ORCHARD ROAD: Is it possible a pedestrian street?

Drivers think Orchard Road turning in a pedestrian zone is impractical, but tourists and pedestrians are curious to see this happen.

For a better shopping experience, the Orchard Road Business Association (Orba) is planning to propose to the authorities that a 600 m stretch of Orchard Road to motorists regularly to create a footpath will be closed.

This is one of the six suggestions in Orba long-term proposal, The Sunday Times reported yesterday.

The proposal will be submitted next year 2020, Orchard Road.

The others include have more parks and recreation spots, better signage and reducing the bird problem. Orba is also hoping that the pedestrian crossing on Paterson Road for street-level crossing may be reopened.

Shoppers who visit The Straits Times yesterday said a pedestrian segment in Orchard Road would market rights to navigate the area safely, without the need to seek out the many pedestrian tunnels.

Large "in the United Kingdom many shopping areas have been ' pedestrian area ' in the past three years. And it's been a different shopping experience for me, "said tourist Linda Harrison, 50, from England.

"You must not looking left and right for the car. You can just walk and at your convenience shopping, "she added.

"For drivers, it meant that they had to drive a little longer, but in no time, they got used to it."

Harrison was trying to get of Shaw House to Wheelock place, but instead ended up at Ion Orchard.

She was not the only tourist who confused hits while walking in the pedestrian tunnels.

Arill Kairill, 23, who works at the kiosk Garrett Popcorn at Wheelock place, said he gets about 10 questions for directions every weekend.

"It's easier to recognize the roads than the pedestrian tunnels," he said.

"After giving them directions, some still get lost and come back and rebuke us sometimes. There are just too many directions to take in the underpass. "

The owner of the Oomph! Juice Bar kiosk for Lucky Plaza, Shandy Siak, 44, said a pedestrian street with will make it easier for tourists to get around.

"When buyers get thirsty after walking, they can buy drinks from me," she said. "Motorists can take alternative routes to get to their destination."

But motorists are not enthusiastic about the suggestion.

"If they close the roads, it will create bottlenecks around the area Orchard Road and cause congestion," said business manager Adrian Tan, 35, who drive to Orchard Road once a week.

He said there are four lanes in Orchard Road, and they were not originally built to serve pedestrians.

This is in contrast to other countries with the traffic-free streets, where there are only two to three lanes that already are built for that purpose, he added.

Freddie Chew, 39, an Assistant Vice President for operations, felt that a footpath would not be feasible given Singapore's weather, that rainy and warm.

Chew, who has a daughter, said: "I would prefer my child around in the comfort of the air-conditioned pedestrian tunnel."

Retired teacher Tan Kim Hock, 74, said: "as a pedestrian, I will sure be glad, but the drivers will be disturbed.

"So the question is, ' who would you benefit? '

"As the saying goes, when you want to please everyone, you end up pleasing nobody."