be minimised by converting the seating arrangements into couple seats facing front to back. Just like those in KTM. This design will double the seating capacity and yet still have standing spaces... Best thing is that we can lessen the embarrassment of bumping left and right onto strangers beside us... Can the relevant authorities please implement this design from the Circle Line trains onwards? and follow on to a few old trains...

23 Dec 2006 01:58PM
Balamurugan (Bala)
no more 'rainy' bus stops
With the huge amounts of money going into "redesigning" the look of bus shelters there does not seem to be much if not any progress made in addressing the issue of the onslaught of a shower upon waiting commuters everytime there is a huge downpour. The irony of the whole thing is that its function is a shelter from the elements of weather and yet very little thought seems to have gone into this aspect of a bus shelter design with the designers and those who maintain the bus shelters seemingly more interested in creating more innovative ways to put up advertising billboards and improving the aesthetics of the seats (which by the way also leaves much to be desired) but that is a whole other story altogether.

23 Dec 2006 11:22AM
Ivan Chew
thoughts on the "Empty Space in Buses" nomination
"Personally, i feel that the empty space where the seats are removed in favour of allow more people to stand on the bus is not too effectively, come on, who would like another person to be 1mm next to you. Hence i think it is better to bring back the seats, while all standing will be along the centre aisle. If there is no more space, then this is no more space... no point removing seats to try to compensate." It made me wonder if we can have seats like those in cinemas & auditoriums-- where they would spring back to vertical positions when they are not in use. That way, one can choose between using it as a empty space, or to use the seats.

21 Dec 2006 03:18PM
jJocelyn
resting places and convenient windows to clean for the elderly
While abroad in Japan and U.S., I notice that in malls and shopping centres there are a number of chairs for shoppers to rest. We should have such as elderly and nursing mothers could rest amid their shopping spree.

With the population aging, there is a need to look into cleaning the external windows for all high-rise HDB flats.  As you can see, there are many instances where deaths occurred due to falling from their units while cleaning/washing their  windows.  Sad to say, its usually the maids or our elderly.  Probably town councils should pool together their resource and get this job contracted to professional cleaners for high-rise buildings similar to the commercial buildings.

21 Dec 2006 09:33 PM
jacksim

WOMEN'S TOILETS
Most architects in Singapore never learn how to design a public toilet. That's why ladies end up waiting in a long queue holding their bladder. Current design where male and female toilets are the same size is only suitable during the time before Women Liberation. In those days, women seldom went out and the design was enough. Now women go out as much as men but the design has not changed!
PostBank Building
This building has the most ridiculously impractical design . When it rains, the escalator takes you into the rain directly. The owner is very insensitive to the users in the building. They should at least remedy the bad design by sheltering the escalators. The tenants should complain to the owner strongly.
RETURN-YOUR-OWN-TRAY Hawker Centre
We should all learn from the new IKEA food centre where you buy food on trolleys and return trays after eating . All hawker centres and food court should practice the same. Create incentives for tray returns until it becomes a national culture.
MORE CHARACTER TO Public Furniture
Our street furniture is not coordinated with its surrounding and architectural aesthetics. Use street furniture to give different identities to different HDB estates to give each its unique character.
DESIGN AND DISABILITY
So far, designs for handicapped seems to be largely for the wheel-chair person. Please remember there are also many other disabled people who may be visually handicapped, and those who needs assistance, etc.widen designs to cater for these too. Handicap toilets should be a stand-alone room so that if the care-giver is of the opposite sex, they could both go in. This also applies to father with young daughters or mother with young sons.

16 Dec 2006 03:36 PM
Ginny
TRIPPING OVER FLOOR KNOBS AT MRT STATIONS
The protruding floor knobs design in MRT station post a risk to commuters of tripping over it. This is especially so for old people, women with high heels and children. While I am not very sure of its original intention (for the blind?), the design appears everywhere in the station and even on the MRT platform. It posts a risk for all especially during peak hours. It is especially dangerous on the MRT platform as commuters may trip and fall into the MRT track. I suggest that the floor knobs be taken out.
Bus Stops Design
The current bus stops are designed with the seats position parallel to the road. The lower and higher seat benches are also in line with one another. This is not user friendly as the commuters sitting at one end where the bus is coming from will be blocking the ones sitting next to him. To redesign the position of the bus stop benches such that they are 45 degree slanted from the road, This will allow all commuters a unblock view of the on coming bus.

Ever had the experience of running across the platform of Jurong East/CityHall/ Raffles place MRT station just to get onto the connecting train to get to your destination? I'm sure everyone has.

So is it possible to actually get timing for the connecting train to appear on the MRT itself via to "TV mobile" monitor or the red LED bar on the new trains?

That way, we can all calculate our travelling time more accurately and much safer cos everyone's rushing to the connecting trains and people might fall into the tracks (in the case of Jurong East MRT station).

14 Dec 2006 02:04PM
PF
I am thinking that the NRIC card can be ONE card incorporated for all, EZ-link, cashcard, Passport and maybe our ATM card for the major banks in Singapore (DBS, UOB, OCBC).

We have to carry our ID everyday with us, but to many of us, it serves nothing more than a "Display" card in our wallets or occasionally our Library Card or simply for scanning purposes. Won't it be great if the NRIC card is used almost every major part of our daily lives? It will be so much more convenient.

02 Dec 2006 06:38AM
Jieyu
It's nice to have an initiative like this set up for Singaporeans to rethink about our city's design. It is crucial to start thinking now.. not physically nor visually how our HDBs look, nor the style that we should employ on our bus stops.. but to look innately what should be changed in our society as Singapore.

Currently I'm in the Netherlands and people here have heard and like Singapore. But when you ask them what do you like about Singapore they will say the food the cleanliness and efficiency. However, what we portray is just that. Beyond the hard facts, we have issues to deal with socially and culturally..

A famous dutch architect, in his vision, predicts that future cities will be pod cities.. and he likes to use Singapore as an example. Future cities will be efficient, blend, without culture, without history. Do we really want that to become what of Singapore? Is that what we want others to see us as?

I believe the redesign of our country is a long process. And it is great to see this initiative. Mayhaps I can give some things I have learnt living in another country.

Here, I have to pay for plastic bags if i want them in supermarkets. That way, i'm forced to bring my own bag (if i want to save money).

Recyclable glass is always brought to a collection point.

Cars stop for bicycles and pedestrians on roads. And there are built areas specially for bicycles. And wheelchairs.

those are just small examples. that I dont mean WILL shape our culture. But it serves as reminders of things we lack. In an aging society of Singapore.. maybe that's one point we can start looking into.. making the society better for the less fortunate and aging. Simple ideas of shifting the lift controls to a lower level will be helpful to handicap people..

18 Nov 2006 03:42PM
Tracy Heng:
It is good suggestion to tap onto public views for improvement.
1) Direction Signages (especially along highways) - some are partially covered by the bushy trees and defeat the purpose to guide motorists. Sometimes, it is too late to filter to the required lane when it is too near to the signage. Whoever are responsible should make a point to ensure trees receive their 'hair-cut' when due.

2) LCD display panel in the banks/post offices - I am DBS customer. Maybe the bank can consider to redesign their LCD display suspended from the ceiling downwards instead of on the counter facing the queue. There are times when a customer stands so near to this display panel that block it. Also, an added feature is to have the counter numbering blinking when calling for next customer on the queue besides LCD displaying the Counter Number. Bank teller can either deactive the call using foot paddle or button on the desk to call-off the blinking once customer approaches the teller counter.

3) Public buses (SBS) - to install an announcement button in 4 languages activate by bus driver requesting commuters to move in. Some commuters are really inconsiderate, leaving a big void at the end or centre of the bus while others are trying to board. With this button, it may help to give them the 'push' factor.