Reviewing Space Utilisation on New Buses to Accommodate More Assistive Devices

Written Reply to Parliamentary Question

Mr Cai Yinzhou asked the Acting Minister for Transport given that current bus designs limit dedicated space for wheelchairs, strollers, or PMAs to only one or two bays, whether the Ministry will consider reviewing the space utilisation of new buses, particularly those on high-demand routes serving polyclinics and senior centres to increase the dedicated multi-functional standing space beyond two bays to accommodate more essential assistive devices for our ageing population.

Reply by Acting Minister for Transport Jeffrey Siow:

1.     The Land Transport Authority (LTA) ensures that our public transport is inclusive and accessible to all, based on the diverse needs of our commuters. However, given the limited space on board a public bus, we must often make trade-offs in how we use the space.

2.     Adding one more space for wheelchairs, strollers, and personal mobility aids (PMAs) would require us to remove at least four seats per bus. This could make it more challenging to accommodate passengers who do not use mobility devices, but need a seat regardless, such as seniors and young children. We will need to study travel patterns and demand, to see if this is the right solution, or if there are suitable alternatives.