An exhibition to promote disability inclusion on public buses was opened today at the Jurong East Bus Interchange (JEBI). It is part of a series of activities by Tower Transit Singapore (TTS) to mark the inaugural Caring Commuter Week which will run from 27 Nov to 5 Dec 2021. Other activities include an inclusivity course conducted by TTS and SG Enable for NUS students and the launch of wall murals by artists with disabilities at various bus interchanges.

The full list of activities is as follows:

1. Exhibition at JEBI to promote disability inclusion – The physical exhibition will be held at JEBI from 27 Nov to 31 Dec 2021 and will give visitors an insight into what people with physical disabilities experience on public buses. The exhibition content, jointly developed by TTS, SPD, the Public Transport Council (PTC) and the Land Transport Authority (LTA), will feature tips on how people with disabilities can commute safely and more comfortably on buses and how the public can offer their assistance. The exhibition structure is designed like the interior of a bus, complete with real stop buttons, seats and grab handles.
2. Public Bus Inclusivity Course (PBIC) for NUS Enablers at JEBI – Conducted by TTS Customer Experience & Inclusivity Officer (CXIO) Kishon Chong and SG Enable, the PBIC equips participants with practical skills to assist vulnerable commuters on the bus. A session of the PBIC will be conducted from 4pm to 6pm on 30 Nov 2021 at JEBI for five members of the NUS Enablers, an interest group of students from the National University of Singapore who aim to create an inclusive campus experience for students with special needs.

3. Launch of wall mural by clients of Down Syndrome Association (DSA) at Bukit Batok Bus Interchange (BBBI) – A wall mural by seven persons with down syndrome will be launched at BBBI at 11am on 2 Dec 2021 in the presence of Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Transport Mr Baey Yam Keng. The artists who are clients of DSA were asked to create an artwork that they feel represents an inclusive and caring public bus system. The artwork, a joint project between TTS, DSA, SG Enable and PTC, has been made into a wall mural measuring three metres tall and three metres wide for the Heart Zone at BBBI. The artists will be invited to say a few words about their artwork and will receive a token of appreciation from TTS at the launch.
4. Installation of wall mural by deaf artist Isaac Liang at Yishun Bus Interchange (YBI) – Deaf artist Isaac Liang was commissioned by TTS to create a wall mural for the Heart Zone at YBI. Measuring more than five metres wide and two metres tall, it depicts commuters helping one another other in a bus interchange. In his artist statement, Isaac said, “I wanted to capture the beauty of passengers of all ages, occupations, styles, religions and races coming together.” The wall mural will be installed on 28 Nov 2021.
5. Motorised wheelchair charging station at YBI – TTS will set up a motorised wheelchair charging station at YBI to take away the range anxiety that motorised wheelchairs users may have when commuting on public transport. Commuters can make use the charging station to charge their motorised wheelchairs from 28 Nov 2021.

TTS CXIO Cheryl Tan who is a motorised wheelchair user said, “This will act as a ‘safety net’ for motorised wheelchair users like me should we ever find that our battery is running low. It is especially practical to have at a bus interchange where most people make the last mile of their journey and where you’re most likely to be on the last bit of battery life.”