Man in wheelchair rides MRT escalator unaided, sparking safety concerns

A white-haired man in a wheelchair was seen taking an escalator unaided at Bugis MRT station, his hands gripping the handrails tightly as he kept his wheelchair on the ascending escalator.

The video of the incident has sparked concern among members of the public, who called the act dangerous and risky.

The incident occurred around noon on May 31 at an escalator in Bugis MRT station.

Mr Deng, who witnessed the incident, told Shin Min Daily News that it was nerve-wracking to watch.

"There was no one with him. It was really dangerous - I felt like he could fall at any time," he said.

In video footage seen by Shin Min Daily News, the man appears to manoeuvre the escalator with considerable effort.

Sitting in his wheelchair, he held onto the handrails on both sides to steady himself.

As he approached the top, he took one hand off the handrail to grab the wheel, steadied the chair, and then used both hands to push his wheelchair onto the landing platform.

People using escalators with wheelchairs or strollers - despite the dangers - are apparently a common sight at the MRT station.

"People fall and get injured from time to time, but many still insist on using the escalator, completely ignoring the safety risks," said a commuter.

Mr Wu, 52, who works in finance, said such behaviour is unsafe not just for the user but also for others.

"If a person in a wheelchair or someone pushing a stroller falls, the people behind can get hurt too," he said.

Ms Pooja, a 35-year-old housewife, was seen pushing a stroller at the station. She said she always opts for the lift.

"If I fall, the consequences can be serious. I'd rather take a few more minutes than risk injury to myself or my child."

In response to queries from Shin Min Daily News, SMRT Trains president Mr Lam Sheau Kai said staff at Bugis MRT had received a report that a wheelchair user was taking the upward escalator.

However, by the time staff arrived, the man was no longer at the scene.

Mr Lam confirmed that the lifts at the station were working normally at the time.

"For the safety of themselves and others, we strongly advise elderly passengers, young children, wheelchair users, those with mobility issues and people with strollers to use the lifts," he said.

He added that passengers who need help should approach the customer service centre for assistance.