Over the weekend, Orchard Road attempted to imitate Tokyo’s famous Shibuya crossing with its own scramble crossing trial at the junction of Orchard Road and Cairnhill Road (where the massive H&M stands diagonally opposite Robinsons The Heeren).
The trial, which began on Saturday, marked the first time that people could cross the busy junction diagonally, and was announced by the Orchard Road Business Association as an attempt to make the area more pedestrian-friendly. Two auxiliary police officers were deployed to the intersection to guide the crowd and prevent any confusion.
According to news reports, the Shibuya-style crossing was generally well-received. Channel NewsAsia said that pedestrians “welcomed the initiative”, while The Straits Times noted that many “enjoyed the convenience and time saved”.
But this isn’t the first scramble crossing trial to take place in Orchard, neither is it the first of its kind in Singapore. The previous one was located at the junction of Orchard Road and Bideford Road, lasting only six months after it was launched in 2006.
Even though news reports on the ground were pretty positive, in the online realm, netizens were completely unimpressed. Complaints about the initiative included everything from lack of originality to unclear pedestrian markings to inconsiderate pedestrians.
But regardless of how you feel, drivers and pedestrians alike should take note that the trial will happen every weekend and public holiday until Jan 28.
