Written Reply by Minister for Transport Ong Ye Kung to Parliamentary Question on Making Public Buses More Accessible to Ageing Population and Adding More Stops in Feeder Buses Routes

Mr Chong Kee Hiong asked the Minister for Transport 

a.     what measures will be implemented to ensure that public bus transportation is more accessible to our ageing population; and 

b.     whether LTA will consider allowing feeder buses to make more stops within the estates during off-peak hours so that the elderly do not need to walk as far to a bus stop.

Reply by Minister for Transport Ong Ye Kung:

1.     Ensuring that our public transport is inclusive and accessible for all commuters, including the elderly, is one of the key thrusts of the Land Transport Masterplan 2040. Today, all public buses are wheelchair accessible, and all bus interchanges and integrated transport hubs are barrier-free.

2.     However, it would not be practical to add more bus stops for buses to call at during off-peak periods. Today, most bus stops are 300 metres to 400 metres apart. Reducing this distance further will result in operational challenges, inconveniences due to frequent stops, and longer journey times for commuters. If inappropriately sited, the bus stop can also raise safety concerns.

3.     LTA will continue to study community requests for enhanced accessibility, taking into consideration the commuter demographics of the area while balancing operational and financial constraints.