Helping Hand scheme expanded to assist more commuters
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Under the expanded Helping Hand scheme, commuters travelling in a paediatric wheelchair can ask for a "This is a wheelchair" card.
ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR
Mahima Srinidhi Hari, Chen Xinyi
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SINGAPORE – Passengers with different needs have more ways to seek the assistance of those around them in the public transport network with the launch on Friday of two new cards under the Helping Hand scheme.
One of the new cards is “This is a wheelchair”, which assists those travelling in a paediatric wheelchair to alert public transport staff and other passengers to give way to them, especially at designated wheelchair spaces.
A paediatric wheelchair could look like a regular stroller or pram, which may be required to be folded on some buses.
The second new card is “Please alert me when I am approaching my stop”, which helps passengers with visual impairments or conditions such as dementia by alerting bus captains or fellow passengers to notify them when they are nearing their destinations.
The Helping Hand scheme is an initiative by the Caring SG Commuters Committee to foster a more caring, welcoming and inclusive public transport system.
Under this scheme, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) piloted the “May I have a seat please” sticker in October 2019 to help passengers be aware of those with hidden or invisible medical conditions who need a seat more for their public transport journeys.
The “May I have a seat please” initiative developed to include a lanyard and card for passengers with long-term conditions in April 2021, while the sticker version is more suitable for people with short-term medical conditions.
Some 14,000 people have asked for this lanyard or sticker as at end-2022.
Senior Minister of State for Finance and Transport Chee Hong Tat speaking with Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore staff at Tampines North Bus Interchange on May 12.
ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR
All three Helping Hand passenger assistance identifiers have been adopted by all public transport operators.
Passengers who need any of the three identifiers can obtain them for free at the passenger service centre located at MRT stations, bus interchanges and terminals, and at selected TransitLink ticket offices.
Senior Minister of State for Finance and Transport Chee Hong Tat was the guest of honour at the event at Tampines North Bus Interchange on Friday to launch the expanded Helping Hand scheme.
Speaking on the issue of some passengers potentially feeling uneasy about wearing such lanyards, Mr Chee said: “I can certainly understand and appreciate the concern, but I will say this: Don’t hesitate to ask for help, and also don’t hesitate to offer help.”
To raise awareness of the Helping Hand scheme, posters have been placed in prominent locations across the island.
The Caring SG Commuters Committee will continue to work closely with associations such as the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore to educate the public on inclusive initiatives, said LTA.
They hope to encourage commuters to exercise graciousness and continue to extend assistance to fellow commuters in need.
