Just returned from Katong 112 - the latest and supposedly hippest shopping mall that used to occupy old Katong Roxy mall. I went there with Mum and our helper for lunch. The mall is brand new - and many aspects are quite friendly.
Wheelchair-friendly toilets
There are toilets for wheelchair bound shoppers too. The toilet on Level 4 near to the food court was locked when we wanted to use - and the cleaner had to be located to open it. It is locked presumably to prevent abuse by other users, though it is really not necessary as the main toilets are ample.
My concern is, what if it is an 'emergency' ;p ? The lift (there is only one) is quite a distance and the cleaner with the only key to open is not to be found anywhere near? This is quite operational and unless one is in that situation, it might seemed nitpicking. Anyway, it is something for mall/building owners to note and improve on.
Usage of elevator
The mall provides a nice travelator that brings those who park to level 1 and thereafter with escalators to all levels. I notice that practically everyone uses the elevator - and because there is only one, those who need it - like Mum with her wheelchair as well as many elderly who are less mobile, or even parents with strollers end up having to wait even longer for the already slow transporter.
I think mall/building owners might want to consider putting up polite notices to 'remind' shoppers to give way to users who are more in need. It is also useful to point shoppers to nearby too. I saw some of the worst behavior just now - able bodied shoppers who squeezed and held back the elevators just to get in - only to go one level up. :( This is something that happens to even our own HDB lifts but then its a different gripe :p
I think the small Ps and Rs have really been forgotten by building owners in their pursuit of huge and often wasteful big PR exercises.
MCYS has a campaign to promote family friendliness and there had been many ministerial level committees to look at making Singapore more elderly friendly. Are we losing the trees for the forest?
Some ideas for better aging....
