Argument between wheelchair user and driver holds up bus, passengers seek other transport options
Update:
Driver spoke 'impolitely' to wheelchair user who then prevented bus from moving off: Tower Transit
Original article
The bus was not moving.
An argument between a bus captain and a wheelchair user held up Tower Transit bus service 858 stopped at a Gambas Avenue bus stop, forcing passengers to seek other transport options.
Stomper Raven alerted Stomp to videos of the incident posted by TikTok user JFG on July 27.
In the videos, the man in the wheelchair appeared to have tried to board the via the rear door even though the wheelchair ramp had not been deployed.
The front wheels of his wheelchair were on the bus, but the back wheels were on the kerb.
The bus captain said in Mandarin that the man was wasting everybody's time, but the man insisted he was not leaving and challenged the bus captain to call the police.
As the bus was not moving, several passengers alighted by squeezing past the wheelchair at the door. A voice can be heard complaining about being late.
The TikTok user who posted the video commented: "I ended up paying $14 for a taxi because of this incident."
What was the argument about?
The Stomper pointed out that the wheelchair bay on the bus was occupied by an open stroller, which didn't leave room for the wheelchair.
"No one was giving in or moving aside," said the Stomper. "The stroller could've been folded to allow the wheelchair to board the bus.
"Two children were sitting in the foldable chair space that was meant for the wheelchair. That's possibly why the man thought he was being unfairly treated and felt he had the equal right to board the bus like anyone else."
According to the SBS Transit website, open strollers are allowed on all public buses and should be placed in the designated wheelchair space where available.
The website also states that wheelchair users may only board a wheelchair-accessible bus if there is an available wheelchair lot.
As for Tower Transit, its website answers the question of whether a person with a personal mobility aid (PMA), which is essentially a power-assisted wheelchair, can board a bus if an open stroller is already on the bus.
It states: "If there is only one designated wheelchair space and it is already occupied by another passenger with a PMA or open stroller, please wait for the next wheelchair-accessible bus."
Stomp has contacted Tower Transit for more info.
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