Shadows Collide with People

WHAT OTHER SKATE PARKS HAVE DONE?

2012-01-16T07:08:00.000-08:00

I think it's best I look for what others have done to keep their skate parks a safe environment both for skate park users and pedestrians/spectators.

I noticed that skate parks which make use of fences have the whole park enclosed. And there are a few possible reasons to this.

Operating hours. Skate parks are generally closed from 10 pm until the earlier part of the next day.
Beyond opening hours (lights out), skate park users have a tendency to still utilize the facilities in the park. Relevant authorities do not want to be held responsible for any injuries/death related to the use of the skate park facilities beyond operating hours.
Some skate parks require an entrance fee.
Age/height limit. Children who deemed too young or too small to use the facilities in the park are not allowed inside.

Incorporating this idea (fence) to Somerset Skate Park, the main reason for a fence is generally towards preventing pedestrians from getting hurt when walking across the skate park. And I've come to realize that even after 10 pm (lights out) many skate park users still continue using the skate park facilities. This is not only dangerous for them but also the lives of innocent pedestrians who only want to go from one point to another.

SITE ANALYSIS

2012-01-16T05:28:00.000-08:00

WHAT'S LACKING?

2012-01-16T03:40:00.000-08:00

A very interesting read about designing and constructing a skate park from scratch. (click on the link)

http://www.skateparkguide.com/design_basics.html

"A skatepark is an athletic facility. Designed and constructed specifically for skateboarders, in-line skaters and arguably freestyle BMX riders. It offers a place to congregate, relax and perform skills in a safe environment. Ideally, it should have a fence to protect spectators. Lighting is a great addition."

This is excerpt from the article.

Protect spectators

I suppose this can also include pedestrians who needs to cross the skate park 'as a shortcut' to wherever they are headed to!

Looking at the current situation in Somerset Skate Park, I don't see this aspect at all.

RESULT FROM THE INTERVIEWS

2012-01-16T03:33:00.000-08:00

Having interviewed quite a number of people (skate park users and non-skate park users) it is apparent that a problem about safety really is persistent. To be honest, it seems like the 'fear for one's safety' comes mostly from the pedestrians. Well, I can totally understand that. These group of people just want to go to work, get their jobs done and head back home. But the problem is that 'they have to worry' every time they walk across Somerset Skate Park.

It is also evident that skate park users, especially skateboarders, are more concerned about learning or landing a trick than their safety. And interestingly enough they also worry about pedestrians who are clueless about the dangers they face when they cross the skate park.

Listed below is the complete breakdown of this topic's main concern - pedestrian safety.

Time when the problem is at its worst - 5-8 PM. (Time when workers are headed to the MRT Station)
Days which the problem is at its greatest - weekdays.
Possible solutions presented by both skate park users and pedestrians - fencing the perimeter of the skate park, warning signs, a special pathway for pedestrians.

INTERVIEW WITH PEDESTRIANS

2012-01-15T10:39:00.000-08:00

It was really difficult to interview these group of people! Most of them barely had any time for an interview and actually thought I was selling them something. Ha-ha! I mentioned that it was about and for their safety when walking across the skate park. But still not much difference. They couldn't be really bothered.

This made me think for a while. If these people can't even be bothered to be interviewed about their safety, do they even bother about their safety at all?

Interviewee # 1

Sharmaine, 26 - Bank Teller

Q: Do you usually take this route?

A: Yes. This is the shortest route to the MRT Station.

Q: How difficult it is for you to walk across the skate park?

A: In the morning it's not really a problem but evening is when it gets really difficult. Too many skaters to look out for.

Q: How can the situation be improved?

A: Can I request for a specific pathway for pedestrians like me? Is that possible?

Interviewee #2

Wei Chiang, 29 - Works at a nearby restaurant

Q: Do you usually take this route?

A: Everyday! Morning and night.

Q: How difficult it is for you to walk across the skate park?

A: I'm already used to it. I got hit by a skateboard before. Painful!

Q: How can the situation be improved?

A: Barricade the skate park and give us a proper pathway.

Interviewee #3

Xiang Yun, 32 - Works at NTUC FairPrice

Q: Do you usually take this route?

A: Always. I work at the nearby supermarket.

Q: How difficult it is for you to walk across the skate park?

A: It took me some time to get used to it. I'm less afraid now to cross the skate park. It can get really dangerous at times, though. Especially at night time.

Q: How can the situation be improved?

A: Close down the skate park? ha-ha! Just kidding. I think pedestrians should be given their right of way.

Interviewee #4

Joshua, 16 - Student

Q: Do you usually take this route?

A: No specific amount of times. I frequently eat at the nearby chicken rice stall.

Q: How difficult it is for you to walk across the skate park?

A: Very difficult. I have to avoid getting hit by skaters and other people who use the park.

Q: How can the situation be improved?

A: I think the way where pedestrians are walking (current pathway) should be diverted.

Breakdown

In total, I was able to interview not more than 15 people. My initial thought that they don't fear for their safety was wrong. In fact, these group of people worry about their safety the most when it comes to crossing the skate park.

Most of them mentioned about current walkway provided for them which they deem as unsafe. Come to think of there is actually no specific walkway for them. It is more like an unspoken rule that skaters give way to pedestrians when they pass by.

All in all, most of whom I interviewed suggested that:

A special pathway be provided for them.
Fencing up the skate park.
Interestingly enough, a few also didn't want any improvement at all. (I suppose they've already gotten so used to playing 'life and death' with skate park users!)

INTERVIEW WITH SKATE PARK USERS

2012-01-15T09:24:00.000-08:00

Over the course of at least a month, I had the chance to speak to some people who regularly come to the skate park. Since I know many of them, it was easy asking them questions without making it seem like an interview.

Interviewee #1

Jablai, 18 - Singapore Police Force (NS)

Q: How often do you come here?

A: Before I started doing my National Service, I was here almost every day. But now, I can only come at most twice a week. Weekends mostly.

Q: The fact that pedestrians are allowed to walk across the skate park, what sort of problems does this bring?

A: I’ve seen pedestrians get their feet rolled over by skateboarders before. Some have been hit by drifted skateboards. Worst I saw was when a bmx rider crashed into a group of pedestrians. Needless to say, they all brought about unhappiness between both parties.

Q: Have you ever been confronted by pedestrian(s)?

A: A few times before. I just told them “if you they don’t wanna get hit, stay out of the park!”

Q: What do you think can be done to prevent pedestrians from walking across the skate park without affecting their convenience?

A: The skate park should be exclusively for skate park users only! No pedestrians crossing or whatever. I think the whole park should be closed up by fences.

*Jablai actually drew out for me the area where he thinks the fences should be.

Interviewee # 2

Jose, 17 - Fresh Secondary School Graduate

Q: How often do you come here?

A: Depends on my mood. But I skate here at least 4 times a week.

Q: The fact that pedestrians are allowed to walk across the skate park, what sort of problems does this bring?

A: A lot of problems. We have to keep a look out for them at all times, especially during the time when most office workers are going home. I don't understand why they don't want to use the safer way to the MRT station.

Q: Have you ever been confronted by pedestrian(s)?

A: Not confrontation really. It was more like 'angry look' at me sorta' thing.

Q: What do you think can be done to prevent pedestrians from walking across the skate park without affecting their convenience?

A: I think there should be a special pathway for them within the park's perimeter.

Interviewee #3

Muhd Idul, 18 - ITE Student
Q: How often do you come here?

A: Always. Sometimes I just come down to 'lepak.' *hang-out

Q: The fact that pedestrians are allowed to walk across the skate park, what sort of problems does this bring?

A: Some pedestrians get hit and of course they get angry! As usual skaters or other skate park users reply by saying something like "you shouldn't even be walking here!" There have been a few times that pedestrians fought with skateboarders.

Q: Have you ever been confronted by pedestrian(s)?

A: So far never. I confronted a few of though. That was when they gave me that 'stare.'

Q: What do you think can be done to prevent pedestrians from walking across the skate park without affecting their convenience?

A: I think somebody asked me this question before. Fence the park, please!

Interviewee #4

Daryl, 22 - University Student

Q: How often do you come here?

A: Almost everyday.

Q: The fact that pedestrians are allowed to walk across the skate park, what sort of problems does this bring?

A: You accidentally hit pedestrians they get angry. We react and get angry too. Next thing you know there's already an argument between you and that person. You know it too bro, when we try to land a trick we often have to wait for pedestrians to cross. Annoying, isn't it?

Q: Have you ever been confronted by pedestrian(s)?

A: I lost count already! But I ended just saying sorry to them. It's not worth fight over for.

Q: What do you think can be done to prevent pedestrians from walking across the skate park without affecting their convenience?

A: Bigger warning signs placed a few meters before they enter the park. Fence? or perhaps, a special route for them in the park since this is the shortest cut from that side (Singtel building side).

Breakdown

I had many more conversations with other skate park users during that course. Many of them mentioned that 'yes' it is in fact a problem that pedestrians are allowed cross the skate park. And it was also mentioned a lot of times that the problem is at its worst during the evening when workers are headed to the MRT Station or the nearest bus stop.

From the conversations I had with them, it is interesting to find out that they are actually more concerned about the safety of the pedestrians than theirs. I asked why and their replies were similar in nature. "We are used to falling and getting hurt, pedestrians aren't."

Most of them suggested: (in no particular order)

Fencing up the skate park perimeter
A designated pathway for pedestrians
Big warning signs

Now I wonder. Can I actually incorporate these 3 things together?

2012-01-14T21:41:00.000-08:00

The videos below will show you how it is like to cross the skate park from the perspective of a pedestrian. First video shows you the way from Somerset MRT to Singtel Building. And the second one, from Singtel Building to Somerset MRT.

At the beginning of the video you can see a skateboard blocking the way. So many wrong things can happen. Anyone who accidentally steps on it is in a lot of danger!
From 0:12 onward, that's the area where pedestrians usually get tangled with skateboarders.

The 'rainbow' rail which you can see at 0:07 is where a lot of pedestrians trip. This usually happens when they panic because a skateboarder is headed towards them and they lose their sense of direction.

2012-01-08T11:10:00.000-08:00

I can't help but think that the person who the designed the skate park disregarded the safety of pedestrians. Not to mention the inconvenience it creates to both skate park users and pedestrians every time they cross paths.

My bet is that the designer wasn't an extreme sport afficionado. Because otherwise he would have known the dangers of just simply walking in a skate park. For god's sake, it's a skate park! It's 'no walk in the park' when you have skateboarders coming at you at full speed, 'stray' skateboards that can hit you without warning or even worse a bmx rider who rides 'brakeless' coming at you with no way to stop!

The areas circled in red is where the problems generally occurs.
And the area circled in black is generally where the problem is most concentrated on.

SUBJECT: PEDESTRIAN SAFETY AT SOMERSET SKATE PARK

2012-01-08T10:43:00.000-08:00

*Skate park users may refer to skateboarders, longboarders, bmx riders, scooter riders, etc.

Being a regular visitor of Somerset Skate Park and a user of its facilities, I can't help but notice a persistent problem in the area. The safety of both the park users and the pedestrians are constantly at risk! To be honest, for years that I've been going there I haven't seen a slightest improvement with the situation.

So what risk am I actually talking about?

You see, non-skate park users are pretty much free to roam around the park. I'm talking about pedestrians. Pedestrians, who in my opinion are oblivious to the danger they are posing to themselves and the users of the park every time they walk across it.

Just what dangers do they actually face?

Getting knocked down by skateboarders, rollerbladers, bmx riders.
Tripping on skateboards, bmx (bicycles) and whatnot on the floor.
When skate park users cross paths with pedestrians and they feel that their safety is being compromised, the latter usually end up outraged. This is a very recipe for arguments/fights!
Numerous skate park users have a 'bad habit' of parking their motorcycles within the park's vicinity and sometimes even riding in the park. And accidents do happen! Not very good for both the skate park users and pedestrians.
Second-hand smoke. Let's face it, smoking is part and parcel of life in the skate park. Although, it doesn't directly affect safety, the health of non-smokers of both non-skate park and skate park users is affected.

The list of dangers within the skate park is really long but I feel that these are the main problems that need special attention.