A public transport passenger asked online why buses suddenly jerk when moving or stopping, adding that she experienced this frequently. The passenger posted her query on Facebook page Complaint Singapore, noting she took an SBS bus from Toa Payoh Lor 6 heading towards Serangoon interchange.
“As soon as I got up the bus and after tapping my card, the driver started to drive off with a great jerk which nearly caused me to fall but luckily, able to break the fall by grabbing the grab pole and also there was a student who grabbed hold of me,” she wrote.
The passenger wondered whether the severe jerking motion was due to the bus engine, the bus captain’s driving skills or attitude. “Also, it wasn’t just a single jerk, but whenever the bus made stops at bus stops and traffic junctions,” the passenger added.
Facebook user Hinghwa Putian commented that if the bus was in good condition, the jerking was most likely due to poor control.
In an earlier post on the same group, another member of the public also asked why SBS buses jerk all the time. “Every day when travelling in SBS buses, experienced the most jerky ride even when the bus is stationary at traffic light junctions,” said the netizen.
He then asked a bus captain why this happens. The bus captain explained that old SBS buses’ brake pumps are old, and the drivers need to step hard on the brake paddle, eventually causing the bus to jerk and sway.
However, the new double-decker buses have more effective brake pumps; therefore, they don’t jerk, the passenger added. He urged for the bus company to ensure proper maintenance of buses better to make the rides smoother for everyone. /TISG
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