Friday December 02, 2005

Feedback submission - re: Singapore government discovers new urbanism

Feedback submission :

Low Ee Mien
2 Dec 2005

E1 Make Singapore a More Humane and Safer City

- In addition to roadside planting, also provide shade via trees or linkways where citizens must cross tracts of empty land to reach transport nodes (MRT stations / bus interchanges) - eg at Sengkang and Hougang MRT stations
- Investigate possibility of reducing commercial vehicle traffic by using existing rail system to convey freight, add additional "freight stations" at PSA and Tuas as necessary - issues of cost and point-to-point delivery - can existing network accommodate containerized cargo? The left lane of the AYE has become somewhat like a continuous chain of container trucks, could these be replaced by rail?
- Review the LTA COE 3% annual growth quota for motor vehicles - at 3%, the number of vehicles and demand for roads, carparks and other facilities will double in 24 years. Can the government double the width of the PIE or TPE, or build an entirely new set of "E's"? It cannot possibly "grow at 3% annually" forever.

E2 Singapore Can Be Self-Sufficient in Water

- Rework drainage systems to lead to designated reservoirs for collection and treatment
- Allow private homeowners (terrace, bungalows, etc) to collect rainwater, is this currently illegal or something?
- What about food? Flying in chickens from Brazil and shipping oranges from California hardly seems sustainable. Will the government support local agriculture? Have we learnt anything since the "eggs scare"?

E3 Link between Energy/Resource Usage and Environment

- More than 2/3 of electricity is from natural gas. NG will peak later than conventional crude oil but it will be more of a "falling-off-the-cliff" nature as opposed to oil's "bumpy plateau". What are the contingency plans before that happens (in 20-30 years' time)? Will Singapore have to go nuclear?
- Reduce and discourage excessive usage of glass in buildings - have we been building greenhouses in the name of "looks and fashion"?
- Investigate possible implementation of Domestic Tradable Quotas (DTQ's) such as the system proposed in the EU's Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) - which puts a dollar value on carbon emissions and lets the market work it out

T5 Bicycle policy neglect is not working

- Provision for bicycle parking is haphazard at major transport nodes, space-saving vertical racks should be constructed, chargeable via "season parking pass" if necessary
- Provide the same space-saving bicycle parking systems for new flats as well whether on per-unit basis or in a common area, currently people chain them to staircase railings or attempt to squeeze them into their storerooms/bomb shelters

T7 Traffic noise and its health impacts

- Ban large commercial vehicles (large lorries, coaches) from entering HDB precints - implement height restriction bars not only in multi-storey carparks but also service roads leading to these carparks
- Introduce and enforce anti-engine-idling regulations - idling vehicles create noise and emissions pollution, many times observed commercial vehicles idling away downstairs while the driver goes home to have dinner!

See also :

1. Singapore government discovers new urbanism

(2005-12-02 14:51:42 SGT) [Env] Permalink

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