SINGAPORE — A simple act of patience by an SBS Transit bus captain has touched a father’s heart after the driver waited for him and his four-year-old son to safely climb to the upper deck and take their seats before moving the bus.
The father, Andrew Davey, later praised the bus captain, identified as Zul, as “a man doing a job with actual empathy for his passengers.”
The heartwarming encounter took place on Saturday, September 5, at around 10.34am on SBS Transit bus service 7, travelling along Holland Road towards Napier station and Holland Village.
A Young Bus Fan’s Favourite Seat
Davey was travelling with his four-year-old son, Hudson, who has a special love for Singapore’s buses.
Like many young children fascinated by vehicles, Hudson particularly enjoys riding double-decker buses and sitting in the front seat of the upper deck, where he can watch the roads and surroundings from above.
But getting there was not as simple as it sounds.
Davey had to manage his belongings, tap his fare card and help his young son climb the stairs — all while making sure the four-year-old stayed safe.
The Bus Captain Noticed
According to Davey, Zul noticed that the father and son had not yet reached their seats.
Instead of immediately pulling away, the bus captain waited.
“He just read the situation, held the bus until we were safely up top and planted in our seats, and only then pulled away,” Davey shared in a LinkedIn post on Sunday, September 6.
For Davey, it was a small gesture that made a big difference.
The driver had not been asked to wait.
There was no complaint or request.
He simply noticed.
‘A Man With Actual Empathy for Passengers’
Davey said the incident went beyond what he considered ordinary customer service.
“That’s a man doing a job with actual empathy for his passengers, noticing a father and a small kid on unsteady stairs, and deciding, unprompted, that a minute of his schedule mattered less than that kid’s safety,” he said.
The father also praised the wider workplace culture that could encourage such acts of consideration.
“You can’t train someone to do that in a workshop. You can create a culture where doing that feels normal, and Zul clearly works inside one,” Davey added.
Father Makes Sure the Driver Gets Recognised
When the father and son eventually reached their destination, Davey personally thanked Zul.
But he did not stop there.
He also submitted an online compliment to SBS Transit through its website, hoping the driver’s thoughtful gesture would be recognised.
Davey ended his message with a direct note to the bus captain.
“Zul, if this reaches you, your work does not go unnoticed, and neither does the extra minute you gave a stranger’s kid without being asked.”
AsiaOne has reached out to SBS Transit for comment.
Sometimes, One Extra Minute Means Everything
Public transport workers operate under schedules, deal with heavy traffic and are responsible for the safety of dozens of passengers every day.
Yet for one SBS Transit bus captain, taking an extra moment to ensure a father and his young child were safely seated came before rushing to the next stop.
For four-year-old Hudson, it meant getting safely to his favourite seat at the front of the upper deck.
For his father, it was a reminder that kindness can appear in the smallest moments.
The Bottom Line
SBS Transit bus captain Zul did not need to make a grand gesture to make a difference.
He simply noticed a father juggling his belongings while helping his four-year-old son climb the stairs of a double-decker bus.
And he waited.
One extra minute. One small act of patience. And one father who will likely never forget that someone behind the wheel chose his child’s safety over the clock.
WWC ONE MEDIA J.M.D
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