10 SMRT buses with USB charging ports to roll out tomorrow; more to be deployed in September

If this is part of their efforts to win us over, SMRT’s taking the right step. Tomorrow will be the dawn of a new age for bus commuters, who will soon be able to charge their devices (smartphones, tablets, portable air conditioners, etc) on-the-go via inbuilt USB charging ports. 

Alas, only 10 buses will roll out first, with an additional 137 USB charging port-equipped buses only hitting the roads from October onwards. Those lucky ones who frequent bus services 61 from Bukit Batok, 67 and 985 from Choa Chu Kang as well as 963 and 969 from Woodlands will be able to enjoy charging up on juice while on the road.

Folks won’t have spill blood to get a go at the USB ports because there’ll be 41 of them located near the inner seats. Pretty smart move — it’ll hopefully prompt commuters to actually move in instead of just leaving empty seats for no reason at all. 

What’s the catch though? Coin-operated charging and the likes? Apparently, none. 

“The addition of USB charging ports to buses will not affect the overall operations of the buses and commuters will not incur any additional cost for the use of the ports,” SMRT and LTA wrote in their press release. 

In smartphone reliant Singapore, the feature is a long-anticipated one on public buses. Seventy-two percent of of the 22,000 respondents surveyed expressed the yearning to see them installed in buses in the future. Now, if only we can get them to survey people about having free Wi-Fi on all public transport…



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