Whatever your destination is, Singapore’s land transport system is growing and improving to take you there. More connections by rail, bus, and road make commuting more efficient and enjoyable for Singaporeans. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) is undertaking numerous projects to better connect people and places to achieve the overarching vision for a reliable, people-centred land transport system by 2030. Recently, LTA announced that it is trialling ‘touchless buttons’ at 4 pedestrian crossings starting July 2022.
What is the touchless button?
Currently, the touches button can be seen at four pedestrian crossings in Singapore. There will be a logo of a waving hand on the button and a message above saying “Wave For Green Man”.
You need to wave your hand in front of the button, and a red light will start blinking and continue flashing. This means that the Green Man has been activated.
Once the Green Man appears, it’s safe to cross.
The four locations where they will operate are:
• Jalan Besar, near Syed Alwi Road
• Tampines Street 86 near Block 879A
• Bukit Batok Street 32, near St Anthony’s Primary School
• Yishun Street 21, near Block 219.
Why these touchless buttons were installed?
The purpose of installing these touchless buttons is to reduce the wear and tear of public transport infrastructure.
Right now, there are 11,000 push buttons in Singapore. They are open to improper use, for example, by “repeated triggering”. When worn out, these push buttons may not summon the Green Man or get stuck. Sometimes, the push button gets so worn out that it keeps on summoning the Green Man, interrupting the traffic flow.
After the COVID-19 pandemic, some Singaporeans developed a fear of touching common items in public.
Touchless buttons will alleviate some of that fear, reducing the transmission of Covid-19 and other diseases.
Touchless activation of the Green Man at crossings will also reduce wear and tear on road infrastructure.
Other upcoming road projects
Apart from these new touchless buttons, LTA is also working on covered walkways, silver zones, barrier-free access, and cycling path. Singapore wants to make commuting comfortable, accessible, and inclusive for all.
Under the Singapore Green Plan 2030, there is a comprehensive electric vehicle (EV) Roadmap to ramp up efforts for EV adoption. LTA is accelerating the deployment of EV charging infrastructure throughout the country.
SMRT Roads is also contributing to the adoption of EVs and migration to green transport modes in Singapore. SMRT has partnered with SP Group to provide Electrification-as-a-Service.
Commenting on the same, SMRT CEO said: “In line with the Singapore Green Plan 2030, our Roads Group, through its Strides Mobility brand, is committed to providing best-in-class mobility solutions with the lowest carbon footprint.”
SMRT CEO further added: “We saw an opportunity beyond just electric vehicles and partnered with SP Group to push for an ecosystem of connected electric services. Through both Mobility-as-a-Service and Electrification-as-a-Service, we intend to bring charging infrastructure and a diverse fleet of electric taxis, cars, vans, limousines, motorcycles, and buses to meet the evolving needs of a diverse local and regional market.”
Conclusion
Singapore’s touchless buttons trial will last 6 months. LTA has welcomed members of the public for feedback on the buttons, and whether they might work better than conventional ones. As the touchless buttons seem to have many benefits, hopefully, the trial will be successful so the new contactless system can be rolled out in time to come.
About the Author
Daisy Tay
Daisy has been working as a technical lead for a leading transportation systems manufacturer. When not working, she loves to share her views on new innovations and technology in the transport industry. She also loves to travel and try different cuisines.
