Some elderly men were spotted climbing road railings and darting across four lanes of traffic along Rangoon Road – all to reach a betting centre at Block 677, near Exit A of Farrer Park MRT station.
According to Shin Min Daily News, concerned onlookers said the risky crossings left them alarmed.
Betting trips spark “dangerous” crossings
A nearby shop worker said he frequently sees people jaywalking there and often hears drivers honking at them.
“Many of the uncles come to watch horse races and place bets. They’d rather climb over the railings than walk to a proper crossing – it’s really dangerous,” he said.
Bystanders added that bus stops on both sides of the road force pedestrians to lean out from behind buses to check oncoming traffic.
With almost no foothold on the central divider, they grip the railings tightly for balance before sprinting across gaps in traffic.
Four lanes and waist-high railings
When reporters visited the area on Oct 4, they found that the road has four lanes separated by a metal divider.
The railings near the bus stops on either side of the road are relatively low, reaching only the waist of an average adult, according to Shin Min.
On one side of the road sits the MRT exit and a hotel; directly opposite is the Singapore Pools betting centre at Block 677 Rangoon Road.
Many of the elderly pedestrians climbing the railings were observed coming from the MRT station to place bets. Some even risked their safety to catch buses across the road.
Seeing elderly men – some with unsteady steps – dashing across four busy lanes has left onlookers genuinely concerned, Shin Min Daily News reported.
