In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, it's easy to overlook the small details that make a big difference in our daily routines. Singapore's MRT system is a lifeline for many commuters, offering a fast and efficient way to navigate the city.
While we may be familiar with the basic amenities of these stations, several citizen-centric features might go unnoticed.
Have you noticed, for example, that for all MRT stations on the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL), the lift buttons are back-lit in blue until they are pressed? They then turn a contrasting red, helping to verify that the correct button has been pressed.
“Lift interiors are mostly in stainless steel, providing little colour contrast. For some people, it can be challenging to identify the right buttons and ascertain whether the button has actually been activated. Backlit buttons that change colour when pressed provide assurance to commuters that they have pressed the right button,” says Ms Tan Swee Lin, Deputy Director (Architecture) at the Land Transport Authority (LTA).
The MRT system is designed to be inclusive and accessible to people of all backgrounds and abilities. To better serve commuters, Swee Lin’s team actively works with Social Service Agencies (SSAs) and commuters to understand the needs of commuters with different abilities.
Accessibility for All
Several stations such as Bishan, Bedok, Outram Park and Chinatown have escalator safety reminders in dialects like Hokkien and Cantonese. This caters to the older population that frequents these stations, allowing them to feel comfortable navigating the stations and injecting a sense of familiarity.
For newer stations on the TEL, exits are labelled with numbers instead of letters. Numbers are universally recognised by people with different primary languages and this makes navigation easier for a diverse range of commuters.
With newer stations having more exits, it is also easier for commuters to look for a numbered exit when signs show a range of numbers, compared to letters.