Dirty Bus Blues: Residents Speak Up, SBS Transit Swallows the Complaints
Picture this: you’re juggling your morning coffee, your phone, and a bag of groceries, and suddenly you realize you’re riding the wrong bus. It’s the SBS7631J—and instead of a quick ride, you face a dusty, stained, and downright untenable mess.
The Grumble That Won’t Stay Silent
- “Cleanliness issues!” one passenger shouted to Stomp.
- SBS Transit put out a public apology saying the bus did not pass muster on cleanliness.
- Photos of the interior were shared, showing seats with stains, dusty corners, and a window ledge that looks like it’s seen better days.
The Repeated Complaints Over Time
Our Stomp contributor, Lim, felt the air had shifted after Singapore reopened. “More people traveling for work and leisure means the bus cleanliness standard seems to have fallen off the radar.” He wrote to the bus company twice—first on June 12 and again on August 12—yet nothing changed. Looks like that bus slipped out of the cleaning schedule.
What the Company’s Saying
Grace Wu, SBS Transit’s Vice President (Special Grade) of Customer Experience & Communications, said: “We take cleanliness seriously. Buses are cleaned regularly and go through a bus‑washing machine every other day.” She offered a polite apology for the sub‑par bus and promised to “work to do better.”
But It’s Not Just Their Job—We All Should Step Up
Lim points out a weird twist: commuters, too, might be in the hot seat. “If you’re seeing food or drink stains on board, it’s probably because folks are eating or drinking on the bus. And let’s not forget folks stuck with their feet on the seats or grabbing poles like it’s the latest fashion trend.”
When you ignore these rules, the consequence is chilling—you risk getting Stomped. (A very literal “stomp” in polite society? Maybe a gentle reminder to keep the bus cleaner.)
Bottom Line
It’s a team effort: SBS Transit needs to tighten up its cleaning roster, and commuters must keep their food and fanfares on a leash. After all, a clean bus makes for a safer, more pleasant ride—and nobody wants to end up wiping their shoes on a seat after a stretch of bubbling gum.”
