SBS Transit’s Ceiling Clean‑Up Crisis: A “Touch‑It‑Not‑To‑Touch‑It” Tale
Picture this: you hop on a city bus, ready to commute, only to find the ceiling a muddy mosaic of grime. No, it’s not a new art installation – it’s a cleaning nightmare that sparked a public outburst and a corporate showdown.
The Dirty Revelation
On September 7, noon‑ish, Sim, a devoted Stomp contributor, was chilling on SBS Transit’s Bus 72. While scrolling through tweets, he noticed the “sky” inside the bus had turned into an oily, unwashed canvas.
“How often does SBS clean its buses? Probably never?”
Sim snapped photos that revealed a ceiling coated in a stubborn sludge, a few fingerprints still clinging stubbornly to the surface. This was not one of the occasional “just a quick wipe‑up” moments; it was a full‑blown fiasco.
Public Transport’s Guilty Plea
“The condition in some is deplorable,” Sim sighed. “I’ve seen the inside of some buses so dirty you can see the fingerprints in the layer of dirt adhering to the surfaces.
“Some buses smell like a garbage truck when you first board them at the terminal.”
How SBS Responded
- Quick Fix: In the very evening of the incident, the bus underwent its normal cleaning cycle.
- Upshot on the Ceiling: It turns out the cleaner missed the ceiling – an oversight that SBS is treating as a breach of contract.
- What’s Next: SBS will now institute post-clean checks to make sure every inch meets the “sparkle‑approved” standard.
- Re‑clean Mission: A thorough wipe‑down of that stubborn ceiling has already been carried out.
The company’s Vice President Grace Wu (Customer Experience & Communications) summed it up: “We’re stepping up our game – cleaning standards will be checked after each service. Dirty ceilings, no more!”
Takeaway for Weighing the Tenth Bus
When you’re stepping into a transpo machine, remember: Mind your head. That circle upwards should stay free of invisible goo. SBS Transit has rolled out a stricter policy, but the question remains: who will keep the ceiling spotless in the long run?
Feel free to share the story. After all, if the bus can’t come clean, you might just want to hop aboard an Uber or a bike for that merciless “no-ceiling-sticking-wiggle” feeling. Until next time, travel safe and keep those heads clear!
