Pedestrian risks safety to clear displaced barricades from road
Ethel Tseng
TNP
August 25, 2025
A passer-by spotted removing barricades that had been displaced by heavy rain, helping to clear the road for oncoming vehicles, has been praised by netizens.
In a TikTok video posted by user jerries__ on Aug 24, cars at a road junction can be seen navigating around plastic barricades that have been displaced by the rain.
Two barricades lie in the middle of the road, while two more can be seen near a pedestrian walkway.
A pedestrian, holding a black umbrella and clad in a red sweater and black shorts, crosses the road. He proceeds to pick up the displaced barricades one by one, arranging them along the pedestrian path.
He then hurries across the road and pulls the two barriers lying in the middle of the junction to the side, away from traffic.
With the obstructions cleared, the pedestrian walks back in the same direction he came from, and the flow of traffic returns to normal.
"Good people do exist", reads the video caption, while subtitles in the video commend the passer-by's considerate actions.
Netizens chime in with affirmations
At press time, the post had drawn 755,000 views and over 1,800 likes, with commenters praising the Good Samaritan.
One said: "So kind of this person to clear four pieces of barricades using one hand, and under heavy road traffic conditions. He risked his life to do that. Bravo to him."
"Let's learn from this good example and be more proactive to help where we can," chimed in another.
Some users praised his anonymous act of civic-mindedness: "Not all heroes wear capes and can be seen. Some are under an umbrella."
Other netizens raised concerns about the contractor's failure to secure the barricades properly, worried about the imminent danger they pose.
One user pointed out: "They are supposed to fill the barricades with water to prevent them from moving away during heavy rain or strong winds."
The New Paper has reached out to the Land Transport Authority for comment.
