What does being a Caring SG Commuter mean to you? Do you have good ideas on how to create a more caring commuting culture in Singapore? We want to hear it!
Share your thoughts, and read responses from other fellow commuters below:
Some commuter’s paper bag broke on the train just as they sat down, and another commuter picked up the stuff for them. They then offered that commuter a paper bag. AW. I hope to see a culture where MRT commuters give way to ALL alighting passengers before even edging in to enter the train.
I saw a young girl aged between 6-7 years old, giving up her seat to an elderly woman, and it touch me that a young girl, being active as she is, had the appropriate warm gesture to prompt the elderly person to take a seat. The elderly woman was spellbound by the kind act and just kept looking at the girl. Much thanks for young generation to follow such acts.
I have noticed 2 different acts of acts. 1. I was on bus service 811 a few weeks ago and I noticed that there was a child who was crying. Another lady near her approached her to ask for her parents but she said that her maid had left her on the bus and have forgotten that she was on the bus. The Bus Captain and some commuters worked together to bring her back to the Yishun Bus Interchange and waited for her parents to pick her up. 2. I was onboard bus service 807 one day and there was handicapped elderly who was alighting and the bus captain helped to open the ramp for her to get off from the bus. I would like to see all commuters helping one another on public transport.
I noticed Lok Jiaern give up her seat on the mrt and bus to elderly and warmly assist them. She enjoys conversing with elderly and doing little acts to make their day.
I saw a classmate of mine, Joey Poon, who is always giving up her seat to those in need. It’s a small thing, but a thing that makes a big difference. Be like Joey!
I was on Bus 197, SH4507R, on 18 November. A lady alighted the bus with an elderly man. I realised the lady had left her bag behind. When the bus stopped at the traffic lights, I saw the lady running towards the bus along the pavement, which had railings. I alerted the bus driver. He opened the back door, and I managed to pass the bag to the lady. Though panting she thanked me several times. The bag must have meant something to her. I was glad I had helped someone and made their day.
I was on my way to work on 19 October when I noticed a visually impaired lady with a white cane at Paya Lebar Station. She was about to take the train bound for Pasir Ris. I approached her and asked if I could assist her, which she eagerly agreed.
Through my learnings from the Caring Commuter Champions e-learning course and my experience assisting Abby who is also visually impaired, I have built up confidence to offer help to fellow commuters whenever possible. On this occasion, I met the joyous Auntie Daisy.
When I guided her to take the lift, she said she would rather take the escalator. She held on to my arm and told me to let her hold the railing when going up the escalator. She requested to be brought to a specific door at the platform as it will be easier for her to alight at her stop. There was a kind SMRT staff who brought us to the specific carriage.
When she was seated, I mentioned to Auntie Daisy that I am a Caring Commuter Champion, and being a Champion gave me the courage to ask her if she needed assistance. I also told her that sometimes I have my own reservations as I don’t know how others would react. She told me not to worry. Some may reject help but this should not stop me to offer help if I have the chance, especially to people with visual impairment because they really appreciate it. She also told me that I was doing fine with the way I was assisting her.
Before alighting at my stop, Auntie Daisy mentioned that she is a member of a Mobile Massage Team and let me take a photo of her business card with the Singapore Association Of The Visually Handicapped (SAVH) logo on it. What a fulfilling experience!
One of Bus 103’s female bus captains is very polite. When the passengers board and alight from her bus, she would always greet them with her sweet smile. Thank her for her good service.
Bus 851’s bus captain is very caring. He knows that I have a leg problem and would always let me sit down first before driving off the bus. Thank you for your caring and responsible acts. I am very appreciative.
I have been wearing a splint on my right hand for a few months. There are a few senior commuters who will actually stand up and give up their seats for me but I will normally reject.
I boarded bus 302 on Sat 29 Jul from the bus stop opposite Blk 661 at 9.40am. The bus driver greeted commuters with positive vibes, asking the elderlies to walk carefully as the steps are wet, and telling the kids to be careful and to walk slowly in the bus. He will also wait for the people to stand properly or sit down before driving off.
Late Tuesday night, on 13 June, I was travelling on the East West line on my way home, when I felt nauseous. A Muslim lady, who was sitting next to me, noticed I was looking unwell and asked how I was feeling. She offered some ointment and even massaged my hands and head to help ease my pain. When I finally reached home, my nausea was completely gone. I did not manage to get her name due to my condition in then, but I am really thankful to her for what she did!
I had a fulfilling experience assisting a visually impaired person today. After both of us alighted, at Serangoon station, I asked if I can be of help when I saw that she was trying to find the lift. She said yes. I brought her to the bus stop and waited for the bus with her. When her bus arrived, I assisted her to the seat nearest to the driver and informed the driver of her stop. She gave her heartfelt thank you before I left. It felt good to have the opportunity to assist a fellow commuter. I would usually be apprehensive because I'm not very sure about what to do in such situations, but my learnings from Caring Commuter Champions e-learning course helped build up my confidence to ask if I can be of help. I will not hesitate to do same thing again if given a chance.
I was walking home from work after alighting from the bus. A young lady, probably in her early 30s, was lying on the floor, groaning in pain, and vomiting. A student from the Nanyang Polytechnic nursing school, Niviya, was comforting the woman, trying to make her feel better by offering water, and even letting the woman lie on her lap instead of the floor. She then called the ambulance, and the both of us stayed there till the paramedics arrived.
A bus driver helped a senior on a wheelchair boarded the bus. He moved away from his seat, unfolded the slope and assisted the senior. Upon arrival at the destination, the bus driver again stepped out from his seat and helped the senior to alight from the bus. This is not common in Malaysia, at least I had never seen this kind of assistance throughout the last 4 years of public transport experience in Kuala Lumpur. This is a good job and literally “disabled-person-friendly” public service. It is this extra small effort and care that makes a huge difference. It really shows Singapore as a humanity oriented country where all people are treated equally and full-heartedly.
A Malaysian bus driver who drives Bus No. 173 has been plying this bus route for more than 20 years. He is so friendly and caring to the regular commuters . He will wait for the seniors to be seated before moving off. He also waited for any commuter who nearly misses the bus to board the bus. He requested a transfer to drive other bus routes a few years ago. We miss this kampung spirit that he possesses. I hope to see a public transport culture where bus drivers can take more pride in their job. They can be more tactful in handling rude and impatient customers and stand up as our hero when they see something amiss.
An ode to the kind man and lady who came forward to help the man who appeared to be unwell and was sitting on the floor in the MRT. Not sure if he was drunk or fainted, but the young man went to check if he was conscious and able to respond. He and the lady then helped to sit him upright until staff came at the next station.
Since my office and my daughter Kiki's pre-school are located in Tanjong Pagar, we use Tanjong Pagar MRT station every morning during weekdays.
Every time we are there, staff at Tanjong Pagar MRT station always welcome us, help us, encourage us, and bring us such a happy morning. We are so pleased to meet all such nice people in the morning and deeply thank them.
Especially Malanti, David, Joyce! Thank you so much for always being so nice to my daughter and I!!!
Our security guard Joseph at Bartley MRT always greets us with a smile and is kind and caring. We’ve known him for a year now greeting us every day!
I saw this NYGH girl who had netball shoes, she noticed that an elderly did not have a seat and offered her seat to her. She was very very patient and kind, and had a huge smile on her face.
A school girl, I think from NYGH, helped me pick my stuff up. When i was lost she helped me find my way. She didn’t get angry when I didn’t understand her.
Two ladies passengers (Eileen & Simran) assisted another lady passenger having fits out of the train and to station isolation room at Yio Chu Kang MRT station.
Every morning when I go to work from Jalan Besar MRT, I am always greeted ‘Good morning’ with a friendly hand gesture by an affable Chinese MRT staff/uncle stationed at the train platform. He is sincere, humble and take good efforts in his work to make an every day MRT journey a pleasant experience for commuters. Thank you so much for the great efforts!
Ms Kern was extremely helpful in our enquiry when reached the office. She attached to us promptly and with much assurance. We are so thankful to Ms Kern for her professionalism and warm heart
Callum is a selfless young man who has shown me a great friendship in my struggles. One day I fell over on the MRT, breaking my arm in the process, Callum stayed with me for 7 hours to ensure I got out of the station safely and to the hospital. He then
proceeded to check on me every day since then by visiting me in hospital and I when I had to have a vascular reconstruction surgery. He is the kindest person I know and someone who is truly deserving of this award
Thank you to Ms.Chong on bus service 20 route from Tampines to Changi Business Park. She is the most commendable caring and loving bus captain I have ever come across. She shows special care while boarding kids with parents and elderly she is an awesome personality, always greeting and welcoming the commuters with a warm smile. It makes our day when we have been in a tough time.
In Tanah Merah MRT station. One SMRT guiding person who is very passionate about his work. He helps every one in the SMRT station with a caring smile. I see him every morning 6-10 am shift.
He is very old but he is a role model for me. I wish he should be nominated for his modest work.
Last week a lady dropped some money notes from her pocket while standing up to alight, she was rushing a bit as she at first did not realise it was her alighting station so she rushed before door closed. She did not realise the notes that dropped on the chair and floor. It was late at night so it was one of the last few trains available and not many people were around, only myself opposite her. I saw the notes and quickly picked it up, but the door has already closed. I alighted at next station and took the train back to the same exact station she alighted. At first did not see her around, so I went to pass it to the passenger service staff. As soon as I did, that the lady cane back probably looking for the notes or was about to report about her missing notes. I returned the notes to her and she was in tears - she didn’t believe this kind of miracle would happen to her!
Ong Sock Lee rendered aid to a commuter when the commuter lost consciousness until paramedics arrived on the scene at Bukit Panjang Integrated Transport Hub.
I saw this young lady, Elizabeth Anne, approach an old lady who seemed lost at the bus stop near Hougang Mall. She asked the lady if she needed help and then proceeded to send her all the way to her stop. She had mistakenly gone to Hougang Mall instead of Hougang 1.
Ms Elizabeth accompanied the old lady all the way to her block and ensured she got home safely. I was extremely touched to see such acts of kindness.
My sister greets the bus driver whenever she takes the bus and helps pick up the litter around the area where she sits to keep the bus clean. She is unable to walk across the whole bus as it is in movement and she needs to maintain social distancing. She also gives up her seat to those who need it more than her.
At the bus stop, onward pass an umbrella to another person for use to the next destination. An act of small kindness as someone is waiting for you to reach home soon.
My friend, Aloysia, would always initiate to help others in need when she commutes daily on public transport. Many a times, she has helped children by giving them money to board the bus when they realize that their cards have no more money inside. There was also a time when she stopped to help an elderly man who had fainted at the bus interchange and waited there till the paramedics arrived. To me, she definitely embodies and deserves the title of being a “Caring Commuter”.
Every morning, my pregnant wife still has to take the train to work, she will encounter this lovely staff named Saba at Canberra MRT. And she will make sure that she can make it onto the train with little effort and be able to get a seat. Kudos to this friendly and helpful staff, I Love Canberra MRT Station
There was an elderly gentlemen struggling to traverse the long stretch of walkway to the MRT and a sweet young lady stepped forward to offer help even though the gentlemen could only converse in Chinese and she barely could!
At Pasir Ris bus interchange, an old man had trouble bending down to retrieve his drink from the vending machine. A helpful commuter helped this feeble old man get his drink from the vending machine and walking him to a seat.
Witnessed a commuter at Canberra MRT Station helping another elderly tourist commuter to analyze and plan for tour to Sembawang Hot Spring, sharing the operating hours, possible routes, map and even what to bring along.
A Transport Ambassador administered first aid on another commuter who fainted (due to high blood pressure) near the Punggol Bus Interchange NTWU canteen after alighting from Service 34.
A student saw another commuter having difficulty in trying to collect the mask from the vending machine, and offered his help by guiding him step by step on how to collect the mask.
On the bus, a mum was pushing a pram onto the bus was not wearing a mask. Her accompanying friend asked her where her mask is and she suddenly realised she had forgotten it. A commuter behind me heard their conversation and took out her spare surgical mask to hand over to the lady. The lady was so grateful. A true act of selfless kindness.
A caring commuting culture means a collaborative effort to make the ride to work and the journey home again as pleasant as possible for everyone involved.
A Caring Commuter is someone whom care and keep a lookout for fellow commuters, always ready to lend a helping hand to those whom need assistance. Bringing the kampung spirit into our daily commute!
Being compassionate by paving way for the elderly, pregnant women for seat when they are in need, being a helping hand to bus captains when he needs a hand in helping the wheel chair passengers to board the bus
Being a Caring Commuter means able to Feel for others and Don't Judge! We can create a more caring commuting culture by starting from home ~ If you can't care for the people at home, you are not able to care for the strangers.