THEY are free and, in Singapore, that is a magic word.
So, free shuttle bus services attract opportunists who may crowd
out commuters genuinely in need of such services during peak
periods.
There are more than 40 such services here, their purpose being
to make it more convenient to shop at retail outlets, or to go to
hospitals and leisure spots.
But not everyone who hops aboard has the intention of ending up
at such places.
Khoo Teck Puat Hospital in Yishun, for instance, started a free
shuttle bus service in March last year. But the hospital has
noticed that there are passengers who take the free bus because
they want to get to the hospital's vicinity or to a place the
shuttle makes a stop at, rather than the hospital itself.
'As a result, patients who really need the service may have to
wait longer,' a spokesman said.
-- ST