Thursday, September 3, 2009

"Fall" Proof

I know this is old news for some, but I just now saw them. I realize I'm usually a little behind. It's like my thing.

These are the safety doors that are being installed at every single above-ground MRT station across Singapore. The whole project will cost S$126 million once it's all said and done.

The reason?

To prevent people from falling on the tracks.

Ah hem.

Falling?

If that's what they're calling jumping these days, then I guess I'm really behind.

These things are less than 5 feet tall. If someone wanted to "fall" bad enough, they're gonna get the job done.

Oh and don't worry, in case someone does decide to "fall", they're also installing cameras to detect such people.

Great idea.

There'll be no question over who to fine then.

Good luck collecting that payment.

18 comments:

Brad Farless said...

Hi hi Megan! I actually wrote two articles about this last month. He he he.

In the first one, I was talking about public opinion of the half-height doors, and in the second one I have a picture of the ones at Pasir Ris MRT station, along with a cute story about a fat and skinny woman, and the lines on the floor.

From what I read I think this is mostly to prevent the suicides. My favorite part was where the MRT issued a statement saying not something about regretting the loss of life, but that each "fall" to the tracks resulted in approximately one to two hours of downtime and that it should be prevented.

Megan said...

Ah! I knew I was behind. I'm always the last to know.

Brad Farless said...

I found it right away because they happen to be at the MRT station here.

TURIKE said...

this is a very funny (err, sarcastic I mean) post. Keep on blogging. by the way, can u make a post about molesters? I just got molested last week :(

Megan said...

What?! Molested?! What's the story behind that?

Brad Farless said...

Wow. You mean people really get molested here? On the train? I had no idea. I thought that only happened in Japanese porn flicks.

Sorry to hear about that Turike.

TC said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Brad Farless said...

I can agree with that. In most places in the US, if you're an adult and you don't have your own car, you've failed at life, because a car can be bought (an old used one) for about 1000 USD if you really shop around, so there's no excuse really.

Besides that, in most parts of the country, if you don't have a car there's just no way to get around. You couldn't even get to work without one.

New York City on the other hand is the complete opposite. If you own your own vehicle in NYC it's almost viewed with contempt, since you're contributing to noise and air pollution. It's just not practical for the average person either. You have to pay for parking there and on a month to month basis it can cost you about 700 bucks. That was when I checked in 2004.

When we move back to the US it'll be to NYC, so it won't be much of a change for us, except that the public transportation in NYC is, on average, a hell of a lot dirtier. The insides of the train usually don't smell bad though. Not much more than the subway tunnels themselves do anyway, which ain't saying much.

TC said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Brad Farless said...

Yes, social climbing is prevalent in NYC, but there are regular people that live there as well, and those are the people that really interest me. I don't put much stock in arrogant, showy people. I like people that keep it real. The "high life" doesn't really appeal to me. I do like to succeed, and don't mind striving to succeed, but I also don't want to be one of those party whores that try to latch onto so-called social elites.

As for what you said about all nationalities being there, and it really having no bearing on how you succeed, that is for the most part true. There's still a little racism here and there, but nowhere near as much as what you might face in the south, or the midwest. Southern California and New York City are good about that.

I'm very much looking forward to getting back there, because you can find anything you want in NYC. And there are plenty of job opportunities.

TC said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Brad Farless said...

I don't care what anyone says. Cloverfield was a damn good movie.

TURIKE said...

Yeah all, I got molested HERE in SINGAPORE, just outside Bugis MRT! Can you believe it? A dark-skinned guy (malay, bangla?)approached me and tried getting to know me and err, tried touching me. Lucky I'm taller and bigger than him. In the end I screamed out loud... and nobody helped me! Dang! I wrote about it in my blog :
http://turike-diva.blogspot.com/2009/09/on-civility-tipping-hostile-waitress.html

Brad Farless said...

I'll check your link out, but I'm not surprised that no one came to help you. Most people just want to mind their own business and don't want to get mixed up in something potentially dangerous. it takes a rare person to stand up for a stranger. On top of that, Singaporeans seem to have an aversion for involvement with the police, instead opting to "write to the forum". Still don't know what that is.

TC said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Brad Farless said...

I suppose, but then there are other times when you should realize you're the one that screwed up, man up and mumble a quick "sorry" or "pardon me" and keep going. Where the kid messed up is when he tried to look tough.

As for the Straits Times forum, I guess I'll take a look at it, though after what you said I doubt I'll find much that's inspiring. Is STOMP where all the Straits Times forum rejects wind up?

TC said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Brad Farless said...

And retards too, judging by some of the comments...