S’pore enhances transport infrastructures for PWDs

In July, 1,700 buses were equipped with two wheelchair bays.

Singapore improved its transportation infrastructures to better accommodate people with disabilities (PWDs) by refining accessibility and facilitating more active participation in community life.

In July, 1,700 buses were equipped with two wheelchair bays, more priority seats, built-in audio announcements to inform passengers with visual impairment of the next bus stop, and yellow colour sleeves on bus station poles with push bells to enhance their visibility. 

Moreover, 98% of the bus stops are barrier-free, with the remaining bus stops, except for a small number with site constraints, to be barrier-free by 2025. 

Over 1,000 pedestrian crossings have been equipped with Green Man Plus, giving PWDs up to an additional 13 seconds to cross the road depending on the length of the crossing and 1,500 more Green Man Plus crossings will be added by 2027.

More pedestrian crossings will be upgraded with 24/7 on-demand audible traffic signals to enable PWDs to navigate independently during their commutes and 325 pedestrian crossings will be upgraded by 2025.

The Hearing Enhancement System (HES) has been installed at the passenger service centres in Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) stations and will be available in all future MRT stations to help commuters with hearing aids communicate effectively with service staff. 

New bus interchanges, such as Jurong Town Hall and Tengah bus interchanges, are equipped with HES, and existing bus interchanges undergoing upgrading works will also be equipped with HES. 

Furthermore, all new stations on the TEL are equipped with tactile and Braille signs on the handrails of staircases and ramps, to aid commuters with visual impairment to navigate more independently.

In August, seven existing bus interchanges, namely: Ang Mo Kio, Bedok, Boon Lay, Clementi, Sengkang, Serangoon, and Toa Payoh, were identified for upgrading works, which includes the installation of changing rooms.

From November 2022, accessible changing rooms were progressively installed at all new MRT stations, bus interchanges, and integrated transport hubs, fitted with a motorised changing bed. 

These improvements are part of the enhancements outlined in the Enabling Masterplan 2030 (EMP2030), a plan designed to support PWDs and aid them in actively contributing to the community.