Public transport survey seeks feedback from people with disabilities

A wheelchair user getting help at the Woodlands Integrated Transport Hub's bus interchange last month. The Public Transport Council's survey aims to find out more about the experiences of and barriers faced by public transport users with disabilities
A wheelchair user getting help at the Woodlands Integrated Transport Hub's bus interchange last month. The Public Transport Council's survey aims to find out more about the experiences of and barriers faced by public transport users with disabilities. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI

An ongoing public survey is seeking feedback from people with disabilities and their caregivers about their travel experiences and barriers faced while using public transport.

The Public Transport Council (PTC) has put up an online survey that is open from now till the end of the month. The form will take about 10 minutes to complete.

The views will help to further improve the public transport system, the council said. All responses are anonymous.

The survey for can be accessed at https://go.gov.sg/pwdsurvey

At least 200 people have responded to the survey so far.

It contains questions on whether the respondent uses mobility aids, the frequency with which he uses his main mode of transport each week, and how satisfied he is with the transport options available.

It also asks about waiting time, reliability, service information provided, accessibility and comfort, among other factors.

There are also statements for which survey respondents are asked to rate their level of agreement, such as "I am treated with respect when I travel on public transport" and "I am confident that public transport workers (bus drivers, station staff) are capable of providing assistance to me".

The survey is in response to recommendations made in April by the independent living work group under the Third Enabling Masterplan, a national road map to build a more inclusive society for people with disabilities here.

The work group aims to promote the independent living of people with disabilities through technology and design. It has made 11 recommendations, which are focused on improving accessibility in the built environment, ensuring access to information and services, increasing adoption of assistive technology, raising awareness of disabilities and promoting inclusion.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on July 05, 2021, with the headline Public transport survey seeks feedback from people with disabilities. Subscribe