Wheelchair Access Blocked

The above photo was taken this afternoon (July 23, 2014) at the gate in front of the State Art Gallery at Dewan Sri Pinang. I was prevented from entering the compound because of the bars built recently. I am a regular visitor to this art gallery. My most recent visit was on June 10, 2014. The gate was still accessible then. I asked around and apparently the bars were built to prevent motorcyclists from parking their motorcycles inside the compound. This again is another example where wheelchair access was blocked because of the abuse by motorcyclists. Someone up there is really very unfair. He should take action against the wrong doers. Instead, he took the easy way out by building these bars.

Below are two photos showing the gate before and after the gate was blocked. 

From Bus Stop To Shopping Mall Entrance

I did this photo documentation in Nov 2013. It traced the route from a bus stop in front of Queensbay Mall to its southern entrance. I am not saying that this is the best example of a wheelchair access route. But comparing to many other places where there is no connecting route at all, it is still useful for many wheelchair users. This example shows the importance of continuous route for wheelchair users.

I could not find any step ramp / kerb ramp at the kerb. I am not sure if there should be one (I mean basing on the guidelines of Malaysian Standards). The problem with step ramp is motorcyclists tend to abuse it to go up to the kerb and drive on walkways. But it is necessary for wheelchair users when the bus could not park beside the kerb and the wheelchair users have to disembark on the road. They need step ramp to go up the kerb. (See above photos.)

The above are two photos of the ramp that connects the pavement to the motorway in front of the mall. This ramp is useful to wheelchair users who take bus but also the elderly. But I think the authority should make this ramp better by installing handrails at both sides. That cannot be too expensive and it will benefit a lot of people.

The above photos show how a wheelchair user can enter the mall by the long ramp beside the entrance (follow the yellow arrows). Unfortunately I forgot to take a good photo of the ramp. But if you go there, you will find the ramp to be quite adequate.

Padang Kota Lama Food Court : Problem Solved

In a post dated July 8, 2013, I highlighted a wheelchair access problem at Padang Kota Lama Food Court (click link HERE). I visited the food court yesterday and was very happy to see that the authority had solved the problem. I was unable to visit the place often but I believe that the problem must have been solved for quite sometime already. I wish to thank the authority for the prompt response. I also wish to encourage wheelchair users to visit this famous and beautiful food court. It is really a must go place if you like Penang food.

The above photo was taken in June last year. The photo below was taken yesterday.

A Lesson For Planning Disabled Access

The above photos were taken at the northern entrance of Queensbay Mall. One can learn about the importance of planning from these photos. I give credit to the management of the building for providing a reasonably good ramp that leads to the entrance. But alas, they forgot to make a step ramp in the original design. So a temporary step ramp was made to allow wheelchair users to reach the front porch from the street.

The problem with this temporary fixture is that it has deteriorated with time. When I checked it during my visit on Nov 2, 2013, heavy wear and tear had caused the step ramp to misalign with the edge of the podium. (See above photo). A better approach is to provide a step ramp at the location suggested in the following photo.

There are two types of step ramps (see drawings below). Type A is actually not very good and often built as an addition to a forgotten plan.

I prefer type B, because it is less obstructive and takes up less space.

The moral of this story is that good planning is important for disabled access. If the management had planned for a step ramp in the original design, the temporary step ramp would not have been necessary.

Below is a short video about the correct way to build a type B step ramp. Click HERE.

Designing A Wheelchair Gate

In Penang, many motorcyclists often take advantage of the ramps to enter places that are not meant for them. They would enter hawker centers or pedestrian walkways by using the ramps meant for the disabled. The problem is so rampant that often the authority has to resort to placing chains across the ramps to stop these thoughtless people. I believe we can overcome this problem by building a wheelchair gate near the entry or exit point of a ramp.

A wheelchair gate (see drawings above) is a simple structure that allows wheelchair user to get through but not motorcycle. It is based on the principle that a motorcycle is much longer than a wheelchair and thus requires a larger turning radius. 

You can use any material to make wheelchair gate as long as the passage way is big enough for a wheelchair and too small for a motorcycle to turn inside. I think you can even arrange big flower pots following the layout plan below. The dimension given here is based on the space needed for a wheelchair to pass through a passage way.

You can find a video of wheelchair gate HERE. The wheelchair gate is located at MPPP’s “Turn Key” project at Patani Road, Penang.

KFC Outlet At Jalan Mesjid Negeri

KFC converted an old bangalow at Jalan Mesjid Negeri (Green Lane) into a 24 hour drive-thru. I checked the outlet on Apr 3rd, 2014. Here is a brief report.

I think KFC has made an effort to make the place wheelchair friendly. I had no problem moving my wheelchair up the gentle slope to the main entrance (photo above).  Once inside, on my left is a flight of stairs that lead to the first floor. Turn right you will see this corridor (photo below). Go straight ahead if you wish to order food. Turn left if you want to go to the toilet for persons with disabilities.

I must say that the toilet is quite good by Penang's standard. (I mean comparing it with other toilets for persons with disabilities in Penang.) But I discovered that it does not have a mirror. I also do not like the bin that is unsuitable for people with limited legs and feet movements.

The eating area is bright and spacious. The chairs are not the fix-to-the-floor type which I hate. I would recommend you to visit this place if you want to eat KFC.

TNB Office at Anson Road

I was at Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) office at Anson Road yesterday. Here is my brief report.

Wheelchair access is completely ignored in this building. Although there is a ramp (see photo below) that links ground floor to first floor, the ramp is NOT designed with wheelchair users in mind. It is too steep and too long. Unsuitable to most wheelchair users.

I parked my car at the multi-storey car park and I  could  of see any car park for disabled drivers. I did not encounter any barrier from my car to the lift lobby.The guard I talked to later confirmed that there is no car park for disabled drivers.

The customer service office is located at level two. I took the above photo immediately after I stepped out from the lift. Go straight is the service office of TNB. Turn left and you will go to the toilet.

As expected, there is no toilet for persons with disabilities. However, I discovered that the VIP toilet that is big enough for wheelchair users (see photo below). It is reasonably big and a step ramp was built at the door edge. With some very minor improvements, this toilet can be easily converted into one of wheelchair users. I could not understand why TNB did not do that.

TNB is a very big corporation in Malaysia. Like most of the big Malaysian corporations, facilities and services to persons with disabilities are unimportant to them. These corporations often say that they are good corporate citizens. But their actions often do not reflect what they preach.