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Jun 5, 2010
Nightmare of a bus ride
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ON MAY 27, around 6pm, my mother and I boarded SMRT service 960 along Bukit Panjang Road, towards Marina Centre, planning to alight at KK Women's and Children's Hospital. The bus was crowded but we found standing space in different spots.
The bus ride was bumpy and uncomfortable. Somewhere before Dunearn Gardens condominium, the driver tried to overtake a truck and reach the stop outside the condo as the lights were changing. He did not make it and the bus was caught in the middle of a pedestrian crossing as the vehicles in front had stopped moving. Unmindful of his error, the driver continued to honk at the vehicles in front.
As the bus neared KKH, I breathed a sigh of relief. But the nightmare had only begun. By the time the bus reached KKH it was quite crowded. As it was not easy to make my way to the rear, I asked the driver to open the front door for me. He grudgingly did so and I managed to get down before he closed it again fast so as not to take in more passengers.
But when I looked around, my 55-year-old mother, who was waiting at the rear door, was still in the bus. I saw her anxiously pressing the bell but to no avail. So I ran to the front door and knocked to alert the driver. He just drove off. My mother had no choice but to alight at the next stop and walk some 500m back.
Later, she told me she had approached the driver at the next stop to ask him why he had not opened the door for her. Instead of apologising, he scolded her for not being at the door early enough. She tried to tell him she was there but he had closed the door fast. Instead of admitting his mistake, he brusquely told her to get down, saying he would have to drive off otherwise.
Bus drivers are at the front line of our tourism and service sectors and their actions and attitudes may make or break the image of Singapore.I hope SMRT will investigate this incident and correct any lapses in its training system to ensure that our public transport system continues to be world class.
Chu Yue Xiu (Ms)
(PRC?)
Nightmare of a bus ride
<!-- by line --><!-- end by line -->
<!-- end left side bar --><!-- story content : start -->
ON MAY 27, around 6pm, my mother and I boarded SMRT service 960 along Bukit Panjang Road, towards Marina Centre, planning to alight at KK Women's and Children's Hospital. The bus was crowded but we found standing space in different spots.
The bus ride was bumpy and uncomfortable. Somewhere before Dunearn Gardens condominium, the driver tried to overtake a truck and reach the stop outside the condo as the lights were changing. He did not make it and the bus was caught in the middle of a pedestrian crossing as the vehicles in front had stopped moving. Unmindful of his error, the driver continued to honk at the vehicles in front.
As the bus neared KKH, I breathed a sigh of relief. But the nightmare had only begun. By the time the bus reached KKH it was quite crowded. As it was not easy to make my way to the rear, I asked the driver to open the front door for me. He grudgingly did so and I managed to get down before he closed it again fast so as not to take in more passengers.
But when I looked around, my 55-year-old mother, who was waiting at the rear door, was still in the bus. I saw her anxiously pressing the bell but to no avail. So I ran to the front door and knocked to alert the driver. He just drove off. My mother had no choice but to alight at the next stop and walk some 500m back.
Later, she told me she had approached the driver at the next stop to ask him why he had not opened the door for her. Instead of apologising, he scolded her for not being at the door early enough. She tried to tell him she was there but he had closed the door fast. Instead of admitting his mistake, he brusquely told her to get down, saying he would have to drive off otherwise.
Bus drivers are at the front line of our tourism and service sectors and their actions and attitudes may make or break the image of Singapore.I hope SMRT will investigate this incident and correct any lapses in its training system to ensure that our public transport system continues to be world class.
Chu Yue Xiu (Ms)
(PRC?)
