Travelling by Bus

Travelling by Bus

After Calder got lost in the MRT once again and I had to go look for him last Monday (13 Oct), I decided to train him to take the bus to work. For the next 4 days, I took Bus 43 with him, showing him the landmarks that signal his destination. "Oh, Marine Terrace. This means we are reaching soon. Look, this building is Marine Gardens. On the left is Fernwood Towers. Ah, traffic light - good time to press the bell. Siglap Linear Park, yes! Alight now." 

The following week, I started letting him take the bus by himself. When the bus is approaching, I would take a picture to capture the vehicle number. Then I show the bus driver Calder's yellow card that says "Please alert me when I am approaching my stop" and ask him to remind Calder to alight at Siglap mrt. Then I send the bus picture to Calder's coaches so that someone would stop the bus at destination point if Calder forgets to alight. The coaches are to step in only when necessary and hide otherwise, so that Calder will not see it as part of the routine for his coaches to collect him. This support should fade off after a week. 

Day 1 (21 Oct) 11.43am

Bus driver was very helpful. When I asked him if he could remind Calder to alight at Siglap, he said no problem - he knew there's a special school there. I told him it's more than 40 stops so perhaps I can put a card at his dashboard to remind him? He said no need. From the footage, I saw that reaching Siglap, he even said goodbye to Calder: "Go down. Calling the Mom ah? Bye Bye. Ok? Bye!" Calder informed me (via WhatsApp) that he arrived at 1.04pm

Day 2 (22 Oct) 11.48am

A different bus driver who looked approachable too. I showed him Calder's yellow "Please alert me when I'm approaching my stop" and the back that said "Siglap mrt". The bus driver said he might forget so I passed him the blue reminder card. I was wondering if I would have to make another reminder card for tomorrow. Good thing the driver followed the instruction and returned the card to Calder before reaching Siglap station. Calder arrived at 1.09pm.

Day 3 (23 Oct) 11.45am

Different bus number but same friendly bus driver as Day 1. He told me no worries because Calder is very smart. Thus assured, I informed Calder's job coaches that today there wouldn't be a need to wait for Calder at the Siglap mrt bus stop. (Forgot to turn on Calder's visual tracker.) Calder arrived at 1.10pm.

Day 4 (24 Oct) 12.01pm

Calder's Dad was the one putting him on the bus. Unfamiliar driver. Calder arrived at 1.27pm.

Day 5 (27 Oct) 12.06pm

Waited more than 20 min for the bus and there was hardly any seat left on the lower deck. Unfamiliar bus driver but he agreed to remind Calder to alight at Siglap mrt. (I hope Calder stays at the lower deck for this to work.) Calder arrived at 1.29pm.

Day 6 (28 Oct) 11.33pm

Stern and unfamiliar bus driver. He nodded when I asked him to remind Calder to alight at Siglap. Had to take this early bus because the next bus arrives in 30 min! Frequency of this bus seems to have dropped significantly after recent change of bus services - 43M scrapped. Looks like it's no longer an option for Calder to take this bus home - I cannot imagine him waiting at the bus stop by himself for 30 min, in the hot afternoon glare. Calder reported his arrival at 1.01pm. 

Day 7 (29 Oct) 11.32am

Unfamiliar but approachable lady bus driver who said ok when I asked her to remind Calder to alight at Siglap. Strangely she seemed to know what I wanted before I asked. Could SMRT have alerted Bus 43 drivers of our need? (I wrote in to ask for help in case Calder misses his stop and is stranded at Upper East Coast terminal. Also took the opportunity to express my gratitude for the help rendered by Bus 43 drivers  reminding Calder to alight.) Many seats already taken up at the lower deck. I was glad to see Calder following my instruction not to take the back-facing seats (so that the bus driver can see him clearly). He was walking to and back searching for a place and a kind lady signaled to him to sit beside her. I told Calder's coach: no need to wait for Calder at the bus stop. Life 360 showed Calder to have arrived at 12.34pm. He reported to me at 12.59pm. 

Day 8 (30 Oct) 11.34am

Bus arrived just as we reached the bus stop and I scrambled after Calder to talk to the bus driver. It's the same driver as 2 days ago - this time he looked less stern. Once again he nodded when I asked him to remind Calder to alight at Siglap mrt. Managed to take a picture of the bus number before it departed. Familiar driver so I told Calder's coach no need to wait at the bus stop. Calder reported his reported at 12.54pm.

Day 9 (31 Oct) 11.27am

Same bus and same bus driver as yesterday. Once again, no need for coach to wait for him at the bus stop. Life 360 said Calder arrived at 12.38pm. He reported arrival at 1.09pm.

Calder is still getting lost coming home by train, but at least he's now reaching his workplace on time. Thank you, Bus 43 drivers!