There is no doubt that equipment at a bus stop that allows people to exercise and charge their phones is a good idea, at least on paper.
“Recharge is a fun exercise game that incorporates simple fitness stations, for individuals to recharge their body and phones while waiting for their bus,” the project’s site says, adding that “urban design and gamification encourages health awareness and active living.”
But when a two-week trial run of such a “bus stop-gym” was announced at Boon Lay, netizens wondered at the feasibility of the idea. Minister for National Development Desmond Lee featured the bus-stop gym on his social media pages on Wednesday (Nov 23). Check out the video Mr Lee posted below:
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The project comes from researchers from SUTD SOULab, working with the MOH Office for Healthcare Transformation (MOHT) and the Land Transport Authority. The “Recharge” prototype at the bus stop at 200 Boon Lay Drive began its trial on Nov 21 (Monday) and will go on until Dec 5.
“This is a simple but meaningful initiative to get our residents to carry out simple exercises and charge their handphones while waiting for the bus,” wrote Mr Lee, adding that people who reach 150 minutes, the recommended amount of time for adults to maintain good health, would be rewarded with a voucher.
More information about the project, which also comes with an app so people can track their fitness goals, may be found here.
Many commenters on the project praised the idea as a “cool” and “innovative” one that would especially be helpful for the elderly. 
Some netizens, however, appeared to have a hard time wrapping their heads around the idea of a bus-stop gym. They argued that the exercise machines would create “hazardous obstacles for already crowded bus stop,” and said they wanted extra seats instead.
Others were concerned about getting sweaty just before boarding the bus.
/TISG