I REFER to the Government's push towards a hub-and-spoke system
for public transport and wish to know if the concerns of the
elderly have been considered.
As multiple transfers are a significant part of the
hub-and-spoke system, will it inconvenience senior citizens
needlessly?
Seniors citizens may have mobility problems and care should be
taken to ensure that the changes will not discourage them from
being active citizens or working past retirement age.
As it is, the public transport infrastructure is stretched with
the substantial increase in population. More transfers will mean
more waiting time, not less.
For example, trains often arrive packed, and one must wait for
the next train before one can get on.
Whether a senior citizen can transfer smoothly by boarding a
short-distance bus service is another big question mark. Buses are
packed even before they start their journey from the interchange
during morning peak hour.
Train commuters living in the East or West, who have to transfer
at Outram Park and Dhoby Ghaut respectively to board the North-East
Line train, must walk a long distance to the platform. It is
time-consuming and a hassle.
Tong Jee Cheng (Ms)
