SINGAPORE: Netizens have reacted sharply to the announcement that the Marine Parade free shuttle bus service will cease operations, calling it merely an “election gimmick” and a waste of public funds.
The Marine Parade free shuttle bus service, launched in July 2024 as a one-year pilot project, will end when its contract expires on 20 November 2025, according to a Facebook post by Marine Parade grassroots organisations on 13 October 2025.
The organisers said that after reviewing ridership feedback and resource allocation, they decided not to extend the service, with funds to be channelled “in a more targeted manner”.
“We are mindful of how this may affect residents who are currently using the service,” the post stated.
“We will soon be engaging affected residents and share more about our next steps going forward.”
A Year-Long Pilot with Mixed Ridership
The free shuttle service catered to residents in the former Marine Parade Group Representation Constituency (GRC), as well as those in MacPherson and Mountbatten constituencies.
The project cost around S$1 million to operate, with S$200,000 contributed through a seed grant from the South East Community Development Council (CDC) and the remainder funded via donations, according to then-Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth Alvin Tan.
At launch, grassroots organisations reported “steady usage across most routes”.
Adjustments were made in January 2025 to optimise operations, and the contract was later extended to its current end date.
“We are heartened that residents found the service useful for last-mile connections between their neighbourhoods and community nodes during off-peak hours,” the organisers added.
Questions Over Ridership and Value
Some residents have raised concerns about low ridership, pointing to near-empty buses during several time slots.
Critics questioned whether the pilot achieved its goal of improving last-mile transport connectivity.
Grassroots organisers maintained that they “regularly solicit feedback” from both users and non-users to guide future community initiatives.
While the service’s discontinuation may inconvenience some residents, they said the resources would be redirected to other community support schemes.
Netizens Call It an “Election Gimmick”
Online reaction to the announcement has been largely cynical, with many netizens describing the shuttle service as an “election gimmick”.
Comments on Reddit, CNA and The Straits Times’ Facebook posts suggested that the service might return ahead of the next General Election.
“Actually many expected this to happen, especially now that GE is over,” one user wrote.
Another commented that the name should be changed to the “GE shuttle bus instead of the Marine Parade shuttle bus”.
One commenter remarked, “The election is over and services to the residents are not required. Need to wait for the next election to see what goodies they are offering again.”
“A Waste of Public Funds,” Others Say
Several netizens said the initiative was a waste of public funds and poorly planned from the start.
One pointed out that “Marine Parade, especially the private estate areas, already has cars—what a waste of resources.”
Another user remarked, “I knew it wouldn’t last because the route is simply aimless. Not making money, just say not making money—no need to give excuses.”
One user commented that operating such services would involve substantial costs, making them unsustainable.
One user highlighted that the shuttle buses stopped at existing public bus stops already served by routes with higher frequencies.
The user noted that the bus services offered little value in a well-developed and well-connected region, adding that such community buses would be more beneficial in areas like Tengah and Yishun East.
Political Debate over Bus Designs
The shuttle service became the subject of political debate after Workers’ Party (WP) Member of Parliament Gerald Giam questioned the inclusion of caricatures of People’s Action Party (PAP) MPs on the buses.
During a parliamentary sitting on 7 August 2024, Giam argued that such imagery blurred the line between public service and political promotion.
“Why are Grassroots Advisors who are also PAP Members of Parliament fronting this service, for example, having their caricatures painted on the side of the buses… when public transport should be provided by the Government through the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and its operators?” he asked.
In response, Alvin Tan said the designs also featured “local landmarks familiar to residents”, such as Wisma Geylang Serai and Old Airport Road Hawker Centre, alongside caricatures of MPs to help residents “identify the buses”.
Then-Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong defended the design in a written reply, noting that it mirrored other grassroots initiatives that display banners featuring their advisors.
Former Non-Constituency MP Yee Jenn Jong also weighed in on social media, writing wryly: “I can understand how buildings can be landmarks—are faces landmarks too?”
The post Marine Parade free shuttle bus service to end after one-year pilot, netizens call it ‘election gimmick’ appeared first on The Online Citizen.
