Abstract
This book delves into the topic of walkability in the built environment of Singapore. It explores how the state has dealt with the challenges and trade-offs in shaping a walkable city. One of the most persistent urban problems in Singapore, as well as other large cities worldwide, is the issue of space and the management of spatial arrangement to accommodate housing, industrial, retail and social needs. In the case of Singapore, the government has played a significant role in shaping Singapore’s built environment.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
Cheong (2019, p. 29).
- 2.
Up from 50% when the report by Ernst & Young was published in 2013. See Ernst & Young (2013).
- 3.
Ho (2021, October 4).
- 4.
The ignorance of science has been a great concern. Jane Jacobs (2005, p. 129) wrote about the case of the boulevard, which can serve “a full range of mobility: walks for pedestrians, lanes alongside them for bicycles and roller skaters; lanes for public transit vehicles, and separate channels for automotive vehicles passing through and those heading for local destinations”. Boulevards offer a venue for people to meet each other, enjoy beverages and chat “while they take in the passing scene, including sidewalk play for children” (ibid., p. 130). But traffic engineers in the United States outlaw boulevard trees and other features on safety ground when scientific evidence suggests otherwise; those boulevards the world over are safe for all kinds of mobility. Jacobs attributed this to urban designers’ disconnection with science, and the inability to accept alternative views which scientists offer because they contradict with their point of view and might lead to change in paradigm.
- 5.
Shatkin (2014, p. 135).
- 6.
The main pillar of Singapore success lies in the country’s sterling leadership efforts to ensure the country’s stability, future viability and competitiveness. Stemming from the attention to the smallest details and actions carried out in an authoritarian way, the country’s first prime minister, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew’s and the old guards implemented very effective policies that enabled Singapore to be lifted from the third world to the first, raising Singapore’s profile and its national brand accordingly. Lee Kuan Yew has spoken of the importance of excellence in public service as integral. Singapore recognises that the single most important factor to rapid development is the quality of the people in the public service. A bright person who works with the constituents and is capable of gathering a group of other capable persons makes a difference between success and failure of a project. That the government officials act on the feedback from the residents is the hallmark of the Singapore government.
- 7.
Singapore must keep its little city living and breathing, Kishore Mahbubani wrote. “This is why from early in our history, our founding fathers recognised that our little city-state could choke and die if we allowed too many cars on Singapore roads. If Singapore were full of traffic jams like Bangkok or Jakarta, its economy would grind to a natural halt. We would die just like any human being who tried to swallow too much”. Transportation and land-use planning to control car population are supplemented by the provision of mass rapid transit and extensive public transportation networks. See Mahbubani (2017, p. 311).
- 8.
Chua (2022, June 3). Interestingly, Chua links urban renewal in favour of walkability to winning votes in election. Citing the case of Paris, Chua wrote, “Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo was elected in 2014. That year, air pollution was so bad in Paris that media headlines compared it to Beijing. Mayor Hildalgo made Paris greener by converting roads into pedestrianized areas and cycling paths and won a second term in 2020”.
- 9.
In 2008, Singapore launched the Leisure Plan to promote a healthy and active lifestyle for its citizens through the development of various leisure and recreational facilities and activities. The plan aims to provide Singaporeans with a wide range of options for leisure activities, and to promote an active and healthy lifestyle, for example, through the development of the park-connector network, connecting green spaces with walking pathways and cycling routes. The plan encourages citizens to explore the nature and natural heritage of Singapore, to experience the country's rich biodiversity and scenic landscapes. In addition to parks, gardens and heritage, the plan consists of other components, which include:
-
Sports: The government promotes sports and physical activity through the development of sports facilities, such as stadiums and swimming pools, as well as through the organisation of sports events and competitions.
-
Arts and Culture: The government supports the arts and culture scene in Singapore through the development of museums, art galleries and performing arts centres.
-
Community Centres: The government has established community centres across the island to provide citizens with access to a wide range of leisure activities, such as fitness classes, sports and cultural activities.
-
Entertainment: The government supports the development of the entertainment industry in Singapore through the promotion of a diverse range of entertainment options, such as theme parks, movie theatres and nightlife venues.
The Leisure plan is an integral part of Singapore's effort to create a liveable city for its citizens, enhancing the quality of life and promoting a sense of community.
-
- 10.
Foo (1996).
- 11.
Soh (2000, p. 235).
References
Cheong, K. H. (2019). Seeking a better urban future. World Scientific Publishing Company.
Chua, M. H. (2022, June 3). Let’s talk about inequality in mobility options. The Straits Times.
Ernst & Young. (2013). Hitting the sweet spot: The growth of the middle class in emerging markets. https://www.wall-street.ro/files/148266-435.pdf
Foo, T. S. (1996). Urban environment policy: The use of regulatory and economic instruments in Singapore. Habitat International, 20(1), 5–22.
Ho. P. (2021, October 4). Singapore and the Science of Cities. The Straits Times.
Jacobs, J. (2005). Dark age ahead. Vintage Books.
Mahbubani, K. (2017). Singapore: the smartest city on our planet. In Heng, C. K. (Ed.) 50 years of urban planning in Singapore. World Scientific Publishing Corporation.
Shatkin, G. (2014). Reinterpreting the meaning of the ‘Singapore model’: State capitalism and urban planning. International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, 38(1), 116–137.
Soh, S. H. (2000). Singapore. In Asian approach to resource conservation and environmental protection. Asian Productivity Organization.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Liow Li Sa, M., Choon-Yin, S. (2023). Knowledge on the Way to Walkability. In: Sustainable Urban Development in Singapore. Sustainable Development Goals Series. Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-5451-3_13
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-5451-3_13
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore
Print ISBN: 978-981-99-5450-6
Online ISBN: 978-981-99-5451-3
eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)