Steps inside 420 electric buses being lowered after seniors' feedback

The steps inside 420 new electric buses are being lowered after elderly passengers flagged the difficulty of navigating them to get to seating areas.

- Esther Loi

Work started in October to bring down the steps to the raised seating platforms on BYD and Zhongtong single-deck electric buses, for the convenience of older passengers and those with mobility issues, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said.

The steps to these platforms can be as high as 33cm.

Their height will be reduced to 23cm or lower, similar to the height of steps on staircases of double-decker buses, LTA told The Straits Times on Oct 24. It is working with the manufacturers on the changes.

“The modification will make it much easier and safer for elderly commuters and those with mobility challenges to access the seats,” added the authority.

It did not provide the total cost of the modification works when asked.

At present, 170 of these buses are plying the roads, with the first few having started service in December 2024.

The buses generally run on routes that pass through Hougang and Sengkang, such as services 80, 163 and 371.