Discrimination? If there is, would sbst purchase more WAB buses? If
they are stopping all WAB orders, that would be discrimination.
Insensitive? There are lots of bus stops not PIW friendly. Take
for example Woodlands Regional Int. That would be interesting to
see PIWs alighting there to take escalator? If insensitive, they
wouldn't even revamp bus-stops to enable PIWs to board WAB
buses. (Eg. bus-stop outside Bowen Sec Sch)
Time is needed to prove that the service is WAB accessibled. Any
happens to PIWs during the trip, who will be responsible? Are you
going to complain to SBST for the BC? Saying about compassion, who
will for the BC?
The reality is, the purchase of wheelchair accessible buses has
nothing to do with a company's stance on people with
disabilities. Just because SBST/SMRT are purchasing these
low-entry buses doesn't mean that they are in support of people
with disabilities (particularly those who require wheelchairs)
using their services.
There will always be the occasion where certain stops restrict the
amount of accessibility and this even occurs in countries where
discrimination of people with disabilities is illegal. This
can be due to older infrastructure, the lay of the land, and other
factors.
The fact of the matter is, and this is something that
Singaporeans need to be more supportive of, is that people with
disabilities are at the end of the day still people, and derserve
the same respect that everybody else deserves. They are not
"different" apart from the fact that they MAY require addition
assistance.
In the majority of cases, I have found that bus drivers inflict
stress upon themselves. They are paid to perform certain
duties, and catering for the population is one of these
duties.
Regards,
Dave