SINGAPORE: A new bus stop that has caused consternation among commuters due to poor visibility may be fitted with screens that display footage of approaching buses.
Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat acknowledged that the bus stop opposite Parkway Parade mall had its “downside” but on Saturday (Jul 6) explained the reasons for its design and location.
In a Facebook post, Mr Chee also said he had directed the Land Transport Authority (LTA) to consider solutions that would alleviate the problem.
POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
The bus stop, located outside Marine Parade MRT Station’s exit 2, has pillars lined up at the front of the bus stop, as opposed to the back, as it is typically done.
LTA, speaking to TODAY on Friday, attributed this to site constraints like underground drainage and space limitations. Mr Chee elaborated on this in his Facebook post, explaining that constructing pillars on top of the underground drains at the back of the bus stop would impede future maintenance work.
Addressing commuters’ concerns that the pillars in front blocked approaching buses, he mooted the possibility of installing cameras pointing towards oncoming traffic and displaying the footage on screens inside the bus stop.
“In this way, commuters who are seated inside the bus stop can see the oncoming buses and have more time to get ready for their boarding,” he wrote.
“I have directed LTA to consider this suggestion and other solutions to make the bus stop more user-friendly for commuters.”
If this worked, Mr Chee said, the same could be applied to other bus stops that face the same issue.