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.

Stroller Restraint System - Close up
Stroller Restraint System – Close up

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:

69
Tampines Int
↺ Bedok Int (Loop)
75009 Tampines Int B8 EW2-DT32 Tampines Ctrl 1
75129 Darul Ghufran Mque Tampines Ave 5
75139 Blk 863 Tampines Ave 5
75149 Blk 867A Tampines Ave 5
75159 Blk 874 Tampines Ave 8
75039 Springfield Sec Sch Tampines Ave 8
75241 Opp Temasek Poly West G Tampines Ave 1
75231 Opp Temasek Poly Tampines Ave 1
75221 Opp Temasek Poly East G Tampines Ave 1
75069 Blk 960A Bedok Reservoir Rd
75349 The Clearwater Condo Bedok Reservoir Rd
84209 Bedok Resvr Stn Exit B DT30 Bedok Nth Ave 3
84529 Blk 109 Bedok Nth Ave 3
84219 Bet Blks 139/140 Bedok Nth Ave 3
84351 Bedok Ctrl PO Bedok Nth St 1
84651 Aft Heartbeat @ Bedok Bedok Nth St 1
84009 Bedok Int B3 EW5 Bedok Nth Dr
84659 Bef Heartbeat @ Bedok Bedok Nth St 1
84359 Opp Bedok Ctrl PO Bedok Nth St 1
84211 Blk 403 Bedok Nth Ave 3
84521 Blk 506 Bedok Nth Ave 3
84201 Bedok Resvr Stn Exit A DT30 Bedok Nth Ave 3
75341 Opp The Clearwater Condo Bedok Reservoir Rd
75061 Blk 954D Bedok Reservoir Rd
75229 Temasek Poly East G Tampines Ave 1
75239 Temasek Poly Tampines Ave 1
75249 Temasek Poly West G Tampines Ave 1
75031 Opp Springfield Sec Sch Tampines Ave 8
75151 Opp Blk 871A Tampines Ave 8
75141 Blk 730 Tampines Ave 5
75131 Bet Blks 701/702 Tampines Ave 5
75121 Opp Darul Ghufran Mque Tampines Ave 5
75009 Tampines Int EW2-DT32 Tampines Ctrl 1

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.


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