Assessing Practice Where Strollers Have to Be Folded to Vacate Space for Wheelchair Users on Buses
Ministry of TransportSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the safety and protocol of requiring caregivers to fold strollers to vacate wheelchair bays for wheelchair users on buses. Mr Cai Yinzhou asked the Minister for Transport about safety assessments for caregivers managing multiple, sleeping, or special needs children, and how bus captains are trained when a child cannot be removed. In response, Mr Jeffrey Siow explained that bus captains are trained to assess situations, request stroller folding only where safe and practical, and seek operations centre guidance if issues arise. Additionally, the Land Transport Authority is conducting a small-scale trial across 10 bus services where wheelchair bays operate on a first-come, first-served basis. Stakeholder feedback, including from the persons with disabilities community, will be reviewed before deciding on future policy.
Transcript
72 Mr Cai Yinzhou asked the Minister for Transport given that passengers with strollers are to fold and vacate space for wheelchair users when buses are crowded (a) whether LTA has assessed the safety for a caregiver to do so with a sleeping child, multiple children, or a child with special needs; and (b) how bus captains are trained to manage scenarios where a child cannot be removed from the stroller.
Mr Jeffrey Siow: When a wheelchair user needs the wheelchair bay on buses, bus captains are trained to request for other passengers using the space to give way, including those with children in strollers. Bus captains are trained to assess the situation on board and work with passengers on how to optimise the space, including requesting that passengers fold their strollers, where it is safe and practical to do so. In some cases, caregivers either have genuine difficulty folding up the stroller or are unwilling to do so. For these situations, bus captains are trained to assess the situation and to seek further advice from the operations centre.
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) is currently conducting a small-scale trial on 10 bus services where the wheelchair bay would be utilised on a first-come, first-served basis by wheelchair users and parents with strollers. During the trial, LTA will continue to gather feedback, engage stakeholders and will consider all views received, including from the community of persons with disabilities, before deciding on the way forward.
Public transport is ultimately a shared space, and we need the understanding and cooperation of commuters to ensure safe and reliable journeys for all.