An Inclusive Public Transport System
We are all about helping people get to where they want to go, safely and efficiently. That includes the elderly, those with disabilities, and families travelling with young children. This is why lifts, ramps, and aids for people with poor hearing or eyesight, are provided across the public transport system — offering convenience at every turn.
Making it Easier to Get Around
Public transport is always a good option, whether you are making your way in a Personal Mobility Aid (PMA) such as a wheelchair or mobility scooter, or taking your junior out in a stroller. Know you’re in good hands — the MRT, LRT and public buses are designed to accommodate these needs, ensuring comfortable journeys for everyone.
Open Strollers and PMAs within the allowable weight and dimensions can be brought onboard public transport.
Weight (including user): ≤ 300kg
Length: ≤ 120cm
Width: ≤ 70cm
Height (from floor to top of PMA or user’s head when seated, whichever is higher): ≤ 150cm
Use of other active mobility devices such as bicycles, power-assisted bicycles, motorised and non-motorised Personal Mobility Devices (PMDs) can be brought on public transport, but battery-powered ones must be switched off. These devices must not be larger than 120cm in length, 70cm in width and 40cm in height when folded.
Using Your Strollers and PMAs on Public Transport?
Read this handy manual Baby on Board? No Biggie! for tips on how to navigate through the public transport with your stroller!
Tips to Ensure a Safer Ride
- Use the designated shared space on public buses and trains for PMAs and strollers. This will keep the aisles, entries and exits clear for smooth movement and make the ride more comfortable for all.
- Secure strollers using the restraints provided on buses and engage the brakes on the stroller.
- PMAs are best positioned facing the rear of the bus, and have their brakes engaged.
- Take your child's stroller through the front door of the bus, unless it is too large. You can approach the bus captain if you need help with bringing up your stroller, or with fare payment if you are using the rear door.
- Inform the bus captain to deploy the ramp available at the rear bus door if you are using a PMA.
For a safer and more enjoyable commute for everyone, kindly follow the bus captains' instructions.
Barrier-Free Access
All public buses and trains are wheelchair accessible, with barrier-free access routes in all train stations and bus interchanges.
Buses
98% of our bus stops are barrier-free accessible, except a small number with site constraints. You may check by looking for the wheelchair logo on the bus stop pole, or check the MyTransport mobile app (iOS | Android)
Trains
Wherever possible, rubber fillers are installed to plug the gap between the platforms and the trains. Our station staff and service ambassadors are also ready to lend a hand — just approach our Passenger Service Centres.
Taxi Facilities
LTA is in the process of reviewing our existing taxi stands to make them barrier-free where possible.
Wayfinding with Braille and Tactile Aids
Tactile paving shows the way at MRT stations and bus interchanges. If you use a cane for navigation, you can depend on them to get to the lifts, platforms, toilets, entrances, Passenger Service Centres and other essential services. New train stations along the Thomson-East Coast Line also have an extra touch — braille and embossed text on the handrails along staircases and ramps, as well as in the public toilets.
Hearing Enhancement System
Commuters who wear hearing aids now have an easier time communicating with our Passenger Service Centre staff. A Hearing Enhancement System (HES) is employed at all Thomson-East Coast Line MRT stations and will be included in all future stations and existing bus interchanges (those that are undergoing upgrading works).
Looking Out for Commuters
Helping Hand Scheme
Notice someone wearing one of these yellow signs from LTA? A gracious response would be most welcome, especially when it’s difficult for the wearer to ask for assistance.
1. “May I have a seat please”
Not all health conditions or disabilities are visible. Commuters with short-term conditions (such as those on medical leave) can ask for this sticker before their trip.
2. “This is a wheelchair”
Paediatric wheelchairs are easily mistaken for strollers. This sign tells public transport staff and other commuters that such paediatric wheelchair cannot be folded. Bus captains may also help by activating the ramp for boarding and alighting.
3. “Please alert me when I am approaching my stop”
When low vision, dementia or other conditions make it difficult for a commuter to know where to alight, bus captains and fellow commuters can let them know to get ready when the bus is nearing their destination.
4. Universal Helping Hand card
For commuters whose needs are not met with the three Helping Hand cards mentioned above, they may instead use the new universal Helping Hand card. It allows commuters to specify the help that they require at the back of the card.
The Helping Hand scheme follows positive feedback from LTA’s pilot of the “May I have a seat please” sticker, as well as Go-Ahead Singapore’s subsequent trial. The lanyard designs were adapted from artwork by commuters with disabilities or special needs through an art competition jointly organised by LTA and a youth group, the Movement of Inclusivity.
These Helping Hand identifiers can be obtained from:
- Passenger Service Centres at MRT stations and bus interchanges.
- SimplyGo Ticket Offices at Ang Mo Kio, Chinatown, Clementi, Tampines, Woodlands and Yishun MRT stations, and Ang Mo Kio, Bedok and Jurong East bus interchanges.
Used one and received some care? Do show your appreciation and spread the cheer.
Dementia Go-To Points (GTPs)
Put your mind at ease when Grandpa or Grandma are out and about, even if they are living with dementia. All public transport nodes serve as “safe-return” Go-To Points for people with dementia, where members of the public can lead them to if they seem lost. Our staff are trained to help reunite them with their families or caregivers.
Information about dementia-related services is also provided at the GTPs. Other Dementia GTPs can be found around the island, too.
Caring Commuter Champions
Sign Up as A Caring Commuter Champion
Caring Commuter Champions is a Volunteer Corps initiated by the Caring SG Commuters Committee, encouraging commuters to show care and offer assistance to those in need during their daily commute on the public transport network. You can recognise volunteers by the t-shirts they wear.
Make a difference as a Caring Commuter Champion and sign up to receive online training on how to help vulnerable commuters appropriately. Let's be part of the Caring SG Commuters movement.
Giving Way to Those in Need
Priority Queues for Boarding
Notice any elderly passengers, less mobile commuters or families with young children at our MRT/LRT stations and bus interchanges? Priority access is offered to them, and signs at lifts, platform screen doors and queue zones remind other commuters to kindly give way. An inclusive transport system means everyone has an important part to play.
Know what to do when you’re stuck in a queue — give way to the elderly, expectant mothers, families with strollers and commuters with disabilities! These more vulnerable groups can also make use of the Priority Queue zones next to the usual queues at bus interchanges and MRT/LRT stations, where seats are also available for a comfortable wait.
Unfortunately, if the bus is here and the designated wheelchair space on board is already occupied or the bus is very crowded, PMA users may need to wait for the next bus, while strollers will have to be folded and carried.
Priority Seats
All bus seats between the entrance and exit doors are designated as Priority Seats, as well as the first row after the exit door.
Making Your Commute More Enjoyable
A day out on the public transport system is convenient and comfortable. Leave the stress behind, as every effort is made to make your journey more pleasant.
More Ergonomic Elder-Friendly Seats
Seats at bus stops, taxi stands, bus interchanges and MRT stations are designed with armrests to aid sitting and getting up. At new MRT stations, seats are conveniently located at points where seniors may need to rest. They also have backrests and high-contrast colours for more visibility, to prevent falls.
Family-Friendly Facilities
Our latest bus interchanges and MRT stations have baby care rooms, diaper changing stations and child-height toilets and wash basins.
More Ways to Receive Public Annoucements
Announcements on a busy train can sometimes be hard to hear, but overhead electronic signboards in the carriages make it easy to read them as well.
