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‘May I Have a Seat Please?’ Initiative Beneficial for Commuters With Invisible Medical Conditions

‘May I Have a Seat Please?’ Initiative by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) for Commuters With Invisible Medical Conditions

The ‘May I have a seat, please?’ initiative began as a pilot programme by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) through the Caring SG Commuters national movement in October 2019, to alert commuters about fellow passengers with invisible medical conditions who may require a seat while on public transport.

LTA Encouraged by Positive Feedback

'May I have a seat, please?' initiative by the Land Transport Authority (LTA)

Image: LTA/Facebook

Starting from Monday (26 Apr), commuters with long-term conditions may request for the ‘May I have a seat, please?’ lanyard and card at all Passenger Service Centres/Offices at MRT stations, bus interchanges and TransitLink Ticket Offices.

This announcement comes after the agency had received positive feedback about the initiative, prompting the expansion to further benefit commuters with long-term conditions to utilise a more sustainable and prominent brightly-coloured lanyard & card from the yellow sticker initially.

Invisible Medical Conditions

Samantha, 24, a beneficiary of the 'May I have a seat, please?' initiative (Photo: Ong Ye Kung/Facebook)

Samantha, 24, a beneficiary of the ‘May I have a seat, please?’ initiative (Photo: Ong Ye Kung/Facebook)

The initiative has proven beneficial for commuters like 24-year-old, Samantha. Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung brought to public attention on Wednesday (May 5) in a Facebook post.

Mr Ong mentioned that Samantha is in remission for leukaemia, and has other long-term conditions like atrial septal defect and flat foot. “But you can’t tell by looking at her. All these ‘invisible’ conditions make it tough for her to stand or walk for long,” he added.


Lanyard & Card Comes With More Benefits

With the expansion for the initiative to better cater to commuters with long-term conditions through the use of a lanyard & card, commuters like Samantha can ask for a seat on public transport more easily or better, be offered one without having to ask.

Additionally for Samantha, the new lanyard “is even more special as it incorporates a design by her, based on her favourite colours and cartoon characters!” added Mr Ong.


Where Can I Get the Lanyard & Card?

Commuters who require the ‘May I have a seat, please?’ lanyard & card may approach any Passenger Service Centres/Offices at MRT stations, bus interchanges and TransitLink Ticket Offices.


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Related Links
Travel Guide – SGTrains

External Links
“Encouraged by your positive feedback ? of our “May I Have a Seat Please” sticker for commuters with invisible medical conditions, we’ve extended the initiative into something more permanent – a brightly-coloured lanyard and card!” – LTA/Facebook
“Meet Samantha, 24. She takes public transport to work and often feels tired on the journey home.” – Ong Ye Kung/Facebook
LTA looking at ways to increase public awareness of sticker scheme – LTA
LTA Pilots New Initiative to Help Commuters with Invisible Medical Conditions – LTA
Let’s work together to show care for our fellow commuters – Caring SG Commuters

Photo & Image adapted from LTA/Facebook and Ong Ye Kung/Facebook

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Mark Loh

I'm a railway technology enthusiast with a broad interest in the various underlying technologies that power Singapore's train network.