Never never look back

                                                                  

These days, I have to keep looking back every time I’m walking on pavements and footpaths as I’m fearful of what’s coming from behind me at high speed and knocking me down.

Who’s going to pay for my medical treatments when I’m injured on public footpath?

Ever since the floodgates were opened for PMD (personal mobility devices) like e-scooters and hoverboards on shared walkways, I’m now exposed and subject to this unnecessary risk of injury. Such devices are loosely controlled here and they have proliferated everywhere. Our infrastructure is not yet ready to embrace these technologies as our pavements and footpaths are just too narrow to allow even 2 pedestrians to walk astride, let alone PMD users and cyclists who are speeding at 25km/h or faster. Public safety is now compromised even if I’m already walking at the fringe.

I keep wondering why the authority allowed the maximum speed limit to be set at 25km/h. Shouldn’t it be capped at 5-8km/h similar to walking speed to reduce accidents and risk of injuries to pedestrians and other users?

It sounds so good on paper to allow PMD users to use pavements and walkways and ask all users to be gracious to share footpaths. What the heck if I cannot protect myself? Policy-makers probably never use footpaths in their daily activities and would never understand the predicament of walking on one.

From 15 Jan, LTA (Land Transport Authority) is lashing out harsher penalties on PMD users riding on public roads and expressways. I expect more PMD users on our footpaths and pavements, meaning I’m exposed to even more risks on footpaths. They should never been allowed on footpaths in the first place.

For the new year, many said: Look ahead, never look back!

I must say: to survive in our ‘squeezed’ environment, look ahead but never never look back.