Aussie commuters go WILD over little-known feature at bus stop: ‘How did I not know this existed?’
A nightmare every commuter dreads is racing to catch a train or bus, only to realise their phone is on one per cent.
With so much of modern life tied to our handheld screens, a flat battery can turn a simple trip into a stressful ordeal.
However, in Sydney’s east, one eagle-eyed expat has recently uncovered a clever solution built straight into public transport infrastructure – and her discovery has shocked thousands online.
Lauren, who shared the moment on TikTok, filmed herself sitting at a Bondi bus shelter before casually placing her phone on the bench beside her.
To her amazement, the screen lit up and began charging with no cables or obvious power bank in sight, just a wireless pad hidden on the seat.
Her video has racked up more than 189,000 views and sparked a flurry of reactions from Sydneysiders who couldn’t believe such a feature even existed.
‘London you would never,’ Lauren wrote in the caption, adding that Australia ‘is a different level,’ when it comes to technology.
The comments section of her clip was flooded with disbelief, but also a few swipes at the gadget only available ‘in one of the richest suburbs’.
With so much of modern life tied to our handheld screens, a flat battery can turn a simple trip into a stressful ordeal – until now
In Sydney’s east, one eagle-eyed expat has recently uncovered a clever solution built straight into public transport infrastructure which wirelessly charges phones. Her discovery has shocked thousands online
‘Mine’s just a shed,’ another laughed about their local bus stop in comparison.
Others confessed they had seen the feature before but had no idea what it was.
‘I thought it was a cup holder and put my coffee there,’ one admitted, while another wrote: ‘How did I not know this existed?’
While some assumed it was just another Bondi luxury, the truth is the tech has been quietly rolling out across Sydney for more than a year.
Transport for NSW confirmed that the wireless pads, officially dubbed ‘Power Spots’, have been popping up since June 2023 following successful trials at Liverpool and Campbelltown stations.
So far, commuters can plug in (or wirelessly charge) at Town Hall, Lidcombe, Bondi Junction and several bus interchanges – with the program now expanding to another 18 major hubs including Central, Wynyard, Bankstown, Blacktown, Parramatta, Chatswood and Penrith.
Each stand can charge up to seven devices at once, offering a mix of wireless pads as well as USB-A and USB-C ports.
Importantly, many have been installed outside the ticketed zones, meaning anyone – whether they’ve tapped on or not – can access free power 24/7.
Transport for NSW confirmed that the wireless pads, officially dubbed ‘Power Spots’, have been popping up since June 2023 following successful trials at Liverpool and Campbelltown stations
Peta Gamon, Executive Director for Strategy and Implementation at Transport for NSW, said the feedback had been ‘overwhelmingly positive’, describing the initiative as a common-sense solution.
‘So many of us know the stress a flat or dying phone can trigger,’ she said.
‘Mobile devices keep us informed while providing a sense of security to those travelling alone or at night, and we want to keep making life easier and safer for our passengers.’
She added the chargers aren’t just for office workers rushing to meetings. ‘Students, day-trippers, professionals and even rough sleepers are using them – it’s really a win for the entire community.’
Despite their availability, many commuters still remain in the dark, but with the expansion underway across some of Sydney’s busiest stations, that could soon change.
Until then, the simple act of sitting down at a bus stop and watching your phone spring back to life feels like a small but game-changing luxury – and one that might just save your next commute.
Passengers in Sydney have also noticed a major upgrade at several train platforms across the city to improve safety.
The Sydney Trains network has installed ‘rubber gap fillers’ at more than 20 station platforms. The innovative product was introduced with the aim to reduce the number of falls and fatalities between platform and train
In 2023, approximately 450 people fell through the gap on platforms across the Sydney Trains network and more than 50 of those were at Redfern Station alone (Central Station, Sydney, pictured)
The Sydney Trains network has installed ‘rubber gap fillers’ at more than 20 station platforms.
The innovative product was introduced with the aim to reduce the number of falls and fatalities between the platform and train.
While passengers are told to ‘mind the gap’, accidents do occur. The innovation is strong enough to support a person’s weight if stepped on.
It will also help reduce the number of personal items falling through the gap and onto the tracks.
New South Wales shared the update on the official Facebook page to alert locals.
‘If you’ve been seeing these spikey rubber things stuck on train station platforms around Sydney, this is what they’re all about!’ the post read.
‘These are “gap fillers”, and over the last three years they’ve been rolled out at stations with the highest risk of falls through the gap.
‘You might not know that some older platforms are curved, meaning a simple extension to accommodate various types of trains wouldn’t work, hence… the gap fillers!’ the post continued.
While some thought the upgrade was ‘obvious’ others praised the initiative.
Sydney Trains Executive Director of Engineering and Maintenance Nev Nichols said in February 2024: ‘There has not been a single fall through the gap recorded since the solution was installed at various platforms beginning in 2021.’
