Written Reply to Parliamentary Question on Requirements on Bus Stop Kerb Distance to Facilitate Boarding, Alighting and Stroller Accessibility

Mr Cai Yinzhou asked the Acting Minister for Transport

a.     whether there are requirements for bus captains to stop within a specified distance from the kerb at bus stops to facilitate boarding and alighting, especially for commuters with strollers; and

b.     how many instances of public feedback that LTA has received in the past year from stroller users being unable to board buses due to wide gaps.

Reply by Acting Minister for Transport Jeffrey Siow: 

1.     Bus captains are trained to align their buses as close to and as parallel to the bus stop kerbs as possible to facilitate safe boarding and alighting for commuters, including those with strollers. In doing so, bus captains need to take into consideration ground factors, such as whether there are passengers standing near the kerb who risk being hit by the side mirror or the bus.

2.     Out of about 1.4 billion bus trips by commuters in the past year, the Land Transport Authority received less than five pieces of public feedback relating to stroller users having difficulties boarding buses due to wide gaps between the bus and the kerbs. That said, we recognise that not all those who face difficulties will provide feedback. We are exploring ways to help families with young children better access our buses.