Comments on: 400 Non-Step Buses For Singapore

By: eleanor

eleanor — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 18:23:31 +0000

Peter, I was sent this snippet of news on accessible buses in Singapore – http://sg.news.yahoo.com/cna/20081002/tap-744-wheelchair-friendly-cant-board-231650b.html

I am still planning to come back at some point but it is not a good time to travel at present. Maybe we can both go and try them out if I do get there.

Peter:
Eleanor, I would love to. Do keep me updated. We need to have more people like you who have experience in such transport system to share and educate us as we begin to push for similar systems here.

By: Ciana

Ciana — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 10:39:07 +0000

I agree with Goodnail. I think all they care is the profit. It’s a good thing that SBS Transport is thinking of everyone. The irony is that the buses “will have bodywork produced by a Malaysian company.” Can’t the Finance Ministry buck up now that PM has switched posts with the DPM? Or is corruption tying everyone’s hands? Or could it be they don’t care a single *censored* thing?

By: ex penang boy

ex penang boy — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 14:16:09 +0000

Presently only certain routes are considered wheelchair friendly and are plied by buses equipped for the purpose and trained bus captains.
Occasionally, those specially equipped buses would be deployed for other routes but not allowed to pick up wheelchair passengers, which have raised the ire of some. The contention I suppose is that the routes are not as yet ascertained to be totally wheelchair friendly meaning all bus stops,all buses are designed for the task and bus captains properly trained.
With an aging population, mobility will be an issue to all and its best to start planning early rather than having to tear down,sell off and rebuild and re-equip.

Peter:
Unfortunately, the people legislating and running the public transport system and corresponding infrastructure in Malaysia do not have such foresight. They see the usage of non-step buses limited only to wheelchair users. There is resistance all the way to roll out more non-step buses and to make the bus stops accessible. And in Malaysia, not planning now will benefit certain quarters when it is time to tear down, sell off, rebuild and re-equip.

By: Goodnail

Goodnail — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 13:48:02 +0000

Even if the Prasarana and RapidKL (plus RapidPenang) folks read this, do you think they will do something? Fat hope!

Peter:
Shame on them if they do not.

By: ivy

ivy — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 10:54:51 +0000

It is a good thing that SBS Transit thought of its commuters. Even disabled commuters and old folks had an equall oppurtunity to commute. And also, they are aware of the environment.

Peter:
If only the Prasarana and RapidKL folks are reading this.