A taxi driver who stopped to collect nasi lemak in Sembawang found himself in a confrontation after allegedly discovering several traffic cones being used to reserve roadside parking spaces.
The incident took place at around 10pm on Sunday, 9 August, along the Sembawang Road area. The taxi driver said he moved one of the cones so that he could park his vehicle before heading to a nearby nasi lemak shop, but was allegedly confronted by a man who claimed the road was private property belonging to a bar.
The driver, 48-year-old Chen Shunming, told Chinese-language media Shin Min Daily News that he regularly visits the nasi lemak shop, sometimes three or four times a week. On the night in question, he said the area was particularly busy, with many customers visiting the eatery during the National Day weekend.
According to Chen, several traffic cones had been placed along the roadside, effectively preventing motorists from parking there. He decided to move one of them so that he could stop temporarily and collect his food.
Bar staff allegedly challenged driver over parking space
Chen claimed that a man subsequently emerged from the nearby bar and scolded him for moving the cone. The man allegedly told him that the road belonged to the bar and questioned why he had interfered with the cones.
The taxi driver said he responded that the road appeared to be a public road and asked the man to provide evidence that it was privately owned. Instead, Chen alleged that the man challenged him to contact the authorities if he disagreed.
Chen said he became angry and called the police. However, by the time officers arrived, the man had already left the area.
Photographs provided by Chen reportedly showed six traffic cones positioned near a junction, while several vehicles were parked further along the road. When the area was visited several days later, there were no marked parking lots at the location, although vehicles were still parked along one side of the road.
Businesses say cone problem has been happening for months
The roadside dispute appears to have been part of a wider parking issue in the area. Nearby businesses reportedly said parking along the stretch had long been problematic, although motorists generally left enough room for traffic to pass through.
However, some business operators said the use of traffic cones to reserve spaces had become more noticeable in recent months.
A 32-year-old manager of a nearby Indian restaurant claimed that the bar’s staff would place cones outside the premises every evening when the establishment opened. If a vehicle was already parked there, the staff would reportedly wait until it left before putting the cones down.
He said the practice had also affected his customers because they had fewer places to park when visiting nearby businesses.
Another employee said the situation was less disruptive during the daytime because the bar was closed, meaning the cones were generally not being used to reserve spaces.
Bar staff says cones were only temporary
A bar employee identified as Mr Ye gave a different account of the incident.
He acknowledged that the parking spaces were public rather than privately owned. However, he said the cones were placed temporarily because customers with reservations had informed the bar that they would be arriving later.
Mr Ye said members of the public could simply move the cones if they needed to park and claimed the bar had never prevented anyone from using the spaces.
He also denied having arguments with motorists over the issue.
The dispute highlights a common source of tension in busy Singapore neighbourhoods, where limited roadside parking can become particularly contentious around popular eateries and nightlife establishments. While businesses may want to ensure convenient access for their customers, public parking spaces cannot simply be treated as private property.
For motorists, the incident is also a reminder that moving an obstruction can quickly escalate into a confrontation when ownership or parking rights are disputed. Calling the relevant authorities may be a safer option than getting into a prolonged argument on the roadside.