Has it worked? Stomper says carrying 'May I have a seat please' card can be quite embarrassing
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The "May I have a seat please" card is meant to help commuters identify those with hidden or invisible medical conditions who need a seat on public transport.
Has it worked?
Stomper Thomas pointed to The Straits Times article "The invisible struggles of those with hidden conditions on Singapore's public transport" about issues that those with hidden conditions still face, such as Ms Vivien Shiw.
Though she looks young and healthy, she lives with autoimmune diseases Sjogren's and vasculitis, as well as arthritis, which make standing for long painful.
"Ms Shiw, who has been carrying the card for about a year, said she often gets stares from other commuters. No one has offered her a seat on her journey from Sengkang to Kent Ridge for work," reported ST.
Thomas said: "This 'May I have a seat please' card was started by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) in 2019, but people with hidden conditions still find it hard to get priority seats because they may look young and healthy on the outside and no one believes them."
He added: "Carrying 'May I Have a Seat Please' card can be quite embarrassing.
"Imagine the stares. It is unbelievable that LTA can't think of a better solution after so many years."
The Stomper proposed his own solution: "A card, fob, or even a phone or smartwatch app that pings an indicator light on a priority seat. A passenger with priority taps the device, and a small light or icon on the priority seat illuminates.
"This way, there is no doubt who the seat is reserved for. No more guessing or uncomfortable situations, reducing awkwardness. The clear visual cue will instantly show who needs the seat.
"This can empower those with priority, making it easier to claim their rightful spot."
Thomas added: "I am certain that if LTA asks the public for solutions and gets crowd-sourced ideas, they can improve the quality of MRT rides for folks with hidden conditions."
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