Bus stop numbers

Publised in the Straits Times Forum page, 27 April 2010

Fifty years ago, there were a few main roads leading to different parts of Singapore. The milestones on these roads were used to identify the destinations for travellers.

Singapore has grown many times over the years and now has many roads. Now, it is not practical to use the milestones to identify locations. Some people use buildings or block numbers but it is not easy to locate these signs.

We need to find another way to make it easy for people to find their destination. I suggest that the bus stops be used as markers. As each bus stop has already been given a unique 5 digit number, the number could be displayed in a large sign above the bus stop, to be visible from far away.

This large sign will make it easy for commuters to identify the bus stop to alight and also be aware when they have missed their bus stop, as the numbers are likely to be in sequential order.

These markers can also be used to give directions to taxi and car drivers, for example, “drive along Yio Chu Kang road until you pass bus stop 55079 and take the first turn to the left”.
 
Tan Kin Lian