New Year's Eve in Singapore
I have been at two potential crush events. The year 2000 in Singapore I want to see the Harley Davidson bike parade along Orchard Road. Pedestrians were flowing freely with plenty of space. Then, just before the parade, ribbons barriers were put up to keep pedestrians out of the road.
I tried to get back to the MRT station to leave, I was swept along, packed in like a sardine. Being small, I was almost crushed. It was claustrophobic and scary.
New Year's Eve In London
My second experience was in London on New Year's Eve at a bar-restaurant near Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus. Although we waited until gone midnight, about 12.15 to leave after the crush, we hoped, the nearby station was cordoned off and an airport style queue (Americans say line-up) was being controlled by police. They and signs told us for faster entry, to use different entrances, or different stations. We went back to the bar, ordered more drinks, and tried again at 12.30 and after a wait, were able to get the train and journey home.
Lessons Learned
What are the lessons learned? On major national holidays you can either have ticketed and seated events, and crowd control with policed barriers in narrow streets and building entrances, one way systems, and entrances and exits of stations. Yes, it costs money, so does calling police in at the last moment and dealing with disasters later.
Korea
Police were deployed for Halloween in Seoul, the capital of South Korea. But they were unable to control the crowd. How can you prevent this? You need a gap along one side for police and emergency access only. You need sign-ups, even for free events.
Do you have any other suggestions? Please tell me and the forums and the authorities.
Xmas and New Year
We have Xmas and New Year ahead. I am now more conscious of crowd control being necessary, booking in advance, planning timing. The safest place is at home watching on TV.
What kinds of control are possible?
1 Number estimates from previous events.
The Koreans had figures from pre-Covid. They underestimated the surge in post-Covid crowds.
2 Ticketed counting and limiting
This is often done at indoor events. Fire regulations and insurance require limits to the numbers of people allowed in. We are familiar with this - in London at art galleries, exhibitions. Banks do it. Singapore does it in government offices. Singapore Airlines does it in their office issuing tickets and dealing with queries. Eventbrite issues tickets for free events. At Toastmasters International club meetings, speech contests, we in the audience are sometimes asked to sign up so that the organizers can manage catering.
Sign-ups and tickets.
3 Zig Zag Barriers
I recall going to Disney in America and seeing the S snaking lines. That was new. Not known in the UK. Now we have these at Heathrow airport at security.
Useful Websites
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_human_stampedes_and_crushes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seoul_Halloween_crowd_crush
https://eumeainfo.motorolasolutions.com/safe_stadiums_solution_brief
Please share links to your favourite posts.
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