SBS Transit denies bus captain called woman 'siao', apologises for her distress and counsels him
A woman was left upset following an "unpleasant experience" with an SBS Transit bus driver.
Stomper J said the incident occurred along Paya Lebar Way at around 11.08am on May 5 and began when she tried to board bus service 76.
HER STORY
"At the time, there were two buses ahead of this driver's bus, and I was waiting for his bus to move forward so I could board more safely and easily with my baby in a stroller.
"However, the driver became visibly agitated and rudely gestured for me to board immediately. When I signalled that I wasn't ready, his irritation seemed to escalate.
"The bus had stopped with its rear on the roadside and was clearly outside the designated bus bay, which made boarding extremely difficult and unsafe for me and my child.
"This situation raised serious concerns about the safety and accessibility of public transport for parents with young children.
"Unfortunately, the unpleasantness did not end there. After boarding and securing the stroller with bus lock and my stroller lock, I stood right behind it. The driver insisted that I place my hands on the pram to hold it.
"When I didn't respond to his demand, he began speaking loudly in Mandarin to other passengers, seemingly assuming I wouldn't understand. Shockingly, he went as far as calling me 'siao'.
"The saddest moment was when I chose not to listen to him, he suddenly drove extremely fast at a certain point, seemingly to check if my pram would shake. I was shocked by his actions; even standing passengers like me lost our balance.
"I sincerely hope SBS Transit will review this incident and take proactive steps to train their drivers to be more considerate and empathetic, particularly towards parents who are travelling alone with young children. Even small acts of understanding and support can make a significant difference in ensuring public transport is safe, accessible and welcoming for all."
SBS TRANSIT RESPONDS
In response to a Stomp query, SBS Transit spokeswoman Mrs Grace Wu said: "We have looked into the incident, which included viewing the CCTV footage.
"We noted that the bus had stopped safely at the designated second bus bay of the bus stop where six passengers boarded it.
"In the midst of the passenger boarding activity, the bus captain noticed a commuter standing at the bus stop who had the intention of taking his bus. He then gestured to her to walk towards the bus to board it too.
"As she did not do so, the bus captain moved the bus forward after the bus in front of him had moved off, where she then boarded and wheeled her stroller into the wheelchair lot.
"She held onto the stroller initially, but later released her hold to use her mobile phone with both hands. The bus captain reminded her several times to hold onto the stroller out of concern for her child's safety. He was concerned that in an unforeseen situation when the emergency brake had to be applied, the stroller could be thrust forward and child inside and fellow passengers could be hurt.
"Regarding the word 'siao', we categorically deny that this was spoken by the bus captain. Based on the CCTV footage, which was supported by audio recording on board, the word was uttered by another commuter.
"On the driving behaviour of the bus captain, we found that he had driven in a steady and safe manner throughout the journey and did not notice any passenger who lost his/her balance, as alleged.
"Having said that, we acknowledge that the bus captain could have done better in this situation. For good customer service, he should not have gestured to her to walk towards the bus as she was travelling with a child. He could also have communicated more courteously in his engagement with the commuter.
"We apologise if this had caused her distress. We have since counselled the bus captain and are coaching him to do better.
"We would also like to take this opportunity to remind passengers to hold onto their strollers if a child is seated within. When the stroller restraint system is used, it should be fully locked to help secure the stroller during the journey.
"These will help to make journeys safe for caregivers and the children under their care when they travel on public buses."
