SBS Transit Has Launched Travel Buddy Programme for Persons with Disabilities

SBS Transit Has Launched Travel Buddy Programme for Persons with Disabilities (Photo: SBS Transit/Facebook)

A new travel buddy programme for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) was launched on Monday (Dec 19) by public transport operator SBS Transit.

The first of its kind in the public transport network, this new programme seeks to help PWDs travel independently and confidently on their public transport trip.

Travel Buddy Programme Launched by SBS Transit

Accompanying travel buddies are trained SBS Transit staff

Mr Baey Yam Keng, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Transport, with wheelchair user Mr Tan (in black shirt) and Station Guide & Travel Buddy Ms Yan (in blue shirt). (Photo: Baey Yam Keng/Facebook)

Passengers under this programme will receive helpful travel information and tips from their accompanying travel buddies, who are trained staff from SBS Transit.

These tips include locating the lifts within a train station and finding the train carriage with an allocated space for wheelchair users.

The travel buddy programme is currently only available to wheelchair users, but will soon be extended to passengers with other disabilities, including those who are visually handicapped.

Travel buddies will meet the passenger at preferred public transport node

Interchange Supervisor & Travel Buddy Ms Xue Moi with wheelchair user Mr Tan. (Photo: SBS Transit/Facebook)

The travel buddy will accompany the passenger from their preferred bus stop, bus interchange or train station and will guide them until their trip destination.

Speaking to The Straits Times, Mr Jeffrey Sim, Chief Executive of SBS Transit Rail, said the programme not only helps anxious wheelchair passengers allay their fears, but also helps caregivers feel assured when these passengers take public transport by themselves.

He added that some travel buddies are also PWDs who can empathise with the users.

Service is free of charge, and pre-registration is required

The travel buddy service is offered free of charge with pre-registration required through the operator’s website beforehand.

SBS Transit said up to three sessions can be booked for the same route for familiarisation purposes, where a sector of the journey must include travelling on a bus or train service operated by them.

These include travelling on the North East Line (NEL), Downtown Line (DTL) and Sengkang–Punggol LRT (SPLRT).

MORE INFO: SBS Transit Travel Buddy Programme »

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Related Links
North East Line – SGTrains
Downtown Line – SGTrains
Sengkang LRT – SGTrains
Punggol LRT – SGTrains

External Links
Travel Buddy Programme – SBS Transit [Accessed 22 Dec 2022]
“Well, we’ve got good news as we’ve just launched a Travel Buddy programme that will help Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) travel independently and confidently.” – SBS Transit/Facebook [Accessed 22 Dec 2022]
“SBS Transit Ltd’s new “Travel with Confidence” programme includes the Travel Buddy and Stair Climber initiatives which provides dedicated assistance to commuters in need.” – Baey Yam Keng/Facebook [Accessed 22 Dec 2022]
New SBS Transit programme helps wheelchair users navigate routes with travel buddies as guides – ST [Accessed 22 Dec 2022]

Images: SBS Transit/Facebook, Baey Yam Keng/Facebook
This article first appeared on SGTrains.