Town Council advises Segar residents in wheelchairs to use alternative access

On Feb 7, The New Paper reader Chian shared the inconvenience he faced each time he had to take his wife, a wheelchair user, to the bus stop at Block 485 Segar Road.

Mr Chian pointed out how the P-bollards over the pathway made it difficult for him to push his wife's wheelchair to the bus stop.

The pathway with the P-bollards near the bus stop is the first one Mr Chian comes to when walking from his flat at Block 470.

During a visit to the area on Feb 12, it was observed that residents with prams, carts and scooters could still use the pathway with the P-bollards albeit bending down or performing slight contortions to pass through.

The Holland-Bukit Panjang Town Council told The New Paper that the P-bollards were installed following feedback from residents that motorcyclists were using the pathway to bypass the Electronic Parking System (EPS) gantry.

The Town Council added that the P-bollards are widely used in HDB estates to prevent unauthorised vehicle access while still allowing a safe passage for wheelchair users.

It also highlighted the alternative access at the foot of Block 485, which is wider and more suitable for ease of movement.

A resident of Block 485 Segar Road told The New Paper that other than wheelchair users, parents with prams also struggle to use the pathway with the P-bollards.

"I've seen many parents with prams and helpers with wheelchairs struggle when using that path," he said.

"There's another pathway at the other end of the block but that, too, has some obstacles - you have to navigate the display of goods outside the shops in the void deck."

Over at Block 510 Jelapang Road, there was also a pathway with P-bollards but it was wide enough for cyclists to push their bicycle through with ease.

The block's alternative access was nearby and unobstructed.