What's wrong with New Woodlands Bus Interchange

The Interchange was opened 15th March 2016. It even have a preview on March 12 with minister and all trying out the facilities.

The first feature is buggy service. Since the interchange is in a long U shape with the embarking and disembarking bay separated different sides of the U shape, it helps those who have walking difficulties to make the transition.

There are two or three handicap rams to help those on wheel chairs and pram to avoid the two flights of steps up to the MRT and shopping center.

There are seats allocated to just those in need of chairs along the embarking bay like the priority seats in trains and busses.

There are tactile tiles to help the blind navigate around.

It looked just perfect for every one. Except one thing. There isn't a single escalator or lift to bring those pregnant, sick, on walking sticks or simply tired to get out of the interchange. Singaporeans are aging rapidly. Won't it be included when designing a bus interchange? I heard ministers keep saying about aging and then when it happens, there are just not sufficient planning for these people. Like most plannings, it just cater to the structure it is building and does not provide connectivity to other structures.

It is true that the handicap rams can help but it is a good 50 meters length. If those people have difficulty walking on flat ground, it will be much more difficult to go on a slope.

The tactiles is a help to the blind and it leads blinds to the handicap rams. Do they think that blind cannot walk on stairs? There is no tactiles leading to the stairs. Neither is there any "tac tiles" leading to toilets.

I had to mention that MRT also never provide "tac tiles" that leads to the Bus Interchange. Should LTA also consider this connectivity issue when planning the new interchange?

I posted a comment on the Transportation Minister's Facebook post on the new interchange. It seems that he missed the comment totally just like the buggy driver who missed an old lady that could not mount the platform and has been walking dangerously along the road in the bay today.

On 15th Sept 2016, noticed the information display has this info.

Have noticed that there are two area under construction for the past few weeks already but there is no information available. From the size and location, I guessed that LTA is building lifts. With the information, it is confirmed that there will be lifts built. Its better late than never.