All the buzz on bus stops in Singapore.

If you think bus stops are boring, think again! From the enchanting series of fruit-styled bus stops at the Japanese island of Nagasaki, to the luxurious, air-conditioned ones found in Dubai, bus stops around the world are not just places for buses to stop. Rather, they add to the city landscape and boost the whole commuting experience.

So… How do Singapore bus stops measure up?

Back in the 1980s, bus stops in Singapore were pretty basic. They only had seats, a bus stop pole displaying bus numbers, and an information panel with service information. These features still exist today, but just as Singapore’s urban landscape has developed and commuter needs grown, so have bus stop designs.

Take a look at some of the bus stop designs over the years!

Building our bus stops

Check out the latest model of our bus stops from the 2020s and the below features!

1. Staying cool as a cucumber
Or at very least, not so sweaty, with a green roof that reduces ambient temperature and enhances greenery.

2. Safety from the storm
With a back panel/rain screen and side panel shielding you from the storm, you can stay dry — while still keeping a look out for your bus in plain view.

Plus with spacing between drainage slots reduced from 6m to 3m, you’re safe from ponding and getting soaked when buses come splashing by during thunderstorms.

3. A literal glow-up
Vibrant graphics, bigger fonts, and real time information on incoming buses. We’re talking about PIDS@Stop, your ticket to a seamless bus journey.

4. Space to stretch out…
… And to lean back with priority seats fitted with backrests and armrests. Do a nice thing and give them up if someone with mobility challenges arrives though — with new cantilever seats taking up less room, you’ve got plenty of space to stand and still be in the shade!

5. What goes into the science of our bus stop shelters?
Crafting commuter-friendly bus stops is an ever-evolving journey, and we’re committed to ensuring we design them to offer the best public transport experience possible. Here’s how:

Our top priorities

❤ Safety
❤ Accessibility
❤ Weather protection
❤ Visibility of traffic
❤ Flow of commuters

#1 Research, research, research

It’s not all desk-research! We also brave the elements and go into the field for extensive on-site studies. Because it’s only when the team is physically there through rain, shine and peak hours that we’ll know which features work best!

Did you know? This field research is why bus stops don’t have screens to block the sun from the front. We found that these screens obstruct the view of oncoming buses. The lower headroom was also a potential safety hazard for commuters.

#2 Conversations with you

Hoping to have new features like speakers to announce the arrival of buses, interactive maps and charging stations for your devices at bus stops? We’ve heard — during surveys with bus captains and conversations with members of the public! These regular feedback sessions help us assess if new features introduced are well-received, and what we should include for future design enhancements to enhance your bus commuting experience.

#3 Collabs and co-creation

As they say, teamwork makes the dream work! We’ve come together with different agencies to conceptualise, design and develop bus stops that go far beyond just “letting buses stop”. Check out some of the coolest collabs we’ve had, both past and present:

Project Bus Stop at Jurong East

Bored waiting for the bus? You wouldn’t be at Project Bus Stop! Trialled in 2016, this bus stop raised the bar for what a bus stop can offer. It featured a bookshelf stocked with books, art pieces from local illustrator Lee Xin Li, a swing, rooftop garden, and digital boards for you to plan your route, check the weather or catch up on the latest news. And to top it all off, it even had solar panels to offset electricity usage!

Collaborators: DP Architects, IMDA, LTA, NEA, LTA, NParks, SLA, NLB, URA
Where: Blk 134 Jurong East Central
When: 2016

Airbitat Oasis Smart Bus Stop

Over a three-year trial, we tested the Airbitat Air Cooling System technology. Designed with overhead nozzles originally, it was redesigned a year later to embed the nozzles into columns that were attached to the bus stop seats. This revision addressed feedback on optimising cooling effectiveness, as well as operating and maintenance efficiency. Sensors provided a smart solution for real-time monitoring of air pollution levels, temperature, commuter traffic and suspicious activities.

However, the high operations and maintenance costs (in comparison to a typical bus stop), led to the conclusion of this bus stop trial in Aug 2021.

Collaborators: Innosparks
Where: Dhoby Ghaut station, outside Plaza Singapura
When: 2018, 2019

Project Recharge at Boon Lay

Running low on time to log your active minutes? For two weeks in November 2022, commuters had the chance to boost their heart rate with simple exercises at the Boon Lay “bus stop-gym”. And here's the kicker: each quick workout allowed them to recharge their mobile phones too! Talk about a boost up.

Collaborators: LTA, SUTD, MOHT
Where: 200 Boon Lay Drive
When: 2022

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