The Land Transport Authority (LTA) will introduce new regulations from 23 September 2026 to encourage positive commuter conduct on public buses and at bus interchanges and terminals. These will foster a safer, more considerate and pleasant public transport environment for all.
2 Under the Transport Sector (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act, which was passed in October 2025, LTA set out its plans to align the regulatory framework against nuisance and disruptive behaviour across buses and trains, with the regulations complementing the existing Conditions of Carriage introduced for public bus operators.
3 Under the new Bus Services Industry (Control of Conduct and Activities – Public Bus) Regulations 2026 and Bus Services Industry (Control of Conduct and Activities – Bus Interchange) Regulations 2026, nuisance and disruptive behaviour on public buses and at bus interchanges and terminals will become offences. These include causing a nuisance or annoyance to other passengers by placing one’s feet on seats or playing audio at loud volume, littering, eating or drinking onboard buses. The maximum penalty for these offences is $500. More serious offences, such as causing obstruction or danger to fellow commuters within bus interchanges/terminals, or the soiling of any part of a public bus, bus interchange, or terminal, carry a maximum penalty of $5,000. These penalties are aligned with those under the existing Rapid Transit Systems Regulations.
4 In managing any disruptive behaviour on buses, the priority is to minimise inconvenience to other commuters and ensure that the bus service is not disrupted. Similar to the rail regulatory framework, empowered staff from public bus operators such as ticket inspectors and bus interchange staff may issue Administrative Notifications of Offences (Administrative NOO) to persons who are suspected of committing an offence. LTA will follow up with investigations thereafter. This complements existing processes that public bus operators have in place to manage nuisance and disruptive behaviour.
5 Bus captains will not be similarly empowered to issue Administrative NOO, so as not to affect their core duty of safely operating the bus. However, they continue to be empowered by the Conditions of Carriage to advise passengers to stop nuisance or disruptive behaviour. Bus captains may require passengers who fail to comply to alight, and where a passenger refuses to cooperate, bus captains can request help from the Bus Operations Control Centre, or from the Police in egregious cases.
6 Public transport is a shared space, and every commuter has a part to play in ensuring a gracious and pleasant commuting environment. Notwithstanding these new regulations, LTA and the public bus operators will continue to exercise discretion and fairness in managing inconsiderate commuters, especially for cases involving commuters with physical or mental health conditions. LTA will also continue working with public transport operators and community stakeholders to encourage considerate behaviour, while taking enforcement action against nuisance and disruptive behaviour, to ensure a better commuting experience for all.
