Safety Standard

Platform edge doors prevent passengers from falling off the platform edge onto the tracks. In my opinion, it should form a basic feature of all stations. However, while stations on the Gold and Green Lines have this safety component in place, those on the Red Line do not. While this may be due to a different service builder for each of the three lines, it raises the question whether they should all be required to comply with the same standards of the Ministry of Transport, which they are all operating under.

The photo speaks for itself. Rewinding back three years: The MRT Purple Line came into operation. We provided lots of information for service improvements to MRT. One of the issues we reported, and was fixed, was the skywalk from MRT/Bangyai Station leading to the entrance of Central Westgate. Back then, we noticed curved gutter covers that were very much like the ones in the photo. We see the same problem at MRT/Taopoon Station although the station has not been in use for that long either.

Recently, we’ve heard a statement from City of Bangkok said that they’ve their standard. They reminds me getting back since I’ve been to Japan. Let’s see the construction safety standard comparing between two countries. What you see and what you think please share with us / thanks.  

Our group of activists passed by Asoke area during the beginning of April 2019. We found that there was, at full scale, an ongoing footpath work alongside the main road. Yet there was no other way for pedestrians to walk safely and comfortably. Ordinary people might still survive this scenario but the same is not true for the disabled, and far worse for wheelchair user that has to step down on the busy street to get through. A real life-threatening moment.

I got tragic news of Taiwan high-speed train derailed. The news read that the driver admitted he shut down automatic train protection system in an attempt to compensate for the previous delay. The accident costed 18 lives of passengers, many injured. Accordingly, today I would like to stress a concern on human error. Taking about humans, we are undoubtedly the topmost of all the food chain, the most intelligent creature this planet has ever seen. Yet mankind is still under some, if not many, limitations. For instance, if we were asked on the afternoon that what we had for breakfast, …

Accessible & SafetyWe got a good news from Singapore is testing the stroller restraint on public bus (Link ref : https://goo.gl/35kdPL). I, as a wheelchair user was extremely affected by an impractical layout design on public bus, which had mostly lower safety standard. And thought that this issue should be brought to the front line as one of priority concerns. After my trial abroad on public transportation in countries, I would like to share my opinions:

Safety standardis the one issue that I pay attention to and I saw a lot of difference in Japan. As the above picture, there will always have the security guard(s) to taking care of the area. And even a very far place from the city, they use almost the same setup especially the equipment standard.

I’ve known Alex since I was doing a big bang on the accessibility issues. We were been keep touching each other since then… Alex had an accident and got spinal cord injured at the higher level than me. His arms are not strong as I am but he still races his wheelchair faster than me. He lives in Koa Samui and has just married with lovey Thai girl and they come to Bangkok for visa. This round we can finally have a good time to meet. I picked up the department store that I hope the accessibilities will be alright …