Singapore tightens bus behaviour rules
Playing loud music on the bus? That will cost you hundreds of dollars in Singapore
Wednesday, 23 September 2026
Warm-up
- How do you usually travel in your city?
- What makes a bus or train ride pleasant for you?
- Do you listen to music in public? How do you keep it quiet?
Vocabulary
- fine
- Money you must pay as a punishment for breaking a rule or law.
- offence
- An action that breaks a rule or law.
- commuter
- A person who travels to work or school, often by public transport.
- litter
- To drop rubbish in a public place.
- authorised
- Having official permission to do something.
- alight
- To get off a bus, train, or other vehicle.
- terminal
- A place where buses or trains start or finish their routes.
- soiling
- Making something dirty with a mark, liquid, or waste.
Reading
Singapore has introduced new rules for bus travel. Passengers can get a fine of up to S$500 for playing loud audio, putting feet on seats, eating, drinking, or littering on board.
Heavier offences include causing danger or obstruction at a bus terminal. The soiling of any part of a public bus, bus interchange, or terminal can also lead to fines up to S$5,000.
Authorised ticket inspectors and interchange staff can issue official notices to suspected offenders.
Bus drivers, called captains, do not have this authority. They can tell commuters to stop and may ask them to alight. In serious cases, police can step in.
Other places are acting too. The Polish city of Kraków fines people for disturbing the peace with noisy phones. In the UK, trains already ban anti-social behaviour and sound-producing equipment without permission.
Comprehension
- What is the maximum fine for loud audio or eating on Singapore buses?
- What actions can lead to the higher fine of up to S$5,000?
- Who is authorised to issue official notices on buses?
- What can bus drivers do if someone will not stop bad behaviour?
- Name one other place that is acting on noisy behaviour.
Grammar focus
Would like vs like
Use like for general preferences (things you usually enjoy). Use would like for a polite request or something someone wants now. (Examples constructed.)
- Some commuters would like a seat near the door.
- Many people like quiet buses.
Grammar exercise
Complete each sentence with the correct form of the verb in brackets.
- Usually parents (like) ___ to sit with their children.
- Right now a passenger (like) ___ a quieter seat by the window.
- At the counter now, a tourist (like) ___ information about fines.
- Usually drivers (like) ___ commuters to follow signs.
- This evening staff (like) ___ passengers to turn off loud phones.
Discussion
- Should buses be quiet places? Why or why not?
- Which behaviour on transport annoys you the most?
- Who should give fines on buses: drivers or inspectors? Why?
- What rule would you like to add in your city?
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