Kuala Lumpur Neighbourhood Case Study Taman Tun Dr. Ismail

Grand Challenge GC001-14SUSSustainability Science Research ClusterUniversiti Malaya

SUSTAINABILITY SCIENCERESEARCH CLUSTER

GC 1 GC 2 GC 3

Focus Group Discussion (May 2015)

Preliminary Meeting with Stakeholders (TTDI) (Aug 2015)

Residents Survey(Nov 2015)

Access Audit / Survey (Oct 2015)

[1] Stakeholders Meeting : Focus Group with Residents(16 Jan 2016)

Flow chart of Project Design

[2] Stakeholders Meeting : Validation by Experts(SPAD, MOT, DBKL, Consultants)

Project Output:• Establishing a policy framework for accessible transportation and

community facilities.• Designing and creating guidelines for accessible transportation systems

and community facilities to be validated and incorporated.

+ Consultants

Development of scheme

Kuala Lumpur Neighborhood Case StudyTaman Tun Dr Ismail

“At the beginning, they didn’t provide access for OKU, because they don’t have budget for facilities. Now they are starting to upgrade. The problem is space constraint. There are limited space to put in the lift, starting to put in stair lift.“

Wheelchair Participant

A: “Visible information with blinking light is needed. It is important to know the destination.”

B: “Cant hear the bell and keep pressing many times. Driver gets mad.”

Deaf Participant

“Signage to the exit is misleading, which does not show the correct exit route.”

Mother with toddler

“…pre-arranged facilities. Lack of awareness for special assistance.”

Elderly

“The bus driver should be client oriented than business oriented, I mean the customer’s comfort and welfare should be considered.”

Participant with learning disabilities

“... ada jadual menunjukan jadual pergerakan bus. Unfortunately, when the bus come we don’t know whether that is the right bus or not.”

Blind participant

“I love this place. But I would like to some fish and butterflies in this garden. It can be much fun to be here with that kind of surrounding”

“Perhaps, the plants in the sensory garden should have the tagging for educational purpose”Wheelchair patient, UMMC

“The heat here is so uncomfortable to conduct sessions especially to the patients that need full concentration during the rehab session” Speech Therapist, UMMC

“The issue such as vandalism at recreational park never come to the end. We cannot change the mindset of user”

“There’s no consciousness on the importance of providing a better green space for inclusive society”Landscape Architect, BAKTI Mind

The Grand Challenge researchers conducted focus group as a method used to collect data on user experience and issues from the user of six categories, which are persons with physical disabilities, sight disabilities, learning disabilities, deaf, elderly, mother and child.

Assistance were provided by volunteers from BAKTI-MIND and students from University of Malaya as rapporteurs. Taman Tun Dr Ismail residents attended as observers. The data collected will be used to publish an accessible transportation and community facilities guide aimed as a reference for general users, transport providers, service providers, industry professionals and the local authority.

The objectives are to: • Identifying and investigating the problems in non-inclusive transportation, community facilities and barrier-filled situation in the Malaysian and Kuala Lumpur built environment.

• Establishing a policy framework based on focus groups, interviews and observations apart from base line research for accessible transportation and community facilities

• Design and creating guidelines for accessible transportation and community facilities systems

Focus Group DiscussionFlow chart of Project design

Discussion results for the evening session of FGD at Bangunan BAKTI Siti Hasmah:• no any particular guidelines for designing sensory gardensgreen areas in Malaysia are often treated as an unused and dysfunctional spaces for the users.

• Landscape Architect often not involved with the implementation stage, i.e. detailed design and construction stage

• no teamwork between the landscape architects, researchers, local authorities and public users for the awareness on improvement of better environment.

Programme 2: Access Survey and Audit

Date: 2 and 3 October 2015Venue: Taman Tun Dr IsmailAccess Auditors: 28 access auditors

Activity: Collected on-site data on accessibility and design of facilities provided to access public transportation, community facilities and parks.

Programme 1: Stakeholder’s Meeting:

Residents Association and Planning of ProjectDate: 8 September 2015Venue: Wood and Steel, TTDIAttendees: 17 participants[5 UM, 8 TTDI RA & TT Sustrans Group, 1 Tumpang & 3 Penang Bike Share]

Activities:

1 Introduced scope, task & timeline of project.

2. Identified important zones and points to survey for public transportation and community facilities.

Focus group with professionals at Bangunan BAKTI Siti Hasmah

3. Identified issues regarding accessibility and usability of community facilities.

4. Established secretariat for the project.

“I feel less independent since I need assistant using bathroom because it is small and inaccessible. If I want to renovate it, it will cause a lot of budget.“

Wheelchair Participant

“I would say accessibility is not an issue for me because I could walk, jump, run. There is not much barrier there, it’s just that there is not much facilities for emergency.”

Deaf Participant

“Every public facilities must have lift, if not it will trouble us.”

Mother with toddler

Usually the parking for disable, they need stickers, what about the elderly? .”

Elderly

“Early education is one of the way to them to be independent and accessible.”

Participant with learning disabilities

“I have to take the taxi to Masjid Az- Zubir or I can walk to mussola nearby which is in Taman Kobena but if I walk on my own I have to take more than 20 minutes because there are so many barriers on the way to mussolla for example drains and uneven land”

Blind participant

“The guidelines change continuously and when we go to submit formal complaints, it gets ‘lost in translation’ due to the lengthy procedures and finger-pointing saying “this is not my responsibility.”

Researcher

“In order you want people to take care about you, you must be in the community.”

Disable Person

“The local authorities receive the budget for maintenance of public facilities. They have also established guidelines for themselves on how to allocate the money but when it gets to the implementation officers, there seems to be hiccups and we don’t see the complete change”

Authority Officer

physical disabilities sight disabilities elderlylearning disabilities deafmother with child

Visually impared participants in the focus group discussion

Introduction by Dr Naziaty Yaacob, lead researcher for GC 1

Participants with physical disabilities in the focus group discussion

The residents identifying the critical areas for our research

Stakeholders meeting session

Researchers collecting data and discussing findings



Taman Tun Dr Ismail access audit and case study

Seamless Transportation and Mobility for the Intergenerational SocietyGC 1

Recommendation:

Standardization of choice of material.

Brush concrete finish surface is recommended by DBKL as the pedestrian surface as it is easier for construction and quality is easier to be controlled.

Recommendation:The blue lines indicated in the map show the suggested pedestrian crossing location at the main junction according to the current pedestrian flow pattern. Introduce traffic calming.

Recommendations:1. Design a proper zebra crossing and pedestrian traffic light for users’ safety.

2. Relocate the bus stop and provide shelter

Recommendation:Upgrade the signs at all bus stops to include information on arrivals, bus routes, bus schedule and bus information.

Participant observation

Recommendations

Person with learning disability

Visual clarity is important to this participant. She relies on signage for wayfinding - The participant took time to read and understand the signage. However, she had problem in navigating herself in Nu Sentral building. The signage were not clearly visible to the participant.

- The signage did not catch her attention and the type-font is too small to read.

- The ticket vending machine is confusing, with too many routes.

Person with phyisical disability

The participant using a powered wheelchair had major problems with accessibility.

- Most of the lifts’ button panel were slightly too high for a comfortable reach.

- Height of coin operated machine is not ideal.

- Unavailability of the portable ramp to embark and disembark the train coach as the gap between the train and platform is too big.

- Most of the accessible toilets found were not design and built according to the standards.

- Lack of signage for way finding.

Blind and partially sighted person

The participant was facing problem with orientation as the layout of the tactile guide was not helpful in giving direction and way-finding.

- Warning tactile guide is not so useful and the participant have problems feeling the tactile as its flat rather than domed.

- The participant had difficulties using all the lifts, as the directional tactile guide did not direct to the space in front of the lift call buttons and the embossed braille was not standardized.

- Unable to use the token vending machine as no directional tactile guide to direct.

- The participant was dependent on his hearing when finding his way, thus without a good audio information system or customer assistance, it was not possible for the participant to move independently.

Elderly Person

The participant despite being over 65 years old, is still fit. The major problem he faced was visual clarity.

- The participant was constantly confused in finding his way, especially at Nu Sentral. The signage text were too small to read, and had poor colour contrast.

- The hand railing has no continuity.

- There is poor location of signage and the text is too small to read.

- The audio information system in the KTM train coach was poor as the participant could not hear the announcement clearly.

Deaf person

The participant relies heavily on visual cues to get around. Visual communication is the important aspect to help him in way finding. - The ticket vending machine is a bit confusing and make it difficult for person who not understand English, thus the participant had to buy ticket at the counter plus can get rates for a person with disabilities

- Small type-font and unclear signage information

- Confusing signage

- The participant needed to stay alert at all time and due to the lack of digital visual information or poor visibility on the location of visual information especially inside the train coach.

Mother with small child

Overall, the mother with small child had the least issue in getting around despite poor signage.

- The gap from the platform to the train is huge.

- The ramp is too steep and motorcycle user used the ramp might cause danger.

- The participant required assistance when going to the washroom. She had to leave her child in toddler outside the toilet cubicle. She would only use the accessible toilet for napkin changing.

1. Pedestrian Footpath

Insufficient clear footpath width of 1500 mm.

Obstruction along the footpath.

More than 4 types of footpath surface along Jalan Tun Mohd Fuad.

Poor footpath maintenance

2. No Pedestran Crossings

Lack of pedestrian crossing and pedestrian traffic light along Jalan Tun Mohd Fuad. Thus pedestrian cross the busy road as they like at their own risk.

3. Location of Bus Stop and its shelter

Location of bus stop is unsuitable, causing traffic congestion.

No bus shelter provided.

4. Access to information on bus service at the bus stop (or on the internet)

No information on bus schedule, bus routes and bus number.

Nu Sentral to KTM Putra access audit and case study

5. Feeder bus or paratransit

Lack of efficient transportation connectivity.

Recommendation:Introduce feeder bus that connects bus stops to community facilities and future MRT stations

Visually impaired user navigate the builing using the tactile floor

User with physical disabilities using the lift

Deaf user interacting with the station officer

Elderly user wants the hand rail for support but blocked by structures

Gap between the train and platform is dangerous for prams and wheelchair

Broken pavements along the road

Brush concrete finish for pedestrian surface Pedestrian crossings to be placed strategically.

Users board the bus from the junction island.

Sketch shows to add zebra crossing and proper bus stop at the junction for user safety and convenience

Bus stops do not have any information

Map of TTDI neighborhood where places can be connected using bus services.

Examples of information panel for bus stop

Example of bus route that can serve the TTDI residents



Direct Observation

Fully Accessible Public Facilities Building for Daily Independent Living Activities

GC 2VERTICAL CIRCULATION

OBSERVATION & INTERVIEWThe lifts frequent breaks downCertain level cannot be reach due to vandalism of the lift push buttonLift maintenance cost is high

PLAYGROUND AND JOGGING TRACK

OBSERVATION & INTERVIEWJogging track and playground are in poor conditionInaccessible for PWD and children accessPlayground located out of surveillance

PARKING SPACES

OBSERVATION & INTERVIEWMotorcycle theftsAble person park at disabled parking spaceParking space for motorbike is limited

INTERNAL LAYOUT

OBSERVATION & INTERVIEWYard is too small for hanging blanket and clothes

PPR BUKIT JALIL, KUALA LUMPUR

Facilities

Issues No dedicated parking for the disabled

Tenants bring their belongings to keep them near their units like bicycles to avoid from theft


Recommendations

Vertical Circulation

Date: 17th November 2014Venue: Public housing at PPR Intan Baiduri, Selayang & PPR Bukit Jalil

Objectives:

To identify PWD issues as users of the facilities as well as other stakeholders regarding PPR and its public community facilities.

To investigate the extent of the accessibility of the above mentioned facilities.

Jalan Leong Yew KohBuilding- Community Hall

a. Parking b. Secondary entrance c. Spill out Praying Area e. Ramp into the buiding

Users’ Review / Observation

OKU parking lot has uneven surface area which may cause difficulties to wheelchair users

Secondary entrances are designed higher than the ground level which only allows people into the building using steps/staircases

Users’ Review / Observation

Disabled toilet door has an inner swing that made the floor area of the toilet to be smaller for wheelchair user

Recommendation

The swing door should be replaced to a sliding door.

RECOMMENDATION

The ramp provided is too steep and not according to the standard 1:20

Many raise and steps (600mm) in the interior of the building with limited ramp providedThe central praying area is designed as a sunken space which causes difficult access to the wheelchair users

Typical entrance lobby for the residential block Ramps are obsructed and does not have any handrails

Lift buttons are very high Narrow corridors create make the space obstructed for wheelchair and prams

Masjid At-TaqwaTaman Tun Dr IsmailBuilding - Religious, place of worship

Disabled toilet

d. Central sunken praying area



Enhancing Wellbeing Through Recreational and Sensory Stimulation in Landscape DesignGC 3

TSSG is not intentionally open to the public because it used as a medical approach to patient. Accordingly to the duty staff based on a timetable, patients come here is accompanied by the hospital staff for the rehab session, which start from 8 am to 4 pm, only on the weekdays starts from Monday to Friday.

Walk-through interview results from a diverse group of end users:

1. The raised flower beds are too high, reflexology pathways without railings and water features are inaccessible for wheelchair users. Lack varieties in color and textures on the pathways.

2. The safety have to be firm enough when they running on the hard surface and the weather conditions which limit them to stay in the garden for a longer time

3. design improvements in the near future such as covered area, more benches, colorful plants and more.

The focus group discussion starts with the opening speech by Dato’ Dr Zaliha Omar at TTSG located on the 6th floor of the South Tower, UMMC in Kuala Lumpur

Dr Selina Khoo as a moderator for group 1

Group discussion with Ar Mustapha Kamal

Focus group session at Therapeutic Sensory Stimulation Garden (TSSG

water feature with marginal plants

medicinal and scented plants in raised bedsgarden feature of pergola with climbers

Walk through interview with patient Patients and hospital staff walk around in TSSG Dr Hazreena Hussein with wheelchair patient

Participant Observation

Therapeutic Sensory Simulation GardenUMMC

Main issues: 1. safety2. maintenance3. wayfinding

Based on the questionnaire distribute to community at TTDI, we find out 3 main issues related with parks in their neighbourhood.

a. Parking

Minimum of 2 bays of OKU accessible parking shall be provided along with unobstructed pathway through the rampBicycle rack shall be located adjacent to the pathway with the same ground level

No accessible parking provided for OKU and obstructed pathway by parking bay

Question 26. Informational/directional road signs in the park are useful:

Question 27. Good access, well maintained facilities in the park (toilet, parking, ect):

Question 29. Do you feel safe in the park:

suggestion: designated parking spaces Source: MS1184:2014

suggestion: bicycle rack at the entrance of park Source: http://www.cityoforlando.net

b. Vertical circulation

Railings / barrier shall be installed to ensure the safety of the usersThe ramp should have flared sides with contrasting colour and should be lined with warning guide.

The ramp is steep not according to the 1:20 ratio standard and not accessible for the wheelchair users

suggestion: Recommended curb ramp Source: MS1184:2014

suggestion ramps with alternative stepped approach Source: MS1184:2014

c. Pedestrian access

Provide MS1184 compliant drain cover and properly integrated and seamlessly designed ramp at the pedestrian sidewalk to roadProvide texture change such as tactile guide along the edge. Alternatively, a guard rail / landscape design at 100 mm high.

The gratings of drainage cover is parallel to the ramp and pathway

suggestion: Proposed drainage cover Source: http://www.fiberglassgrating.com/

Drain covers found in Hong Kong. Source: Author

d. Street furniture zone

Way finding tools such as signage shall be installed near the pathway with reachable height , clear image, large font and contrast color

More actions on maintenance

Seating/bench

The appropriate dimension according to the standard (450mm) and shall be provided armrest to extend about 100mm outward from seat. Circular section of diameter 3mm is recommended for a good grip.

he signage is high and not reachable for kids and wheelchair users handling

embossed markings and Braille indicating area at Sensory garden Toa Payoh, Singapore Source: Author

Bench found in Singapore enabling village. Source: (author)


Recommendations

suggestion: designated parking spaces that is near the pedestrian pathways for the disabled



There are 36 participants from various backgrounds. divided differently into six (6) group discussing about tourism issues that affected the Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) in Kuala Lumpur city.

Focus Group Discussion

Accessible Sustainable Tourism and the Universal Design IndexGC 4

“I have to check whether the hotel has, there is handicapped...then, arrived at the airport. Now get to the transit and transit to the hotel”

Wheelchair participant

“Hotel is less accessible and most of the time the hotel staff will assist me. However, there is some of the staff unaware the need of PWDs”.

Blind participant

“I have to check a lot of websites, the service provider always not updated. It’s very important to see reviews what are the people say about it and then if you are taking a group, you better go there recce and check”.

NGOs participant

“Each hotel must at least provide one room with facilities for the disable included lower bed, shaft, table, ramp and have to provide according to OKU Act 2007 and ensure entrance tall is accessible by wheelchair”.

Government agency

Hotel and Accomodations Tourist Attractions

“Behind Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad, there will be some transformation. So, public can access. We have discussed to make people friendly including the disable whey they can access that area…we did care of that”.

Government agency

The purpose of this study is to investigate the provision and the quality of facilities accessible by the PWDs in the selected tourist attraction buildings in the city of KL.

“...Accessible tourism enables people with access requirements, including mobility, vision, hearing and cognitive dimensions of access, to function independently and with equity and dignity through the delivery of universally designed tourism products, services and environments. This definition is inclusive of all people including those travelling with children in prams, people with disabilities and seniors”.(Darcy & Dickson, 2009: 34)

NATIONAL PLANETARIUM

Suggestion; to make one of the counter as an accessible ticket counter which is lower in height for wheelchair or shorter user.

Recommendations;Disable toilet should be designed according to universal design guideline.

ISLAMIC ARTS MUSEUM MALAYSIA

Recommendations;Ramp design for disabled should be more than 1:12, the most suitable should be at 1:15 ratio.Railings should be installed on both sides for ease of user.Color contrast is required to show the difference in level.

Recommendations;To fix height of railings at ramp.

NATIONAL MUSEUM

Recommendations;Railing that is grip friendly with rounded surface should be considered at the width less than 3000 mm. Floor surface to be replaced with less slippery material, or attached with anti-slip strip.

The signs are clear and simple, but not easy to read from distance due to small lettering size and symbol of accessibility. Use signage panel that is contrasting with the wall behind (recommendation).

NATIONAL TEXTILE MUSEUM Recommendations;The drainage holes need to be shift to make way for curb ramp to be installed.Curb ramp design should use appropriate measurement, and has tactile for PWDs user.

The access to curb has no ramp, and guiding tactile to lead visitors from the opposite road to the museum entrance. The distance between bollard is in minimal to allow wheelchair.

Existing lift should be replaced with universal/handicapped friendly lift.

ROYAL MUSEUM

Provide taxi stand or bus station.Provide a car parking bay near to the ticketing counter, so that it is easier for them to request for a buggy service to the museum.

Recommendation;Provide signage according to standard for exits.Relocate fire extinguisher at places easily located and access

Reference: Darcy, S., & Dickson, T. (2009). A Whole-of-Life Approach to Tourism: The Case for Accessible Tourism Experiences. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 16(1), 32-44.

RecommendationsTourism buildings in Kuala Lumpur and Access Audit Survey

The pedestrian pathway and access lobby should be even and flushed to ease wheelchair user. The usage of different materials good to distinguish the changes of space.The entrance should have guiding tactile along pedestrian pathway, and warning tactile at any level changes.

Focus group session participants

Stakeholders’ discussion session Stakeholders’ discussion session

Ticket counter for visitor

The wash basin and mirror is a bit too high (850mm), not comfortable for wheelchair user to reach

Existing ramp is at 1:7 ratio not complied with the standard of 1:12

Railings height is too low at 900mm

View of staircase from road level

Anti-slip strip

There are no designated accessible parking space for PWDs at the main entrance

The fire extinguisher is not easily identifiable and its obstructed by the railings.

Environment

Kuala Lumpur Neighbourhood Case Study Taman Tun Dr. Ismail