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Wheelchair Accessible Bus (WAB) Services

	WAB services and the accessible bus stops to PIWs.

	I. Deployment / Operations of WABs
	Why was Service 21 selected as the first WAB service?

	How many new WABs will be introduced?

	How many WAB services do we have?

	What other services will be deployed with WABs?

	How long does it take for all your existing buses to be replaced with WABs?

	Can a WAB accommodate all types of wheelchairs?

	How should PIWs position themselves after boarding?

	What is the role of the BC? What are BCs expected to do whenever there is wheelchair bound commuter taking the bus?

	What kind of training have BCs of WAB services undergone?

	Will the driver be helping the wheelchair-user to board and alight from the bus?

	What if it is raining, will your bus captain still come out to deploy and stow the wheelchair ramp for PIWs?

	II. Issues and Impact
	Can PIWs board WABs serving non-wheelchair accessible routes?

	Are folded wheelchairs allowed on SBS Transit's buses?

	How do commuters obtain information on the estimated arrival time of WAB?

	How will WAB affect the arrival times of the normal service?

	What if the PIW cannot board the bus that comes along because it is too crowded?

	What if more than one passenger in wheelchairs wants to board the same WAB?

	What is the exact location the PIW is advised to wait for the bus at the bus stop? Is the said spot sheltered?

	What is the estimated time required for PIW to board / alight WAB?

	What if the ramp is faulty?

	Can commuters with pram/ trolley use the ramp?

	Can other passengers help to operate the ramp?

	III. Public Education Programme
	What is the public education programme you will be introducing?

WAB services and the accessible bus stops to PIWs.

New Services

*14 New WAB Services are launched on 3rd December 2011.

Service 16

All the bus stops along Service 16 are accessible to PIWs.

Service 30

All the bus stops along Service 30 are accessible except these 2 bus stops.

Service 87

All the bus stops along Service 87 are accessible to PIWs.

Service 101

All the bus stops along Service 101 are accessible to PIWs.

Service 131

All the bus stops along Service 131 are accessible except these 6 bus stops.

Service 175

All the bus stops along Service 175 are accessible to PIWs.

Service 272

All the bus stops along Service 272 are accessible to PIWs.

Service 273

All the bus stops along Service 273 are accessible to PIWs.

Service 275

All the bus stops along Service 275 are accessible to PIWs.

Service 282

All the bus stops along Service 282 are accessible to PIWs.

Service 284

All the bus stops along Service 284 are accessible to PIWs.

Service 285

All the bus stops along Service 285 are accessible to PIWs.

Service 292

All the bus stops along Service 292 are accessible except these 2 bus stops.

Service 403

All the bus stops along Service 403 are accessible to PIWs.

Existing Services

Service 2

All the bus stops along Service 2 are accessible except these 5 bus stops.

Service 3

All the bus stops along Service 3 are accessible except these 8 bus stops.

Service 5

All the bus stops along Service 5 are accessible except these 2 bus stops.

Service 7

All the bus stops along Service 7 are accessible to PIWs.

Service 12

All the bus stops along Service 12 are accessible except this 1 bus stop.

Service 13

All the bus stops along Service 13 are accessible except these 3 bus stops.

Service 14

All the bus stops along Service 14 are accessible except these 3 bus stops.

Service 15

All the bus stops along Service 15 are accessible except these 2 bus stops.

Service 17

All the bus stops along Service 17 are accessible except these 2 bus stops.

Service 18

All the bus stops along Service 18 are accessible to PIWs.

Service 19

All the bus stops along Service 19 are accessible to PIWs.

Service 21

All the bus stops along Service 21 are accessible except these 8 bus stops.

Service 22

All the bus stops along Service 22 are accessible except these 3 bus stops.

Service 24

All the bus stops along Service 24 are accessible except these 4 bus stops.

Service 27

All the bus stops along Service 27 are accessible to PIWs.

Service 29

All the bus stops along Service 29 are accessible except these 4 bus stops.

Service 34

All the bus stops along Service 34 are accessible except these 5 bus stops.

Service 36

All the bus stops along Service 36 are accessible except 2 bus stops.

Service 38

All the bus stops along Service 38 are accessible except this 1 bus stop.

Service 39

All the bus stops along Service 39 are accessible except this 1 bus stop.

Service 43

All the bus stops along Service 43 are accessible except these 2 bus stops.

Service 45

All the bus stops along Service 45 are accessible except these 2 bus stops.

Service 48

All the bus stops along Service 48 are accessible except these 3 bus stops.

Service 51

All the bus stops along Service 51 are accessible except these 5 bus stops.

Service 52

All the bus stops along Service 52 are accessible except these 5 bus stops.

Service 53

All the bus stops along Service 53 are accessible to PIWs.

Service 54

All the bus stops along Service 54 are accessible except these 4 bus stops.

Service 55

All the bus stops along Service 55 are accessible except this 1 bus stop.

Service 57

All the bus stops along Service 57 are accessible except this 1 bus stop.

Service 59

All the bus stops along Service 59 are accessible to PIWs.

Service 60

All the bus stops along Service 60 are accessible to PIWs.

Service 63

All the bus stops along Service 63 are accessible except these 2 bus stops.

Service 64

All the bus stops along Service 64 are accessible except these 4 bus stops.

Service 72

All the bus stops along Service 72 are accessible except these 8 bus stops.

Service 76

All the bus stops along Service 76 are accessible except these 3 bus stops.

Service 80

All the bus stops of Service 80 are accessible except these 3 bus stops.

Service 86

All the bus stops along Service 86 are accessible except these 2 bus stops.

Service 94

All the bus stops along Service 94 are accessible to PIWs.

Service 95

All the bus stops along Service 95 are accessible to PIWs.

Service 99

All the bus stops along Service 99 are accessible except these 2 bus stops.

Service 100

All the bus stops along Service 100 are accessible except these 2 bus stops.

Service 109

All the bus stops along Service 109 are accessible to PIWs.

Service 113

All the bus stops along Service 113 are accessible to PIWs.

Service 123

All the bus stops along Service 123 are accessible to PIWs.

Service 130

All the bus stops along Service 130 are accessible except these 6 bus stops.

Service 133

All the bus stops along Service 133 are accessible except these 5 bus stops.

Service 135

All the bus stops along Service 135 are accessible to PIWs.

Service 136

All the bus stops along Service 136 are accessible except these 10 bus stops.

Service 138

All the bus stops along Service 138 are accessible except these 8 bus stops.

Service 142

All the bus stops along Service 142 are accessible to PIWs.

Service 143

All the bus stops along Service 143 are accessible except these 4 bus stops.

Service 147

All the bus stops along Service 147 are accessible except these 2 bus stops.

Service 151

All the bus stops along Service 151 are accessible except these 4 bus stops.

Service 154

All the bus stops along Service 154 are accessible except these 2 bus stops.

Service 156

All the bus stops along Service 156 are accessible except these 3 bus stops.

Service 162

All the bus stops along Service 162 are accessible except these 4 bus stops.

Service 174

All the bus stops along Service 174 are accessible except these 13 bus stops.

Service 181

All the bus stops along Service 181 are accessible except this 1 bus stop.

Service 183

All the bus stops along Service 183 are accessible to PIWs.

Service 185

All the bus stops along Service 185 are accessible to PIWs.

Service 194

All the bus stops along Service 194 are accessible to PIWs.

Service 196

All the bus stops along Service 196 are accessible except this 1 bus stop.

Service 198

All the bus stops along Service 198 are accessible except these 3 bus stops.

Service 199

All the bus stops along Service 199 are accessible except these 2 bus stops.

Service 225

All the bus stops along Service 225 are accessible to PIWs.

Service 228

All the bus stops along Service 228 are accessible to PIWs.

Service 231

All the bus stops along Service 231 are accessible to PIWs.

Service 232

All the bus stops along Service 232 are accessible to PIWs.

Service 235

All the bus stops along Service 235 are accessible except this 1 bus stop.

Service 240

All the bus stops along Service 240 are accessible except this 1 bus stop.

Service 241

All the bus stops along Service 241 are accessible except this 1 bus stop.

Service 242

All the bus stops along Service 242 are accessible to PIWs.

Service 261

All the bus stops along Service 261 are accessible except this 1 bus stop.

Service 265

All the bus stops along Service 265 are accessible except these 3 bus stops.

Service 268

All the bus stops along Service 268 are accessible except this 1 bus stop.

Service 269

All the bus stops along Service 269 are accessible except this 1 bus stop.

Service 291

All the bus stops along Service 291 are accessible to PIWs.

Service 293

All the bus stops along Service 293 are accessible to PIWs.

Service 315

All the bus stops along Service 315 are accessible to PIWs.

Service 317

All the bus stops along Service 317 are accessible except this 1 bus stop.

Service 333

All the bus stops along Service 333 are accessible to PIWs.

Service 334

All the bus stops along Service 334 are accessible except this 1 bus stop.

Service 335

All the bus stops along Service 335 are accessible to PIWs.

Service 354

All the bus stops along Service 354 are accessible to PIWs.

Service 358

All the bus stops along Service 358 are accessible to PIWs.

Service 359

All the bus stops along Service 359 are accessible except this 1 bus stop.

Service 400

All the bus stops along Service 400 are accessible to PIWs.

Service 402

All the bus stops along Service 402 are accessible to PIWs.

Service 410

All the bus stops along Service 410 are accessible except these 2 bus stops.

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I. Deployment / Operations of WABs

Why was Service 21 selected as the first WAB service?
We selected Service 21 in close consultation with the LTA and VWOs. The route runs past the Handicaps Welfare Association in Whampoa and this is important as it will serve and benefit passengers in wheelchairs (PIWs) who visit the Association frequently. It also bypasses hospitals like Thomson Medical Centre, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, HMI Balestier Hospital, Ren Ci Hospital (Moulmein), Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital and Pasir Ris Polyclinic. In addition, the service also provides connection to major housing estates, such as Pasir Ris, Tampines, Bedok, St Michael’s, as well as MRT Stations, like Boon Keng, Farrer Park, Pasir Ris, Eunos, Kallang.

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How many new WABs will be introduced?
Since June 2006, we have been investing in new buses, all of which are wheelchair-accessible. By the end of 2012, we would have 2,050 WABs in our fleet. This will cost us some $854 million in all.

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How many WAB services do we have?
We are the first public transport operator in Singapore to offer WAB services. Beginning with just five WAB services in 2006, we continue to roll out more of such services over the years as the Authorities make more ground infrastructure such as bus stops and bus interchanges wheelchair friendly. Today, we run 80 WAB services to serve the needs of passengers-in-wheelchairs for greater accessibility.

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What other services will be deployed with WABs?
The deployment of next batch of WABs will be done in consultation with LTA and the VWOs.

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How long does it take for all your existing buses to be replaced with WABs?
Half of our fleet will be WABs in 2010. The entire fleet will be wheelchair accessible by 2023.

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Can a WAB accommodate all types of wheelchairs?
All wheelchairs, manual or motorised, will be allowed on board if they are within the dimensions of 70 cm in width and 120 cm in length.

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How should PIWs position themselves after boarding?
For safety reasons, they should be in a rear-facing position in the dedicated wheelchair lot, with their backs against the backrest. Once this is done, they should lock the wheels of their wheelchairs.

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What is the role of the BC? What are BCs expected to do whenever there is wheelchair bound commuter taking the bus?
(a) To stop the bus closer to the kerb on seeing a PIW at bus stop
(b) The passenger-in-wheelchair will enjoy priority boarding, where possible.
(c) Once passenger in the wheelchair is in position, BC may help the passenger tap his ez-link card or slot the fare into the coin box required.
(d) BC will render assistance to the passenger when necessary
(e) To stow the ramp to original position and conduct boarding activity for other commuters.

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What kind of training have BCs of WAB services undergone?
All BCs of WAB services have been trained to operate the ramp and assist PIWs to board and alight WABs.

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Will the driver be helping the wheelchair-user to board and alight from the bus?
BC will render assistance when required.

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What if it is raining, will your bus captain still come out to deploy and stow the wheelchair ramp for PIWs?
Yes, our bus captains will still have to assist the PIWs in their boarding and alighting activities by deploying and stowing the ramp regardless of rain or shine.

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II. Issues and Impact

Can PIWs board WABs serving non-wheelchair accessible routes?
Not all wheelchair-accessible buses are able to ferry wheelchair-bound persons at this point because the ground infrastructure is not always ready, making it dangerous for wheelchair-bound persons to board or alight. If a route is not a designated wheelchair-accessible bus route, it is likely that many bus stops along the way are not wheelchair-friendly. Hence, if a wheelchair-bound person boards at a bus stop, and alights at another that is not wheelchair-accessible, for instance, one where the kerb is lower than required, the bus ramp that is deployed will now slant at a much deeper angle. This could cause the wheelchair-bound person to fall forward. Alternatively, the bus stop could be one with steps/narrow passageways - both of which make it impossible for the wheelchair-bound passenger to manoeuvre his/her way through. It is for these safety reasons that we do not allow wheelchair-bound persons to board non-wheelchair-accessible bus (WAB) routes, even if the bus is a wheelchair-friendly one.

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Are folded wheelchairs allowed on SBS Transit's buses?
In line with the Public Transport Council's recommendation, we allow folded wheelchairs to be brought onboard our public buses.

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How do commuters obtain information on the estimated arrival time of WAB?
Schedules of WAB services are available on our website. Bus arrival information can also be obtained using iris NextBus, where WAB buses will be indicated.

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How will WAB affect the arrival times of the normal service?
The overall frequency of WAB services will remain unchanged. It is however very likely that whenever there is PIW using WAB, since boarding and alighting activities need more time, there will be a likelihood of buses catching up with one another or bus schedule delay since boarding and alighting activities need more time. We appeal for patience and tolerance from all customers.

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What if the PIW cannot board the bus that comes along because it is too crowded?
We appeal to the other commuters to move to the rear and make way for the PIW as far as possible. We are confident that Singaporeans are considerate and will make space to accommodate one PIW.

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What if more than one passenger in wheelchairs wants to board the same WAB?
More than one passenger in wheelchair can board a WAB on condition that the bus has sufficient wheelchair lots. Some WABs have one lot, others two. For safety reason, we seek the understanding of the second passenger in wheelchair to wait for the next WAB if there is only one wheelchair lot available. This is in line with what is practiced in many countries such as Metroline, Westbus, KMB.

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What is the exact location the PIW is advised to wait for the bus at the bus stop? Is the said spot sheltered?
The bus captain of the WAB will stop the bus close to the position of the PIW when he sees the person flagging for the bus. We have also worked together with LTA and VWOs on a suitable spot at the bus interchange queue head. As for bus stops, PIW should wait for a bus within the sheltered area.

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What is the estimated time required for PIW to board / alight WAB?
The whole process will take a couple of minutes as our bus captains will have to board and alight other commuters first before attending to the PIW. Other commuters will then have to wait for the PIW to board and pay, park the wheelchair, and then stow the ramp. It may take longer time if the bus is crowded. This will undoubtedly result in bus schedule delay.

Therefore, we would like to appeal to the other commuters who are affected by the boarding / alighting of PIW, or onboard other buses behind the WAB, to be understanding.

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What if the ramp is faulty?
Based on the experience of overseas operators, the frequency of manual ramp failing is much lower as compared to automatic ramp. Nevertheless, steps / procedures have been put in place for our bus captains to deal with failure of manual ramp such as arranging for the PIW to take the next WAB.

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Can commuters with pram/trolley use the ramp?
No, the ramp is catered specifically for the needs of passengers in wheelchairs.

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Can other passengers help to operate the ramp?
As it requires some familiarisation to operate the ramp, we would prefer other commuters to help push the wheelchair onto the bus and position them in the designated area. Later, we might embark on a campaign to educate other commuters to operate the ramp to minimise delay.

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LTA’s ANSWERS

III. Public Education Programme

What is the public education programme you will be introducing?
We have been working with LTA and VWOs on the public education programme for the launch of WABs. The VWOs will brief their members on the use and taking of WABs as well as the dissemination of timetable information on their websites/collaterals. After the unveiling of the prototype of WAB, we also displayed our WAB at the ‘Come and Play Day’, organised by Singapore Disability Sports Council for passengers in wheelchairs to get a first-hand experience.

With the launch of the WABs, we are putting up posters in all buses of Service 21 as well as at all bus stops of Service 21 and the bus interchange and terminal at both ends. There will also be wrap around messages on 10 of our WABs. In addition, we are printing brochures for the VWOs explaining how to board and alight on WABs.

WAB leaflet

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