Facebook user Bella Bii shared an incident that she witnessed between an SBS Transit bus captain, and a wheelchair user and her daughter on board a bus.
She said that the woman had approached the bus captain at Hougang Interchange because her wheelchair-bound mother needed a ramp in order to board the bus.
The bus captain then allegedly told the mother and daughter off in mandating, blaming them for not letting him know earlier and that he has to now reposition the bus so as to deploy the ramp for them to get onto the bus.
He then allegedly vented his unhappiness by slamming the ramp onto the ground, with the loud slamming sounds shocking the other passengers inside.
The netizen added that the driver then drove angrily and dangerously on the road, jamming his brakes repeatedly, and also remained rude to the wheelchair user and her daughter throughout.
He then allegedly slammed the ramp again as they were alighting from the bus.
SBS Apologises
The Vice President (Special Grade) of Customer Experience and Communications at SBS Transit, Grace Wu, said that they have reviewed the CCTV footage from the bus and conducted an investigation, according to MustShareNews.
She said that they found the wheelchair user and her daughter not waiting at the designated wheelchair boarding point, resulting in the driver having to manoeuvre the bus twice and check physically if he could safely deploy the ramp.
They also noted that the driver had made a loud remark to the passengers because he had to spend more time manoeuvring the bus, which he would’ve avoided had they waited at the proper boarding point.
SBS Transit apologised for it and has since reprimanded the bus captain, saying that it was ‘unacceptable” and that they apologise for his “lapse”, as well as reminding him to be more “customer-centric”.
On the slamming of the ramp, SBS said that the bus captain has a back injury and can’t bend down fully to gently place the ramp on the ground.
They added that he didn’t slam it forcefully out of anger or aggression, and they also said that they found no evidence of him driving unsafely or suddenly braking during the journey.
The netizens’ post (SIC)
SBS Transit Ltd I would like to report and share against Bus Captain of SG 5027D , Hougang central bus interchange, bus 147 at 9.55am . I was boarding up this bus 147 at 9.50am .
There was an old lady in wheelchair with her daughter, trying to board up this bus . Her daughter went to approach the bus captain as she need to pus h the wheelchair up to board the bus.
The bus driver was impatient, venting his temper and scolded the old lady in wheelchair in Chinese , saying “ 为什么你们没早讲？ 害我要为了你们 ，重新 移车位？.
The driver bang the platform floor for the wheelchair real hard and every passenger on board was in shock and silence.
He kept on scolding the daughter and old lady in wheelchair repeatedly . At the same time, thru out the whole journey towards Hougang Avenue 8, he was driving in anger on road , and his behaviour is creating unnecessary insecurities and it would affect his judgement on road while driving .
There was quite afew passengers on board, mainly almost elderly. He even jam brake repeatedly , causing unstable road movement .
I am feeling so angry toward this kind of driver that SBS transit had hired . His verge of anger would have cost lives and put other passengers in danger . The way how he approached and portray himself in front of public as a Singapore SBS transit driver really disgraced the company image and reputation .
I Could only managed to take the video when the old lady is alighting off at Hougang ave 8 opposite Xinmin primary school at the end , I am unable to take video when they first boarded up the bus interchange .
You can also hear a loud BANG PONG when he flip the platform down for the wheelchair. After the Ah Ma alighted, he even flip back the play floor door hard enough till the passengers at the bus top all stare at him .
But the bus have so many CCTV and SBS transit must and should investigate what is happening !!!!. This driver deserve a warning letter for this kind of disgusting, no manner , rudeness behaviour attitude.
Dear Captain , one day you will grow old too . Please be kind , patience and considerate. I don’t think you will like it if anyone treat your parent or grandparent like this . I don’t think you will like it if one fine day u ended up in wheelchair and a bus driver just verge the anger onto you .
This isn’t right as a human.. you are old enough to know that your behaviours and reaction toward this pair of innocent elderly as a man, as a human being , is really unforgivable.
Whatever your anger, your reaction, words that coming out from your mouth , every CCTV in the bus, passengers can witness it .. and as well as remaining passengers that had also board up your bus 147 at opposite xinming primary school Hougang bus station saw everything.
Pls kindhearted Singaporean pls share this video around to make sure SBS investigate this matter and let this driver get this punishment ! CCTV in the bus capture everything from 9.55am at Hougang central interchange to 10.09am at xinming primary school Hougang Avenue 8.