Honestly, I am damn frustrated and dynamic-level angry right now.
My dad is already an elderly man. He’s old, his knees aren’t great, and he walks slow. Going to the nearby neighbourhood coffeeshop used to be his only daily routine—just to buy his Kopi O Siew Dai, read the papers, and talk cock with his friends. It was his only social outlet. But now? He refuses to step out of the house completely. All because he is absolutely terrified of getting knocked down by Personal Mobility Devices (PMDs) and e-bikes.
He literally told me yesterday that he is done going out. The reason? He has had so many narrow escapes with these reckless riders that it has traumatized him. Just last week, he was walking along the covered walkway, and out of nowhere, one food delivery guy on an e-scooter zoomed past him from behind, missing his shoulder by literally a few inches. No bell, no warning, nothing. My dad lost his balance, almost fell into the drain, and the rider just sped off like it was nothing. This wasn’t a one-off thing; it’s happened multiple times. Every single time he goes out, he has to keep looking over his shoulder like he’s in some action movie, except he’s a fragile senior citizen who cannot react fast enough if someone hurtles towards him at 25 km/h.
It makes me so sad and angry. Our pathways are supposed to be safe for everybody, especially the vulnerable. But right now, the silver generation is being prisoners in their own homes because these self-entitled riders treat pedestrian paths like their personal F1 racing tracks. If an old person falls down, it’s not just a simple bruise, you know? It can mean a hip fracture, operations, and a fast decline in health.
What is the point of having all the laws, fines, and active mobility rules if there is zero enforcement on the ground? Everyday you still see these modified, heavy-duty monsters flying down narrow pavements. Now my dad just sits at home looking out the window. His world has shrunk to just four walls because he scare walk outside. Really bo pian and totally ridiculous. LTA and TP, please do something concrete before more old folks get seriously hurt!