Amos Atlantis

STOMPer iceblue was disgusted that the family who had caused a 5-hour standoff on board an SBS Transit bus was given a free ride home in a taxi. He feels they should have received a stiff penalty for their behaviour instead.

The family of four, comprising a Chinese national couple from Beijing, an elderly lady and her daughter (both Singaporean) as well as their maid were told by the bus captain to alight after they had brought a wheelchair on board the bus.

This was because the bus was not equipped with a padded wheelchair dock, which meant that transporting a wheelchair would have been unsafe for other commuters.

Here’s what the STOMPer wrote in an email today (Jan 19):

"I was surprised to read an article in Wanbao yesterday about this family, including two members from China, who ‘hijacked’ a public bus for about 5 hours in Singapore, and was given a free taxi ride home by SBS Transit. 

"The family had wanted to board a bus near Mandai and was refused by the bus driver for bringing a wheelchair up on the bus due to safety concerns, as wheelchairs are a safety hazard and might injure others on the bus if there are no safety straps onboard.

"The family refused to alight and left other commuters stranded on the bus.

"The reason given by the PRC woman was that the bus did not have signs that forbid wheelchairs to be brought up.

"The bus captain had to call another bus in to transfer the other commuters to.

"I am amazed by SBS Transit’s response in providing a free taxi ride home for the family to end the fiasco.

"The situation seems to have been mishandled. It just suggests one should make a fool out of yourself to have your requests granted. It sets a bad precedent.

"Clearly, in this scenario, the family had not only created a public nuisance, but also wasted taxpayer’s money by activating the police and increase costs for the public transport operator.

"The police, should have taken action against the family instead.

"No wonder our public transport costs are increasing."