Lone Pine Hotel, Penang

I visited Lone Pine Hotel on 29th May 2012 and was disappointed with its disabled access. Here are some of the major issues.

1, The toilet for disabled people was not designed in accordance to Malaysian standards. There should be a flip-up Grab Bar beside the toilet bowl but it was not there. (See photo below). The basin was also to high for a wheelchair-users (not following the standard). (See photo below.)

Saya melawati Lone Pine Hotel pada 29 May 2012. Saya kecewa dengan kemudahan akses oku yang disediakan di sini. Beberapa isu utama dikemukakan.

1. Tandas oku yang disediakan tidak menepati dan mematuhi piawaian Malaysia. Sepatutnya menyediakan “grab bar” di tepi tandas mangkuk ini tetapi ia tiada disediakan di sini. (Merujuk gambar bawahan). Basin/lembangan yang dianggap tinggi untuk penggunaan orang yang berkerusi roda (ia tidak mengikuti piawaian Malaysia). (Lihat gambar di bawah.)

在2012年五月29日我走访Lone Pine Hotel。对于这儿残障的设施我感到失望。这里提出了几个重点。

1． 无障碍的厕所并没有符合马来西亚残障手册。理应在厕盘旁提供正确的扶把，但是这儿并没有（请参阅以下的图片）。对于轮椅者洗手盘太高（它没有根据马来西亚残障手册）。（请参阅以下的图片）

2, The ramp leading to its restaurant was too steep. Again not following the gradient specified in Malaysian Standards. (See photo below).

2. Ramp yang menuju ke restoran adalah terlalu curam. Sekali lagi tidak mengikut kecerunan yang dinyatakan dalam piawaian Malaysia. (Lihat gambar di bawah).

2． 向往旅馆斜坡太斜。再次它没有按照。（请参阅以下的图片）

3, The toilet for disabled people is "hidden" inside a bar. "Hidden" because there were no signage indicating its location. On top of that, the bar is not accessible because of a step. I also feel that having a disabled people's toilet inside a bar is not very sensitive to disabled people who are Muslim. (See photos below.)

3. Tandas untuk oku itu "tersembunyi" di dalam bar. "Tersembunyi" kerana tiada papan tanda yang menunjukkan lokasi tersebut. Selain itu, bar itu tidak boleh diakses kerana terdapat halangan “step”. Saya juga berasa bahawa menyediakan tandas oku di dalam bar tidak sesuai terhadap oku yang beragama Islam. (Lihat gambar di bawah).

3． 无障碍厕所“被藏”在酒吧里头。 “被藏”因为没有标示表显示它的位置。除此之外，这间酒吧的入口有梯级不便于轮椅者。我也觉得把厕所设在酒吧里会对穆斯林残障者造成不便。（请参阅以下的图片 

Not So Caring People 2

I was shocked to see 4 persons coming out from this toilet for disabled people. I had to wait long for them. I hope they were not doing funny thing inside.

Access Route Must Not Be Broken

I visited JPJ office of Penang island recently (April, 2012) and discovered that the people in charged have attempted to make the place disabled friendly. The guard automatically opened the gate for my car to go into the compound as soon as I told him I am disabled. (Other people had to park their cars outside and walked in.)    In the past, he most probably would have to intercom his boss for approval before he opened the gate. So there was an improvement.

I discovered that there were two disabled people's car parks just next to the office entrance. Ramps were there to enable wheelchair user to go right to the entrance. But, then right in front of the entrance is a step that prevents a wheelchair user from entering the office (see top photo where I mark "X"). This is the classic example of "broken access route" and very common in Penang. To solve this problem, I suggest JPJ should instal a ramp at the entrance (see bottom photo.)

Due to lack of time, I did not check if there is a toilet for wheelchair user.

Baru-baru ini (April, 2012), saya melawati pejabat JPJ Pulau Pinang dan mendapati bahawa orang yang bertugas di sini cuba membuat tempat di situ mesra oku. Penggawa pintu membuka pintu gerbang secara automatik untuk membolehkan kereta saya memasuki dengan segera apabila saya memberitahunya saya merupakan oku. (orang lain perlu meletakkan kenderaan di luar dan menjalan kaki untuk memasuki pejabat). Pada masa yang lalu,beliau kemungkinan besar perlu menghubungi bosnya untuk mendapat kelulusan sebelum membuka pintu pagar. Jadi ini merupalan suatu kemajuan.

Saya mendapati terdapat dua tempat letak kereta oku di sebelah pintu masuk pejabat. Di pintu masuk pejabat ini terdapat kemudahan “ramp” dapat memudahkan kemasukan orang yang berkerusi roda. tetapi halangan “step” di depan pintu menyekat kemasukan orang yang berkerusi roda pula (melihat pada gambar atas yang saya tandakan “X”). Ini merupakan contoh klasik yang menunjukkan “broken access route” dan ia merupakan perkara yang biasa berlaku di Pulau Pinang. Saya mencadangkan JPJ perlu memasang “ramp” di pintu masuk (lihat 

gambar di bawah.) untuk menyelesaikan masalah tersebut.

Disebabkan kesuntukan masa, saya tidak memeriksa sama ada terdapat tandas untuk penggunaan orang yamg berkerusi roda disediakan.

最近，我走访了槟城的JPJ。我察觉到负责人尽量把这儿的地方友善于残障者。当我告诉他我是残障者时，看门员立刻打开篱笆门让我的车子驾驶进去。（其它人只能把他们的车子停泊在外头和走进去）。过去，有可能他必须先通知他的阿头以便得到上司的允许才可打开电门。所以，这是个进展。

我察觉到这儿就在靠近办公室的进口设有两个残障的停车场。也设有斜坡以方便残障者出入。但是，美中不足的是在办公室面前的进口出有梯级的阻挡防碍了轮椅者的出入（请查阅上面有打有“X”型的照片）。这是古典版“垄断无障碍连环道”的典范。这也是常常发生在槟岛的环境。为了解决这个难题，我建议应该在这个入门口设有斜坡。（请查阅下面的照片）。

因为时间上的紧凑，我并没有检验到底有没有无障碍的厕所。

Wheelchair route is marked by red arrows, "X" is where the route is broken.

Laluan kerusi roda ditandakan dengan anak panah merah, "X" di mana laluan itu menghalang laluan kepada orang yamg berkerusi roda.

轮椅者的行道显示在打叉的符号，而这就是被斩断的行道。

The a ramp is proposed here to overcome the broken route.

Ini merupakan “ramp” yang perlu dipasangkan untuk menyelesaikan halangan laluan bagi orang yang berkerusi roda.

斜坡应设在这个位置防止阻道。

A Not So Caring People

I don't mind an elderly person using toilets for disabled person. But a young healthy person, like the one in this video, should not have used this toilet.

Toilet (WC) For Disabled People

Although there are many disabled people's toilets in Penang, most are not up to the requirements specified by Malaysian Standards, (at least not at the moment that I write this post). I noticed that many hotels, shopping centers and public buildings were not stingy, in both money and space, when they built these toilets. But sadly, many of these toilets just missed many of the subtleties required by the standards. I believe most people still do not know how to build a proper toilet for disabled people and hope this post can help them.

Important points to remember:

1. Toilet size should not be smaller than 1600 mm X 2000 mm. It must have enough space for wheelchair to manoeuvre inside.

2. Toilet sign must be clearly visible. Only internationally adopted symbol should be used.

3. The doors should be either of the sliding or outward-opening type.

4. Floor should not be slippery.

5. There must be knee space clearance under the basins.

6. Mirrors must be big enough so that it is usable by people who sit on wheelchair.

7. Door locks and taps should not be of the types that require pinching, tight grasping and fine finger control.

8. An emergency call button should be provided.

9. Doors should be of the type that can be opened from outside in case of emergency.

10. Layout and fixtures must be standardized so that people with visual impairment can find the paper, sink and place to flush the toilet.

Here is a layout plan of a good toilet.

Here is the side view of a good toilet (dimensions given in mm).

The three dimensional drawing below shows what the toilet should look like. Please note how the accessories are arranged together.

Why doors should either be sliding or open outward.

The drawing above shows the space needed for a wheelchair to manoeuvre inside the toilet. The wheelchair needs to turn 360 degree as well as to park beside the toilet bowl. Sliding doors or outward-opening doors maximise the space inside the toilet.

The photograph above shows why a wheelchair user is unable to shut the toilet door that open inward.

What are flip-up grab bars? Why are they important?

Flip-up grab bar is a grab bar that can flip up and down (see photos above). It must be able to flip-up to allow a person to transfer from his/her wheelchair to the toilet bowl (see drawings below).

Step 1: Wheelchair user positions his wheelchair beside the toilet bowl. The grab bar is in original position – down.

Step 2: Wheelchair user flips up the grab bar. The grab bar is no longer obstructing him from transferring to the toilet bowl.

Step 3: The wheelchair user transfers to toilet bowl. (The flip-up bar is still up.)

Step 4: The wheelchair user flips down the grab bar and sits securely on the toilet bowl.

This is the plan view of why a flip-up grab bar is important.

Here are some examples of unsuitable grab bars.

Right and wrong ways of fixing grab bars to the wall.

The above drawing shows the correct way (see the red arrow). The drawing below shows the wrong way (see the red arrow). Please note the verticle grab bar in relation to the sitting person. The grab bar must be reachable to the sitting person. It should not be far back and thus not reachable by the sitting person.

Here are examples of correctly fixed grab bars.

Here are examples of wrongly fixed grab bars.

The photo above shows a good example of a verticle grab bar that cannot be reached if a person is sitting on the toilet bowl. The photo below shows an example of a completely missing vertical grab bar.

Basins should have knee clearance.

The photo above shows an example of a basin with knee clearance. The photo below shows an example of a basin that is without knee clearance. A wheelchair user has problem getting close to the latter type of basin.

Suitable and unsuitable mirrors.

The photo above shows a mirror and can be used by a wheelchair use. The photo below shows a mirror that is too high for wheelcheel user.

Rubbish bins that use foot peddles to operate are unsuitable.

The simple rubbish bin in the photo above serves it purpose better than the rubbish bin in the photo below. Many people with disabilities do not have the ability to step on the peddle to open the lid of such rubbish bin.

Taps and door handles that do not require pinching, tight grasping and fine finger control.

Some people with disabilities have limited finger control, lever-type taps and door handles (as shown in photos above) are more suitable for them than those shown in photos below.

There is a need to standardize all toilets.

Toilet design must be standardized for people with visual impairment and people with learning disabilities. Any person can find the lever in the photo above (see red arrow). But in the photo below (see red arrow), the flush lever is located at an unusual place.

Notes: The specifications given here are based on:

1, Guidelines On Buildings Requirements For Disabled Persons, Bahagian Kawalan Bangunan, Jabatan Kerajaan Tempatan, Kementerian Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan, Malaysia, November 1999.

2, Malaysian Standard MS 1184.

Red Rock Hotel

Red Rock Hotel has a popular Chinese restaurant at level 2 (first floor). If a wheelchair user goes there, then she must be prepared for a very unfriendly environment.

There is a step ramp in front of the hotel's main entrance. But it was haphazardly built and probably meant more for heavy luggage than for wheelchairs. Further more, it was partially blocked by the bell service table (see video).

As you enter the hotel lobby, you will see that there is a very small lift on the left and a coffee house on the right. A poorly designed toilet for the disabled is located along the corridor next to the coffee house. There is no sign indicating the location of this toilet. I found it by accident the last time I was in the hotel.

It is not easy going to this toilet. First you have to enter the toilet, that means taking a step down. (In the video you will see that I turn my wheelchair around so that I can use the bigger hind wheels to go down. That is a safe way of going down a step.) Then I have to turned a very tight corner, before I can find the toilet for the disabled.

The toilet is rather small and without any extra fittings that are needed by disabled people. To me, it is not a toilet for disabled people. Placing the universal disabled logo on the toilet door is a sere abuse of the logo.

The worst problem comes when a wheelchair user wants to leave the toilet. How to overcome the step at the entrance? My advice to any wheelchair user who wants to use this toilet is to ask two (yes TWO) persons to assist you. You need one person hold the door open from the outside, the other help you to turn the tight corner and tilt your wheelchair so that the front wheels could get on to the step. Then the person behind you needs to help lift up your wheelchair and push you forward on to the higher level. No wheelchair user should go to this toilet all by herself.

(Note: The toilet (I only know the men's toilet) at the Chinese restaurant (at first floor) is hopelessly impossible for wheelchair user.)

Traders Hotel (with translations)

If you go to Traders Hotel by car, please remember that there is no lift at the basement car parks. A wheelchair user has to get down at the car porch in front of the lobby.

There is no car park for disabled driver, but the guard will let you park at the VIP car parks (in front of the hotel) if you request for it.

The step ramp that leads to the lobby is very poorly designed. The slope is very steep and it is also not wide enough. (For more information about step ramp / kerb ramp, please click HERE.) This video below shows the difference between a good and a bad kerb ramp.

When Traders Hotel was first opened in the mid 80s, it was known as Shangri-la Inn. The hotel has not changed much since then.The hotel was probably the first one in Penang to provide a toilet for the disabled. But unfortunately, the toilet remained the same until today. After more than twenty-five years, and with so many new hotels providing better designed disabled people's toilet, I was quite surprised that the management has done nothing to improve it. I think the needs of the disabled are still at the bottom of their priority list.

(如果你驾车或坐车到Traders Hotel，请记住在地下室的停车场没设电梯。 轮椅者需在大厅前的车门廊下车。

这儿没设残障者的停车位，如你有要求看管员将允许你把车子停放在VIP的停车位（在酒店门前）。

通往大厅的斜坡是道非常差劲的设计。通道的斜度非常倾斜和它的广度不够。（为了知道更多关于坡道，请点击这里）这个视频显示好与不好的斜道的差别。

当Traders Hotel第一次在80年中开幕时，它的称号是Shangri-la Inn。这间酒店和以往一样一成不变。它有可能是第一家在槟城提供残障者的厕所。但是，非常不幸倒是这儿的厕所到今天为此依然不变。超过25 年过后，目睹很多酒店都能提供很好的无障碍厕所，我很惊讶为何这儿酒店的管理层并没有做些改善。 我想残障者的基本需求依然被排在优先级列表的最尾端.)

(Jika kamu memandu atau menaiki kereta ke Trader Hotel, sila ingat di sini tempat letak kereta yang berada di bawah tanah tiada lif. Pengguna kerusi roda perlu turun di anjung tempat kereta yang berada di hadapan lobi.

Tiada tempat letak kereta untuk pemandu OKU, tetapi penjaga akan mengizinkan kamu meletak kereta di tempat letak kereta VIP jika kamu ada meminta izin untuk membuat demikian.

Ramp yang menghala ke lobi adalah sangat teruk sekali reka bentuknya. Cerun/slope terlalu curam dan keluasannya tidak mencukupi. ( untuk mengetahui lebih banyak maklumat mengenai step ramp / kerb ramp, sila klik sini.) Rakaman di bawah menunjukkan perbezaan antara kerb ramp yang bagus dan tidak bagus.

Apabila pembukaan Trader Hotel pada pertengahan 80s, ia dikenal sebagai Shangri-la Inn . Hotel ini tidak banyak perubahannya sejak pembinaannya. Hotel ini mungkin merupakan hotel pertama di Pulau Pinang yang menyediakan tandas OKU. Tetapi malangnya tandas di sini masih sama pada hari ini. Selepas lebih daripada 25 tahun, terdapat banyak hotel memperuntukan reka bentuk tandas OKU yang sesuai, saya sangat terkejut bahawa pihak pengurusan di sini tidak mengambil tindakan untuk mengubahsuainya. Saya rasa keperluan utama OKU masih diketepikan atau masih ditinggalkan di bawah senarai keutamaan mereka.)