Getting onto a bus with a personal mobility aid (PMA) such as a mobility scooter or motorised wheelchair is very doable in Singapore—you just need the right dimensions and some reversing practice. Here’s a step-by-step guide.
What is a WAB?
Since 2020, all scheduled public bus services in Singapore have become wheelchair-accessible. WABs have a deployable ramp at the rear left door and a designated wheelchair bay on board.
98% of bus stops are also barrier-free accessible (BFA), except for a few such as those located at five-foot ways.
Can your PMA board? (Quick specs)
Your PMA, including you, must fit within 120 cm (L) × 70 cm (W) × 150 cm (H) and ≤ 300 kg laden weight to use public transport.
These are the same restrictions that will be applied to PMAs for use on pavements by 2026, according to the new LTA rules on PMAs. This synchronises the rules across the entire public-transport journey, including the last-mile trip on pavements as users drive their devices to the nearest bus stop or MRT station.
Skills needed to board a WAB
As LTA requires PMA users to park facing the rear of the bus when in the wheelchair bay, many users find it easiest to reverse up the ramp, then reverse right to park in the wheelchair bay.
To drive your PMA up a WAB, you’ll need confident reverse control. This is important because you will be reversing up a narrow ramp without guard rails. If any wheel slips off the ramp, the PMA could tip.
Even after you clear the ramp, you still need to manoeuvre within the limited on-board space and park in the wheelchair bay, with your PMA facing the rear of the bus. This requires precision while turning in reverse.
How to practise these skills
There are three specific skills to master to navigate a PMA successfully up a WAB:
-
Rear alignment to the ramp
Practise aligning the rear of your PMA directly with an opening. At a lift lobby, pick any lift door, approach, and make a two-point turn so your PMA’s rear is centred and parallel to the door. You don’t need to enter—just align accurately. If you can reliably line up with any door, you’ve passed Skill 1. -
Reverse straight up a ramp
Find any wheelchair ramp. Instead of driving forward, reverse up in a straight line at low speed, making small corrections. If you reach the top without drifting sideways, you’ve passed Skill 2. -
Reverse-right into a bay (precision turn)
In a wide, empty space, place a cone or water bottle as a pivot point about 45° to your rear-right corner. Reverse slowly, steering right around the pivot, keeping as close as possible, until you’re turned 90° from your starting position with the pivot point ending on your right.
Boarding — step by step (rear-facing positioning)
- Signal the Bus Captain early. They’ll stop close to the kerb and deploy the rear-door ramp.
- Align and approach. Align the rear of your PMA to the middle of the ramp. Approach straight and slow. Avoid approaching at an angle or at full speed.
- Reverse up the ramp and enter fully before turning. Once the PMA is fully on the bus floor, reverse right and park in the wheelchair bay with the PMA facing the rear of the bus. Avoid turning while any wheel is still on the ramp.
- Secure. If your PMA lacks automatic electromagnetic brakes and uses manual handbrakes, engage them. In all cases, keep brakes engaged and hold the handrails during the journey.
- Follow instructions. Always follow the Bus Captain’s directions.
Alighting
Press the wheelchair bell early, wait for the Captain to deploy the rear-door ramp, then exit by doing a forward-right turn, align straight with the ramp, and descend slowly.
Conclusion
Singapore’s buses are built for PMA access; success mainly comes down to meeting the size/weight limits and being comfortable reversing. Practise the reverse-up + reverse-right sequence until it’s second nature, always follow the Bus Captain’s directions, and use the rear-facing, brakes-engaged position in the bay. With that, WAB travel becomes smooth, safe, and predictable.