Stroller restraint system trial on Service 69

A prototype Stroller restraint system is being trialled on SBS Transit Service 69.

The trial, which began on 29 June 2017, involved the installation of a restraint system on one Volvo B9TL bus (SBS7600Z), which plies Service 69 on a daily basis. The move is in line with the Land Transport Authority (LTA)’s efforts towards a more accessible and convenient public transport system, in line with the initiatives introduced over the last few years.

The system

The system consists of two slots for insertion of the side handle of the stroller, as well as a retractable seatbelt, to secure the stroller. The child should be seated with the stroller’s seatbelts fastened. This ensures that the child will always face the back of the bus, for safety reasons.

A forward-facing stroller should use the slot closer to the front of the bus, while a backwards-facing stroller should use the slot closer to the rear of the bus.

There are four key steps to using the stroller restraint system:

1. Identify which slot to use
2. Insert the side handle of stroller into the handle slot
3. Apply brakes of the stroller
4. Use the retractable seatbelt to secure the stroller to the system.

While not mandatory, parents and caregivers are encouraged to hold onto the strollers throughout the journey as an additional safety measure.

The trial

The introduction of the stroller restraint system is in line with the Land Transport Authority (LTA)’s efforts towards a more accessible and convenient public transport system. Several months before, the LTA allowed open strollers on public buses in April 2017 (See: Open Strollers allowed on Public Buses from 2nd April) for the convenience of parents and caregivers who previously had to fold them before boarding the bus.

Development of the system began in 2016. As there was previously no standard restraint system for open strollers in the market, the LTA worked with NUS High School of Mathematics and Science and Nanyang Polytechnic to study and conceptualise designs for the stroller restraint system. The prototype was developed by the Temasek Polytechnic’s School of Design, and subsequently customised and fabricated by ST Kinetics for implementation.

For the trial, Service 69 was chosen as it plies along housing estates and schools in the Bedok and Tampines areas, serving mainly families and residents going towards both Tampines and Bedok Bus Interchanges and MRT stations. The route also passes by Temasek Polytechnic, which was involved in the design of the system.

According to the LTA, there is no specific timeline for the implementation of the restraint system. It will gather feedback from parents and bus captains before deciding whether to roll out the system to more buses.

For convenient reference, here is the route of Service 69:

Successful Trial

Following the positive feedback received during the trial, all public buses will have a stroller restraint system installed by 2020, as announced during the Committee of Supply Debate 2019.

Gallery:

Related Content:

• Open Strollers allowed on Public Buses from 2nd April

External Links & References:

• Factsheet: Stroller Restraint System to Be Tested on Service 69 – LTA
• How to use the Stroller Restraint System – LTA (PDF)
• Stroller restraint system for buses begins trial – Today Online
• Stroller restraint system to be tested on public buses – Straits Times
• Open Strollers to be Allowed on Public Buses – LTA
• Guidelines on open strollers on public buses – LTA (PDF)

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