‘Excuse Me, May I Have A Seat Please?’ Stickers Made Available For Commuters With ‘Hidden’ Health Conditions

By
Neha Joby
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All of us have been taught from a very young age that we’re supposed to give up our seat on the train or bus if we spot someone who needs it more than we do.

It’s a kind and simple gesture.

Image: Giphy

And most people willingly do it, but there are still the ungenerous few who choose not to and pretend to fall asleep the moment they spot an old person entering the train.

Or sometimes, everyone in the cabin waits around for someone else to do it, thinking “Why does it have to be me?”

This ends up in frail, old people and pregnant women with humongous bellies having to cling on to the handrails for dear life throughout their entire journey.

But not anymore.

Thanks to these “Excuse me, may I have a seat please?” stickers.

“Excuse me, may I have a seat please?” Stickers Available For Collection

Now, you might be wondering why someone who is really in need of a seat can’t just open their mouth and ask for it.

But let’s be real. We’re all familiar with the reason why. It’s a little bit too paiseh to go and ask for it, even for them.

Which is where these stickers come in handy.

Image: The Land Transport Authority (LTA)

Starting from 1 October 2019, commuters who are in need of a seat on public transport due to health conditions or disabilities can collect and display an identification sticker, alerting other commuters that they require a seat.

Upon seeing the sticker, the intended outcome is for other commuters to get up and offer their seat to the person in need.

With no words exchanged.

On one hand, this is a good thing as it saves everyone from dealing with the social anxiety of having to open your mouth and talk to a complete stranger – whether you’re the one giving the seat or the one asking for it.

Some may find it pretty awkward to speak in a super quiet train.

However, on the other hand, this is just another way for people to get things done without any form of communication whatsoever, which may not necessarily be a good thing as it makes us a society that doesn’t even interact with one another.

But, still, this initiative is leaning a lot more towards the good side.

Part Of An Initiative To Make Public Transport More Inclusive

Inspired by similar priority seat stickers used in London, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has come up with these stickers as part of an initiative to make public transport more inclusive for commuters through creating a gracious and caring commuting culture.

By providing a medical certificate or a doctor’s letter to support their request (if comfortable), commuters can collect the sticker at the following places:

  • Passenger Information Centre or Passenger Information Office at any MRT Station
  • Service Staff at MRT Stations
  • Passenger Information Centre or Passenger Information Office at any Bus Interchange / Terminal
  • Service Staff at Bus Interchanges / Terminal
  • All Transitlink Ticket Offices
Image: The Land Transport Authority (LTA)

This sticker will be especially useful to those with medical conditions that are not actually visible.

“Commuters have consistently demonstrated graciousness to the elderly or expectant mothers on public transport. However, there is another group of commuters whose conditions are often hidden and yet they need seats just as much,” said Ms Priscilla Chan, Deputy Group Director (Public Transport) at LTA.

Plans and efforts to make Singapore’s transport system more inclusive were outlined in both the Committee of Supply (COS) Debate 2019 and the Land Transport Master Plan 2040.

Other upcoming projects include having priority queues at all MRT stations by the end of 2019 and all bus interchanges by 2021, and making all public buses and bus stops wheelchair-accessible by 2020.

Let’s all be gracious and offer our seats to those in need.

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Neha Joby
Email: [email protected]