The Digital Awakening » useless ramp

Update #2 Of The Pandan Perdana Pavement Upgrade

Peter Tan — Wed, 05 May 2010 09:49:38 +0000

The pavement upgrade works were completed yesterday. Fellow accessibility advocate Robert Wang who also resides at Pandan Perdana went to check and discovered that the ramps were too steep. This was despite assurances from Encik Zahari of Jabatan Kejuruteraan Majlis Perbandaran Ampang Jaya (MPAJ) that the ramps would be built according to the code of practice which is the Malaysian Standard MS 1184 and MS 1331. Robert made an appointment to meet Encik Zahari this morning to discuss about rectifying the mistakes.

At the meeting we conducted a brief audit of the ramps and pavement. Encik Zahari concurred that the ramps were not properly done. The three ramps that we checked all had gradients of 1:6 when it should have been the ratio of 1:15. It is an impossibility for a wheelchair to go up a gradient of 1:6 without tipping backwards. We discovered that the width of the pavements was only 900mm when the code of practice recommended 1200mm. The pavement connecting to both ends of the bus stop were not flushed. There was difference of height of 1 inch. This uneven height is a barrier to wheelchair users. Moreover, non-disabled people who are not aware of the small steps may trip over them and injure themselves. Encik Zahari assured us that he will get the contractor to rectify the mistakes.

What I cannot comprehend is the fact that Malaysia has the capability to build the iconic Petronas Twin Towers, SMART Tunnel and the award winning Kuala Lumpur International Airport but we cannot even build a decent pavement that is safe and usable by everyone. This is also most disappointing especially when MPAJ had given their commitment to improve accessibility in the Ampang Jaya municipality by organising the Seminar dan Sesi Dialog Bersama OKU, Agensi Kerajaan dan Pihak Swasta (Seminar and Dialogue Session with Disabled People, Government Agencies and the Private Sector) and Disability Awareness Training. What more will it take to ensure that the accessibility needs of disabled people are not forgotten? As it is, our needs are often ignored and disregarded unless we make the effort to remind the government of our existence.

Poorly built ramp at Pandan Perdana.

Close-up of the ramp – too steep for wheelchair user to ascend unassisted.

Arrows pointing to the uneven levels between the bus stop and pavement.

A closer view of the uneven level between the bus stop and pavement.

The ramp at the other end of the pavement.

Yet another steep ramp at the other side of the road.

Update #1 On The Pandan Perdana Pavement Upgrade

Peter Tan — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 07:22:42 +0000

Early this morning, I received a call from Encik Zahari from the Jabatan Kejuruteraan of Majlis Perbandaran Ampang Jaya (MPAJ). I had sent an email to the MPAJ on Monday to protest the lack of kerb ramps in the stretch of pavement currently being upgraded. A bus stop is located on the pavement. It is important that this particular stretch is made accessible to ensure that wheelchair users are able to get to the bus stop and catch a bus when RapidKL deploy their non-step buses to this route.

Encik Zahari gave the assurance that ramps will be built on both ends of the pavements that are being upgraded. The kerbs that have been put in place will be removed to accomodate the ramps. There would not have been a need to remove the kerbs had it been done correctly in the first place. I told him that the gradients of the ramps should have a ratio of 1:15 or less. They should gentle enough for wheelchair users to traverse up independently. I have seen bad ramps all over Kuala Lumpur, especially those done by Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL). These ramps are too steep and are not seamless from road to pavement. There is usually a small step from the road to the ramp. That may cause a wheelchair going up to tip backwards.

From this episode, it is apparent that the authorities have not taken the issues of access for disabled people into account. There should not even be a need for me to remind the parties concerned that public facilities should be inclusive, more so when new infrastructure is being built or when the existing ones are being upgraded. Accessible facilities should have been the norm. In Malaysia’s march to becoming a developed nation, we cannot, should not, ignore the fact that disabled people still have to struggle with third world infrastructure. The “developing nation” status will be meaningless when a segment of the population is still marginalised in so many ways.

Pandan Perdana Pavement Upgrade – Never On Sunday

Peter Tan — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 09:14:07 +0000

Upgrading of pavement at Pandan Perdana.

A few stretches of pavements at Jalan Perdana 3/1 in Pandan Perdana are currently being upgraded. I am very particular about these upgrading works because the previous upgrading on a different stretch of the pavement was done haphazardly and could not be used safely although I have stressed to the previous ADUN for Teratai on the need to follow the code of practice. He was the one who got the allocation for upgrading part of the pavement in 2007.

Anyway, imagine to my horror when I found out that there were no kerb ramps to the pavements in the current upgrading works. I asked around and was made to understand that the MP for Pandan Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat had provided an allocation for these works. I posted a note in Facebook and tagged him, asking him to ensure that there are kerbs ramps as one of the pavements has a bus stop. If we cannot get to the bus stop, we definitely cannot board the buses when RapidKL deploy their non-step buses on this route.

The bus stop in the midst of pavement upgrading works at Pandan Perdana.

Through Facebook, I was given the phone number of Ong Tee Keat’s Service Centre Public Liaison Officer, Kent Ng, together with the office phone and email. I called the office number on Sunday afternoon. There was no answer. Then I called Kent and explained the issue to him. He said he would get back to me. I followed up with an email briefly detailing on how the kerb ramp should be constructed.

Work on the pavement is currently still on going. I was afraid that the pavement would be completed before any action is taken. I waited until this afternoon and called Kent again. He told me that he would submit my complaint to Datuk Seri Ong. I asked him when and explained the urgency of the matter. What he said to me following that was totally unexpected.

No kerb ramp.

“Mister, you called me on Sunday. Do you know Sunday is rest day?”

It was not what he said that irked me but the tone of him saying it. I said I knew but it is Monday now and I am calling him again to check and ask him when action will be taken. He gave me the same line that he will submit my complaint and that I had called him on a Sunday. YES, I KNEW IT WAS SUNDAY! If the matter was not urgent, I would not have called.

After that incident, and as far as I am concerned, I have done the necessary to enlighten Datuk Seri Ong regarding this matter. I shall wait and see how it pans out. Surely, the MP for Pandan who is also the Minister of Transport already understands the issues of public transport with regards to the street environment. His ministry and related agencies have been engaging disabled persons’ organisations in this matter for a long time already. I pray he will do the right thing.

Hmm, I hear the Chordettes singing…

Another end of pavement with no kerb ramp.

Close up of the dug up pavement with kerb.

Dear PLUS – Unsafe “Accessible” Facilities At RSAs

Peter Tan — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 03:00:10 +0000

The following complaint to PLUS Expressways Berhad (PLUS) is a long time coming since I risked life and limb going up and then down an exceptionally steep ramp at Ayer Keroh Rest and Service Area (RSA) in January. This mail is also the culmination of the multiples times I had to contend with using ramps that are not safe for wheelchair use at the Tapah RSA. The complaint is addressed to Senior Manager Customer Relationship Management Department of PLUS Encik Husni Md Yusuf. It is my sincere wish that PLUS will take the initiative to rectify the problems for the safety and convenience not only of wheelchair users but everyone who uses these facilities.

Steep ramp at Ayer Keroh RSA.

Dear Encik Husni,

I am a wheelchair user and regular user of the North South Expressways. I also had the privilege of attending a presentation by Puan Khalilah Talha regarding accessible facilities at the rest areas and lay bys of the expressways at the Real Roundtable in 2006. I was heartened by the effort PLUS is putting into making the rest stops inclusive for the comfort of people who need such facilities.

However, the many times that I broke my journey at the rest stops since then, I discovered that many of the supposedly accessible facilities do not comply with MS1184. I would like to bring to your attention specifically the facilities at the rest stops, namely at Tapah RSA north bound, Simpang Pulai lay by south bound and Ayer Keroh RSA south bound.

Photographs of the facilities mentioned below are available at:

http://www.petertan.com/blog/2009/02/07/death-trap-for-wheelchair-users-at-ayer-keroh-rsa/

The ramps to the food court from the car park at Tapah RSA have gradients that are too steep for unassisted ascent and descent. In fact, these ramps are non-functional and are a safety hazard to wheelchair users.

Accessible parking spaces there are usually taken up by vehicles that neither have a disabled driver nor disabled passenger. There is really no point in putting up a sign to indicate that the parking spaces are reserved for disabled people when there is no enforcement and anybody can park there and deprive disabled people from using the facility. Many times, I had to park somewhere else and had difficulty getting in and out of the car as the regular parking spaces were too narrow to accommodate a wheelchair beside the car.

The parking space at the Simpang Pulai lay by with the signboard indicating it is for disabled people serves no purpose at all. The parking space is of the wrong dimension and too narrow for a wheelchair to be placed beside the car. As you may already be aware, MS1184 states that an accessible parking space must have a width of 3.60m.

The Ayer Keroh RSA has a ramp that is so steep that my wife had difficulty pushing me up the first section from the car park. As you may also be aware, the gradient for an outdoor ramp should not be steeper than 1:15. The ramps at the food court also posed a formidable barrier for wheelchair users to traverse due to their steep gradients.

The accessible toilets were located inside the gents and ladies. My wife was embarrassed that she had to accompany me into the gents to get into the toilet as they were some other men using the urinals. It would have been better to place the toilets separately like at Tapah RSA. Disabled people do travel with a companion of the opposite gender and may need their assistance in the toilet.

The gradient of the ramp to the car park was too steep for my wife to help me down. I had to seek the assistance of two Propel staff to assist me. Even then, they had problems holding on to my wheelchair to prevent it from rolling down too fast. I must commend them for their kindness. Unfortunately I did not get the names of these two Good Samaritans.

PLUS needs to look into these accessible facilities to ensure that they are usable by the people they were intended for. I suggest that an access audit be performed on these facilities to ensure that they comply with MS1184 and are safe for use by disabled people. Otherwise, these facilities may endanger the lives of disabled people who have no alternatives but to use it.

I trust PLUS will take the necessary actions to ensure that these facilities are functional and safe to use soonest possible. I hope to be able to use safe and functional accessible facilities the next time I travel on the expressways.

I look forward to a positive reply from you regarding this matter.

Thank you.

Regards,
Peter Tan

Malaysian Parliament Building Should Be MS 1184 Compliant

Peter Tan — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 01:00:29 +0000

The Parliament Building Malaysia.
Dated December 20, 2006.
Photo by Wuan.

The Malaysian Parliament building is the symbol of democracy. It is there that bills are debated and laws passed to protect the wellbeing of the people. It also represents the people’s collective aspirations as a nation where the rights of each citizen is respected. From afar, its unique exterior is as magnificient as it is imposing. I have always been in awe of this impressive edifice.

Of all places, I had expected the Parliament building to be barrier free as we have the law and the code of practice to regulate such amenities. I was dead wrong. It was at the tower block of the Parliament that I came face to face with a steep ramp two years ago. That was the only access for wheelchair users into the building. Wheelchair users will find it hard to go up the ramp unassisted on that gradient. While watching the video of UMNO Youth confronting Karpal Singh outside the Parliament building, I caught a glimpse of Karpal being pushed up that same ramp.

The steep ramp into the lift lobby of the tower block next to the Main Building of the Parliament.
Dated December 20, 2006.
Photo by Wuan.

There are a couple aspects of the ramp that are wrong. The ramp is too steep. It does not comply to the minimum 1:12 gradient as the specified in MS 1184: Code of Practice on Access for Disabled Persons to Public Buildings. The recommended height for the handrails on both side is between 840mm to 900mm. The Uniform Building By-law 34A (UBBL 34A) stipulates that all public buildings must comply to MS 1184. However, I was made aware that this by-law does not apply to government buildings. How ironic.

If the government is serious in making Malaysia accessible to disabled people, it should begin with the Parliament building. The existing ramp should be replaced with one that is in compliance with MS 1184. Parliament should take the lead in this matter. Otherwise, it is hypocritical to enforce the UBBL 34A when the very building where laws of the nation are made fall short of the accessibility standards required of others.