10 buses with USB ports to hit the roads on Thursday
SINGAPORE — Commuters on five bus services from Bukit Batok, Choa Chu Kang and Woodlands will get to charge their mobile devices on the go from Thursday (Sept 1).
SINGAPORE — Commuters on five bus services from Bukit Batok, Choa Chu Kang and Woodlands will get to charge their mobile devices on the go from Thursday (Sept 1).
Commuters on SMRT Services 61, 67, 963, 969 and 985 will be the first to try out the new service when the first 10 double-decker buses equipped with USB charging ports hit the roads.
Each bus will have 41 USB charging ports, which will be located near the inner seats to encourage bus riders to move in. Ports will also be available at the wheelchair bay on wheelchair accessible buses. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) said in a joint press release with SMRT on Wednesday that an additional 137 new buses with this feature will be rolled out on other routes from October onwards.
SMRT and LTA added: “The addition of USB charging ports to buses will not affect the overall operations of the buses, and commuters will not incur any additional cost for the use of the ports.”
The USB charging ports were first featured in two concept buses at the inaugural bus carnival organised by LTA earlier this year. And it was well-received, with 72 per cent out of 22,000 respondents keen on USB ports being incorporated on public buses in future. More features chosen by the public will be incorporated in future.
LTA group director for public transport Yeo Teck Guan said: “The introduction of the USB charging ports is part of the review and upgrade in the design of public buses in Singapore. Other interior features that could feature in future public buses include information display panels, better seat comfort, lightings, and foldable seats.
“This is a crucial part of making public transport in Singapore the choice mode of transport as we move to a car-lite society.”