BARRIER FREE ACCESSIBILITY : BUKIT PANJANG NEW TOWN

Abstract

“Barrier-Free Accessibility: Bukit Panjang New Town” researches into how well barrier-free designs cater to the needs of wheelchair users as they require special features such as ramps, grab bars, low floor buses as well as an environment without stair to allow independent manoeuvring and integration into the mainstream society. It also examines the various provisions in place and explores areas for improvements to move towards a barrier-free environment.

This dissertation looks into accessible designs and universal designs and how these two designs are incorporated together to form a list of design considerations that will be used to evaluate on the barrier-free features provided in Bukit Panjang New Town. It moves on to discuss the approach taken by different government bodies in Singapore to address and encourage the provisions of barrier-free facilities for a supportive physical environment that will improve the quality of life for Singaporeans.

The case study focuses on barrier-free design features within three interrelated components namely, the private domain (housing estates), public domain (schools, community centres and clinics) and linkage (transport and pedestrian walkway). These three components are important in a New Town because it facilitates access to buildings and its surrounding. The barrier-free features in the stipulated components within Bukit Panjang New Town are evaluated based on the list of design considerations created and also through observations, measurements and role-playing as a wheelchair user by the author. From the results obtained, barrier-free features have improved accessibility for wheelchair users in New Town. Improvements are given to those barrier-free features that limit the movement of wheelchair users.

There is clearly a need to create a barrier-free environment to encourage the integration of people with disabilities into the society. Therefore, recommendations are given to support for further studies on barrier-free accessibility.