Marine Parade seniors lament end of 'short-lived' shuttle; MP says effort wasn’t wasted

[linbeier]

erection oso over riaos of coz remove rah

 

[zensushi]

Marine Parade seniors lament end of 'short-lived' shuttle; MP says effort wasn’t wasted​

"election shuttle"? Should not be shocked that the benefit is pulled post-event.

 

[Dr Stephen Strange]

“Speaking to CNA while accompanying Mdm Mak, daughter Shirley Hong said her mother was flummoxed by the decision to withdraw the free service, which stopped by SingPost Centre and Dakota MRT station as well.”

So forgetful ah? She voted for it a few months back.

Technically, she didn’t get to vote.

 

[EdenHazard]

Just hang in there 3 more years... next ge should have again

 

[the_dog]

if govt gives out any good thing near elections, dun expect it to be permanent. if they intended it to be permanent, they wouldn't need to wait until near elections to launch it...

 

[Scrabby]

No shuttle just walk over

 

[ShinnAsuka]

Still 1mio for a free shuttle bus that lasts only for a year is too costly.

In today's age of IoT and data analytics, they couldn't research who is their targeted audience (e.g. elderly) and the timing of high demand? If there are people who witnessed low demand at times, shouldn't those timings be scrapped for other timing?

And 940am queue for a 10am bus, 20mins wait and you cannot board speaks something as well. 20mins one could have walked, or paid to take a bus (oh, with the bus fare increase in Dec).

 

[oOsiMm]

lazy folks there...and bet they didnt even give their compliments and thumbs up when they have the service....

always complain and complain, ppl just dont get satisfied..

 

[Mr.Chibaboom]

Can POFMA ST for fake news ??? Always see the buses passing by and it's EMPTY ALL THE TIME.

 

[archie7]

only effective during election period?

 

[Heriophant]

Marine Parade seniors lament end of 'short-lived' shuttle; MP says effort wasn’t wasted​

Member of Parliament Tin Pei Ling said that volunteers have been engaging residents in the days since the announcement, and will assist those who are affected by the service withdrawal.

A line of about 20 residents waiting for the Mountbatten shuttle bus, which is part of the Marine Parade free shuttle bus service, at Blk 54 Cassia Crescent. (Photo: CNA/Justin Ong)

SINGAPORE: Two to three times a week, Mountbatten resident Madam Mak, 80, would take a free shuttle bus service to buy groceries at the market, have lunch nearby, and most importantly, to get to a polyclinic for health checkups.

But earlier this week, when the Marine Parade grassroots organisations that ran the free shuttle bus service announced that the service is set to end on Nov 20, Mdm Mak was dismayed by the news.

“I would have liked the service to last longer, it felt like it was only here for a short while,” said Mdm Mak, who has mobility issues and sometimes uses a wheelchair. She declined to give her full name.

“It’s not convenient for us old folks to move around.”

She said that to get to Geylang Polyclinic from her HDB Block at Cassia Crescent, she would have to walk or be pushed on a wheelchair by her daughter 450m to the nearest bus stop, and change buses once.

This can take up to one hour. But when the free shuttle service was first announced in July 2024, Mdm Mak was overjoyed that the service cut short her commuting time to the polyclinic to just 15 minutes.

Speaking to CNA while accompanying Mdm Mak, daughter Shirley Hong said her mother was flummoxed by the decision to withdraw the free service, which stopped by SingPost Centre and Dakota MRT station as well.

“The shuttle bus was very convenient for the old folk, I’m not sure why they had to cease the service,” said Ms Hong, 50.

The impending stoppage of the free shuttle service, which was announced on Monday (Oct 13), had stirred online debate with many commentators opining that the free service itself was introduced for political reasons before the recent General Election.

The service started in July 2024 on an initial one-year pilot for residents of the then-Marine Parade Group Representation Constituency (GRC), as well as MacPherson and Mountbatten Single Member Constituencies.

Prior to the General Election, the MacPherson ward was absorbed into the new Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC.

Political factors were far from the minds of the 15 residents of the ward who CNA spoke to since the cessation announcement.

Instead, their main concerns were the impact the cancellation has on their daily commutes, with many hoping the service could continue operating.

There were also other residents who believed that the free service had to end eventually because it did not appear to be sustainable, rather than due to political factors. Some observed that the shuttle had starkly different ridership levels across its seven routes, which they thought was the chief reason for its cessation.

Then-Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth Alvin Tan said the pilot cost about S$1 million (US$770,000) to operate, with S$200,000 coming from a seed grant from the South East Community Development Council, and the rest from donations.

In a Facebook post, the grassroots organisation that initiated the project said they have decided not to renew the contract after considering feedback and other factors in their most recent review. Resources would be redirected “in a more targeted manner”.

Responding to queries, Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC MP Tin Pei Ling said that the “more targeted programmes” are related to transport.

She added that volunteers have been engaging residents in the days since the announcement, and will assist those who are affected by the service withdrawal.

She said she is “heartened” to hear that residents have been using the service and found it useful.

“That’s why you have these sentiments. To us, it shows that it’s not a wasted effort,” she said.

“But at the same time, we have been regularly monitoring this, actively observing ridership, and soliciting feedback from those who used it, as well as others who have not used it.”

ELDERLY COMMUTERS SAD TO SEE FREE SHUTTLE GO​

At the start of the Mountbatten shuttle bus loop at Cassia Crescent, some elderly passengers were already waiting at 9.40am for the first bus at 10am.

When the bus arrived at 10am, CNA observed a queue of over 20 people trying to board. In the end, two commuters were not able to board the bus as it was at capacity and had to wait for the next bus.

Seven commuters in the queue spoke up about their thoughts on the loss of the popular routes served by the shuttles, expressing their concerns for those who are older and have mobility difficulties.

“Sometimes at 10am, the bus is full, more people can’t even board,” said Mdm Liu Meising, 70, who is in the childcare industry.

“This estate has so many elderly, many aren’t very mobile, and many need to go to the polyclinic for long-term health issues,” she said in Mandarin.

She added that just like Mdm Mak, she also has to take a longer journey and change buses to get to the polyclinic.

Mr Timothy Chiu, 62, said in Mandarin that he will be less trusting of similar initiatives in future that benefit his community, given how short-lived he felt this one was.

“This project did not have a continuation, so if there are similar projects in the future, there will be doubts that it will be sustained,” said Mr Chiu, who works in the healthcare industry.

Over at MacPherson, there were similar gripes from some commuters. One resident at MacPherson Community Centre said that he hopes the bus service can continue somehow, even it operates infrequently.

“Best is to not totally cancel, but maybe have it on some days of the week, like Monday, Wednesday, Friday or Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday,” said retiree Foo Kong Yin, 72.

A group of eight passengers boarding the MacPherson shuttle bus on Oct 16, 2025. (Photo: CNA/Justin Ong)

Security guard Yee Hock Seng, 61, said that he takes the bus about three times a week either to the polyclinic or to have lunch beside it. To get to that area takes about five to ten minutes by the shuttle bus, but if he has to walk, it takes him 20 minutes.

“Money is one thing, but convenience to the elderly is more important,” he said in Mandarin. “If you’ve set this service already, you can’t remove it.”

Toniteeee can sleeep welll sia

 

[Heriophant]

All a bunch of fools

Sorry MP bro @dubliner1407

 

[terada86]

why do u need 1 million to operate the bus?

the bus also not say some luxury bus

i think the cost is anyhow humtum one

 

[powerrr]

80 liao count your blessings don’t lament this lament that.

 

[Medicated Oil]

Already pulled the plug so what further assistance can they provide ?
Mai Sian Lah.

 

[xcodes]

trust what they say ...

 

[yperic]

Already pulled the plug so what further assistance can they provide ?
Mai Sian Lah.

Maybe the further assistance they talking about is in 5 year time 2030 GE year.

 

[virtualape]

Wait for 4.5 years later. After all, it was a total waste as MP was a walkover.

I hope mdm mak at 80 stays healthy enough to take the bus again

 

[weiess]

if they can walkover .. u can walk too .. no need free shuttle bus service

 

[Medicated Oil]

Maybe the further assistance they talking about is in 5 year time 2030 GE year.

5 years later.
Another rotation.
TPL and Kian Peng may retire liao.