A commuter was unhappy after noticing that his bus stopped at every stop, even when no one was boarding or alighting. He later shared his frustration online, sparking discussions about whether bus captains should follow schedules strictly.
A video uploaded on TikTok showed a bus arriving at a stop, opening its doors, and waiting for a moment. No passengers got on or off, yet the bus did not move immediately.
@user606173020298587
♬ original sound – user606173020298587
In the video, a male passenger became visibly impatient. He walked up to the bus captain and asked why the bus was not moving off. The driver replied, “I’ve gone too much,” which many believe referred to the bus running ahead of schedule.
The passenger grew even more annoyed and replied, “That is your problem”. He then questioned how passengers could be left waiting inside the bus and said loudly that he wanted to complain to the Land Transport Authority.
After returning to his seat, he continued sharing his displeasure with other commuters, insisting that the bus captain’s behaviour was unacceptable and that he would file a complaint.
After the video went viral, many netizens defended the bus captain. They explained that drivers must follow headway timings to ensure smooth service. One netizen called for more empathy towards bus captains, adding that they have a bus schedule which they have to adhere to.
Another netizen pointed out that ignoring scheduled intervals might cause several buses to arrive at the same time. He added that Singapore’s bus timings are generally regular, even though delays can happen because of traffic or heavy passenger flow.
NTWU: To prevent bus bunching, drivers must follow the timetable
The National Transport Workers’ Union (NTWU) later shared a post addressing the situation. They said many commuters are curious why bus captains stop even when no one is boarding or alighting.
“Our bus routes are carefully planned to serve the needs of all commuters, ensuring a safe and timely journey for everyone. To support this, Bus Captains follow closely to these planned schedules and timings. This includes calling into* every bus stop — whether or not passengers are present — as part of a coordinated effort to ensure a smooth and seamless journey.”
They added that road conditions can be unpredictable at times, so bus captains may need to adjust their driving speed, slow down, or occasionally stop for a brief moment.
“These measures are sometimes necessary to prevent bus bunching, which can lead to service disruptions and longer wait times for commuters further along the route. There are also situations where more time is required to allow elderly or pregnant passengers to be seated safely and to deploy ramps for wheelchair users and those with mobility needs.”
The union acknowledged that such pauses may inconvenience passengers who are in a rush, but stressed that these steps are part of a larger effort to ensure a reliable and respectful journey for all.
