Dedicated Lanes, Standardising Schedules and Better Timing to Encourage Bus Usage, Say Users
When asking commuters about bus services in Klang Valley, they will likely have a number of complaints, such as long wait times, especially during peak hours, lack of direct routes, and uncertainty of schedules. With LRT/MRT users also struggling with last-mile connectivity issues, it is no wonder that many people choose to drive, leading to more congestion on the roads. The recent announcement of a plan to integrate bus service routes in Klang Valley was well received by the public, but users pointed out that it should be the first step in improving the entire public transportation system.
The initiative, announced by Transport Minister Anthony Loke on September 12th, is part of measures to encourage more people to use buses. The Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) will be responsible for coordinating bus service routes in Klang Valley, with support from various agencies and local authorities. Commuters have been waiting for this integration for a long time and hope that it will also lead to improvements in existing services, such as bus frequencies, punctuality, and access to digital information via mobile applications.
One commuter suggested that passengers would benefit from an integrated application that displays all bus arrival times and stops. The current mobile app by MyRapid only shows Rapid buses and sometimes does not accurately reflect the bus locations. Another commuter mentioned that additional buses should be added during peak hours to accommodate the higher demand. They also suggested standardizing cashless payment systems across all operators.
Avid commuter Gabriel Lim emphasized the importance of expanding dedicated bus lanes, especially on major highways like the Federal Highway, Middle Ring Road 2 (MRR2), and Shah Alam Expressway (KESAS). He also mentioned the need to standardize the operating hours of bus services to prevent passengers from getting stranded.
In Selangor, the state government aims to examine the bus routes and potentially shift to Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) van services. The DRT van services would operate on a request-based system and cater to localities within a 10km radius of transportation hubs. The goal is to reallocate free buses to serve extended routes and enhance intercity connectivity.
The proposed restructuring of the plan will be discussed during the Selangor Mobility standing committee meetings, involving state and federal agencies such as APAD and the local council. The Selangor Mobility initiative was introduced to improve public transportation accessibility, and a total of RM25mil was allocated to strengthen the state’s public transportation under this initiative in 2023.
Credit: The Star : Metro Feed
