Woodlands MRT station
I have out of date MRT paper maps in a desk drawer. I have an up to date one in my jacket pocket. it is quicker to look online. Triumph. I quickly find a map. Annoyance, just a map, none of the myriad of handy pieces of information on the paper map, everything from the Chinese version so I can translate station names and learn Chinese, to Apps for directions. Tut!
First Problem Solved
I looked at a map of the Thomson line on the web. It asked for feedback. I wrote;
You can't see the whole MRT map nor a link to it. It needs some signs about finding information from apps. Arrows to a few pictures of places to visit at each station. Foreigners won't know whether Orchard or Orchard Boulevard is the stop for shopping malls.
Where do you change to get to Changi airport? Which stop for the zoo/Safari park?
I tried the line on open day Friday and went to Gardens By the Bay, no sign to any nearby eating place, Satay probably miles way and possibly full, so went home to Bukit Panjang more than half an hour away for lunch. The station should be ringed by a hawker centres, toilets, souvenir shops, hats, wrap dresses or caftans, edible plants in pots. How about viewpoints with chairs, picnic spots, free maps of the area carrying sponsors advertisements with discount offers, a little train for children, a children's play area. Add a water fountain, with lights at night. Hotels and conference centres have international flags, and a coffee shop. Since it is Gardens, they should be serving fresh juices and healthy food, salads or sandwiches and main courses or soups with 2 vegetables. And fruit. Parks have signboards on animals, plants, insects. Give the history of the area WITH DATES.
The maps panels at the new MRT corridor to the up escalators inside downstairs Gardens By the Bay have no dates.
Provide an interactive map showing your regular journeys. Add click here for directions.
Also give the Chinese. I have learned Chinese symbols from the MRT map. (King, garden, four beauties, queen.) Link to the history of the MRT station meanings, often names linked to nearby place names or family names of pioneer and engineer or overseer names.
Ah - it's there - more information and links, but at the bottom of the screen - out of view. Therefore, have an arrow at the top saying links below at end, scroll down for links.
I had gone over the word limit and could not send it so I am writing it here.
I felt foolish that I had not realized that so much information was there, if only I had scrolled down. Then I felt annoyed. I am not the only person in the world to have a problem. If one person in ten makes the same mistake, many more customs are suffereing from the same loss of information.
I felt pleased. I had given them feedback - which they asked for. Saving them the cost of setting up feedback panels in person.
For the second problem, see next post.
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