Panel to explore ways to make public transport more family-friendly

SINGAPORE — A new advisory panel has been formed to make recommendations on developing a more family-friendly public transport system, Senior Minister of State (Transport) Lam Pin Min said yesterday.

The panel will be co-chaired by Mr Richard Magnus, chairman of the Public Transport Council (PTC), and Mr Sitoh Yih Pin, chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee (GPC) for Transport.

“A family-friendly public transport system lies at the heart of a family-friendly nation.

“My aspiration is that families who now own cars because they need to ferry their children or their elderly parents, will not need to do so any more in the future,” said Dr Lam in a Facebook post.

The Family-Friendly Transport Advisory Panel will comprise representatives from diverse backgrounds, and “they will also consult widely”, added Dr Lam, who is also Senior Minister of State (Health).

Mr Magnus said the new panel “will allow us to pay closer attention to the needs of our commuters, especially parents who travel with young children or elderly dependents”.

“This is in line with PTC’s existing advisory role to the Transport Minister on transport matters, as we continue to look at ways to make our public transport system more inclusive,” he added.

Expressing a similar sentiment, Mr Sitoh said he is encouraged by the formation of this panel “as it will allow us to take a deeper look at how we can create a transport system that is more inclusive for all commuters”.

Mr Sitoh said he is working closely with Mr Magnus to set up this panel, and they would be sharing more in due course.