Earlier something nearing the end of July 2020, LTA (Land Transport Authority of Singapore) announced that there is a code of conduct for pedestrians. Hmm…okay….Initially, I was kind of like – Do we really need something like that. As a human, common sense will prevail. You know, e-scooters, mobility devices and all things including cars and bicycle are at fault all the time.

Annoyingly and also partially true, pedestrians do cause some of these issues similar to what these personal mobility devices does. So, eventually I read and I came to terms with the new code of conduct (It is not a rule or regulation) but a recommended code. So fair enough, if you have one for everyone sharing the footpath, there need to be one for the pedestrians.

Sharing FootPath Sensibly

But truth be told, when there wasn’t such devices available back then. All humans walked on pavements and not watching a show/movie on their devices. Frankly, it is annoying – How are people watching shows while walking on the pavements and crossing the road. It is akin to someone who lights up and walks in front of you. There is just no regards for anyone around you. Since I was young, I was often told to be alert when walking and when I was really young, I had to be yanked back from a traffic light pedestrian crossing by my aunt because a car wanted to beat the red lights.

The smart phone is and will be the greatest invention in the history of mankind. The way you can use a handheld computer in the form of a mobile is just pure genius but that in the same sense has made life and our lifestyle extremely different. Sure enough, it makes it better to avoid awkward silence when you see someone you don’t really know very well in a public space. To a certain extent, I’m sure we are all guilty of using the phone as an excuse not to see someone on the streets.

But the real issue here is that people stop talking to each other. People stop doing stuffs that communicate with one another (like looking into the faces and chatting meaningfully) Tech and gaming companies are going to grow even bigger. The Chinese Tech firms are just bringing that addiction to the next level. I can’t really say that it is a bad thing.

People actually like certain genre of stuffs (Facebook, Snapchat, Tiktok, Instagram and plenty more), it even create a different industry of jobs/entrepreneurship) – so it isn’t a bad thing but eventually anything excessive is. Even work counts – I would say.

Summary

In Summary the pedestrian code of conduct and simply put:

a. Use the footpath and pedestrian crossing whenever possible.

b. Pedestrian to keep left at all times. That is fair, we are a right-hand drive.

c. Stay alert and avoid operating mobile communications and/or other functions (Listening to music) in a way that preventive of dangers that may creep up to you or in front of you.

Click here to read the actual code of conduct: (https://www.lta.gov.sg/content/dam/ltagov/getting_around/active_mobility/rules_public_education/rules_code_of_conduct/pdf/am_coc.pdf)

Will anyone read it? Yes. Will many read it? No. Will anyone obey it? Probably, after many years. Nothing will change habits and these are too harsh to be implemented as rules. The Pioneer and Merdeka generation wouldn’t really give a damned though. Mobile phone usage has become more widespread and the result from distracted walking will eventually be accidents occurring more frequently.

The whole idea is to continue to engage and educate the public on how all can play a part in building “a safer and more responsible path-sharing environment”, hopefully people become more gracious over time.

Disclaimer

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The pictures were taken from LTA website for this article.