Bus Articles in the Newspapers and Stomp.sg
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Originally posted by QX179R:
Too noisy, so driver had to go next stop, says SMRT
http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/singaporeseen/viewContent.jsp?id=37026
crap...
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Originally posted by nenepokey:
crap...
Lolx... 1st is the 91 minutes one, then now this... What's next for SMRT?
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Originally posted by TIB1062Y:
Lolx... 1st is the 91 minutes one, then now this... What's next for SMRT?
Crush-loaded bus (that is crush-loaded due to 200-minute frequencies) spontaneously falling apart while speeding on expressways due to lack of maintenance.
Don't be surprised if this happens.
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Originally posted by nenepokey:
crap...
Yes. and the stomper knwe quite a lot of buses one, still know onboard got communication system but fails to know the mechanics of OCC calling, anyway, classic example of act pro but not pro
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Originally posted by SBS n SMRT:
Yes. and the stomper knwe quite a lot of buses one, still know onboard got communication system but fails to know the mechanics of OCC calling, anyway, classic example of act pro but not pro
If you hadn't noticed, that was SMRT's reply and not a Stomper's reply.
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Originally posted by n4l:
If you hadn't noticed, that was SMRT's reply and not a Stomper's reply.
sorry, i meant the original post
which the stomper said
“The most appalling thing is that the headquarter was unable to render any assistance to the bus captain, based on the excuse that 'they could not hear what the bus captain was saying properly.'
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Originally posted by SBS n SMRT:
sorry, i meant the original post
which the stomper said
“The most appalling thing is that the headquarter was unable to render any assistance to the bus captain, based on the excuse that 'they could not hear what the bus captain was saying properly.'
STOMPER could have asked the driver or heard OCC say that and thus included that. I don't see it as acting pro. A passenger asking the driver why he continued driving when the windshield has broken is perfectly normal, because who would continue driving based on the aspect of safety? Also, there's no reason why the driver would not explain to him the OCC had told him to continue because (Quoted verbatim) 'they could not hear what the bus captain was saying properly.'
The chronological events of replies are not SMRT's reply first then the Stomper's but the other way around... =) =)
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Wheelchair friendly, but you can't board
SINGAPORE: The message of the little blue sticker seems obvious: We’re a wheelchair-friendly bus. But, as disabled commuters have found out the hard way, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re welcome aboard.
Mr Lee Jun Hui, flagged down SBS Service No 57 outside One Raffles Quay three weeks ago. Though the decal declaring it a wheelchair accessible bus (WAB) was displayed on the windscreen, the driver refused to let him on.
“He said he was not authorised to do so. I’d understand if the bus was crowded, but it wasn’t,” said the puzzled 27-year-old, who works as an auditor at KPMG.
To ensure this was no fluke, Mr Lee, in the company of this TODAY reporter, recently tried to board services 128 and 130 at Robinson Road after 6.20pm. The drivers of all four buses were apologetic.
Despite displaying the blue decal, they told him they did not have approval from the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and SBS Transit to ferry wheelchair-users.
Nonetheless, 20 minutes later at Cecil Street, he flagged down service 57. The bus driver got down, laid the ramp on the kerb and wheeled Mr Lee aboard. At Novena, Mr Lee alighted and went the rest of the way home by train – as confused as ever about WAB services.
While there are just 16 official WAB routes, buses on other service routes, such as the three above, do also carry the wheelchair-friendly decal.
“I wished the authorities would be more consistent,” said Mr Lee. “What’s the point of displaying the decal when the bus drivers are not authorised to take users like myself? It gives the wrong impression that there are many more WABs on the roads, when effectively, there aren’t.”
He is not the only one confounded. In June, student Thomas Teo, 19, faced similar rejection by service 14 – in this case, one of the 16 approved WAB routes - at a Lower Delta Road bus stop.
“I was very upset. That experience put me off totally; I prefer to use the MRT,” said Mr Teo.
SBS Transit's explanation
Their frustrations follow expectations that were heightened when it was announced, earlier this year, that 40 per cent of public buses here would be wheelchair-accessible by 2010, and all of them by 2020.
Recently, SBS Transit revealed it is spending S$147 million on 400 new WABs next year, which would come with low floors, wheelchair lots and retractable ramps at the doors. A quarter of SBS’ 2,800-strong fleet now has such features.
Said Ms Tammy Tan, SBS Transit’s vice president of corporate communications: “Although we only have 16 WAB services, we have many more wheelchair-accessible buses that ply the roads on other routes.”
She added: “Not all routes can be designated WAB routes because of the infrastructure along the way.”
For one to be so designated, 80 per cent of the bus stops along the route must be wheelchair-friendly, or such passengers would have difficulties getting on, off or around the bus-stop.
For these passengers’ safety, said Ms Tan, “bus captains will not allow them to board if they are not plying wheelchair-accessible routes. This was what happened in the incidents cited by Mr Lee.”
As for the bus captain of Service 57 who allowed him on board, SBS Transit said this was “actually not allowed due to safety reasons and will remind all Bus Captains to comply with guidelines”.
Still, Mr Lee’s point is: If the buses are not on designated WAB routes, why display the wheelchair-friendly sticker in the first place?
SBS Transit said this was “for deployment issues”. It is “reviewing what can be done to distinguish” WABs on designated routes from those that are not.
Introduced in 2006, WAB services are gradually: replacing existing fleets. The LTA said: “These services are rolled out by bus operators based on the available pool of WABs and are subject to scheduling and operational considerations.” - TODAY/ra
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I knew this would happen from the very start AMDEP started pasting their WAB stickers everywhere on their K230s. If the service isn't WAB. why bother pasting?
Not as if they look like they are going to be WAB services anytime soon.
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The driver of 57 is probably going to get it...especially since the timing is stated
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Originally posted by Oceane:
I knew this would happen from the very start AMDEP started pasting their WAB stickers everywhere on their K230s. If the service isn't WAB. why bother pasting?
Not as if they look like they are going to be WAB services anytime soon.
I believe the main problem is KUB cross-cameoing around both WAB and non-WAB Services. For example, sometimes I see Service 66 KUB with the WAB sticker when Service 66 is not a WAB Service. This meant that the KUB with the WAB sticker was probably a cameo from a WAB Service. I hope that to solve this conflict, SBST should remind the BCs of non-WAB Services with perm KUB that they should temporary remover the WAB sticker if then are using a KUB cameo from a WAB Service for that day. In fact the same goes for B9TLs, example, Service 7 B9TLs cameo on Service 30 with the WAB sticker. -
Originally posted by SBS2695H:
I believe the main problem is KUB cross-cameoing around both WAB and non-WAB Services. For example, sometimes I see Service 66 KUB with the WAB sticker when Service 66 is not a WAB Service. This meant that the KUB with the WAB sticker was probably a cameo from a WAB Service. I hope that to solve this conflict, SBST should remind the BCs of non-WAB Services with perm KUB that they should temporary remover the WAB sticker if then are using a KUB cameo from a WAB Service for that day. In fact the same goes for B9TLs, example, Service 7 B9TLs cameo on Service 30 with the WAB sticker.Are you sure it's cross-cameoing or whatever terminology used?
Almost ALL of the Scania K230UBs under AMDEP (Not BRBP) have the WAB sticker. How can it be "cross-cameoing" then?
This trend was pointed out about a month ago when they suddenly started pasting the blue WAB logos on perm buses that are non-WAB services.
OK next, the BCs are not free to keep removing and re-pasting the sticker everytime they want to drive. In fact, their job scope is to drive and deliver passengers to their destinations, not to peel stickers. -____-"
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Originally posted by Oceane:
I knew this would happen from the very start AMDEP started pasting their WAB stickers everywhere on their K230s. If the service isn't WAB. why bother pasting?
Not as if they look like they are going to be WAB services anytime soon.
Not official WAB Svc No PIW onboard. That was wat I mention earlier? So do this ans our moderator enquire too? -
Originally posted by chickenlittle2:
Not official WAB Svc No PIW onboard. That was wat I mention earlier? So do this ans our moderator enquire too?
If the OCC says no, then not allowed. -
Originally posted by n4l:
The driver of 57 is probably going to get it...especially since the timing is stated
We must be flexible at times. We are all humans afterall.
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Originally posted by Oceane:
If the OCC says no, then not allowed.you really dun understand me well.
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i guess now sbst has stated their stand once and for all on wheelchair-bound users taking the WAB buses on non-WAB services......
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I guess for the wheelchair-accessible service deployment problem, SBS Transit should consider putting a mini-placard (desto) holder in front of accessible buses to hold an easily-removable wheelchair-accessible logo, rather than using a sticker to display it. When the bus is on an accessible route, the bus must display the logo there; when deployed on a non-accessible route, the logo must be removed to avoid any potential confusion.
This method should allow for more flexibility, and shouldn't cost much to implement.
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If I remember correctly, those B9s which were redeployed on Service 14, had their wheelchair logos removed. Ditto for Service 25's, I presume?
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IMO its quite stupid deploying WABs on non- WAB services... eg svc 88 which has got B9TLs for nearly a year but still not officially WAB service... either get the bus stops fixed so that they can be accessible by wheelchairs or just dont deploly WABs on the service and put them somewhere else instead...
just my thoughts, though i have a feeling that some people here will flame me for this post
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Originally posted by sBs_boy:
We must be flexible at times. We are all humans afterall.
I don't think OCC/HQ would be very happy about this as they more than likely wouldn't recognize this fact.
I applaud the fact that the bus driver was being nice/flexible, but the guy went to write to forums - almost (albeit unknowingly) sabotaging him. Most drivers I believe, would just go by the book...I don't think it's a choice of flexibility in this scenario since when HQ does't permit PIWs onboard on certain services, they would definitely have their reasons....
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Originally posted by Superbus:
If I remember correctly, those B9s which were redeployed on Service 14, had their wheelchair logos removed. Ditto for Service 25's, I presume?
yes.. the logo were removed. But recently 7481/7483 got the logo back. Not so sure about other Sv 25 B9.
Really do not understand what is the point of deploying WAB buses but cant make them WAB services after more than one year for Sv 88. Sv 25 also got B9 for quite long alrd. maybe it is the difficulty of providing e-timetable.
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Do not understand why sbs transit reply the logo is due to "deployment issues" ? Never see any K230 from AMDEP cameo on those AMDEP B9 WAB services yet..None of the K230 services in AMDEP are WAB service also.
btw refer to http://www.sbstransit.com.sg/doyouknow/facts_wab.aspx, it seem like SBST did not bother to update which bus stops are WAB accessible.. See under Sv 2 and Sv 21. For Sv 21, B06/B12/B14 geyland rd are not accessible for PIW, but for Sv 2, these bus stops are accessible? Likewise for Sv 51/143. The bus stop outside haw par villa is accessilbe to Sv 143 B9 but, not Sv 51 B9? weird right?
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i feel that SBST and LTA should start testing out every stop it operates and mark each stop whether they are able to board PIWs. once they have that data, it would clear one obstacle when SBST and LTA approve a particular service to a WAB one.
if they really want to go for it, work with LTA. for every bus sotp that is WAB friendly stick a wheelchair logo on the bus stop pole or something. this way it would really speed up the process and show the public they are really placing keen interest to help PIWs.
the reason "deployment issues" by sbst gave to argue about why the sticker was put up was clearly a riduclous excuse because for AMDEP/BRBP KUBs have never touched AMDEP/BRBP WAB serivces yet.
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Originally posted by SBS9888Y:
the reason "deployment issues" by sbst gave to argue about why the sticker was put up was clearly a riduclous excuse because for AMDEP/BRBP KUBs have never touched AMDEP/BRBP WAB serivces yet.
Sometimes I find bus enthuasiasts are more vigilant than the employees themselves. Or rather HQ is trying to cover up what their lovely amdep did by stating 'deployment issues'