Fewer Bus Bays To Make Your Trip Faster

Feb 13 2007 (TODAY)
Leong Wee Keat
weekeat@mediacorp.com.sg

EVEN bus bays can add to a commuter's travelling time by slowing down bus
speeds. To ensure a smoother ride, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) is
looking into bus stops without bays.

It will use a planned road widening along Jalan Eunos for a trial run in
2009 to test the benefits of such bus stops, which the LTA aid would cut
down the amount of time buses take to travel out of bus bays.

Together with full-day bus lanes, the agency hopes such bus stops will
improve bus speeds by 30 per cent - from 17 to 18kmh now to 23 to 25kmh -
during peak hours.

"By so doing, it will further help enhance the travelling experience,"
said LTA chief executive Yam Ah Mee yesterday. "We want to encourage and
make public transport a choice mode (of transportation)."

Studies by the LTA indicate that buses trying to exit from bus bays are
often impeded by fast-moving traffic and motorists who do not give way. A
survey conducted by SBS Transit also found that attempts by drivers to
exit bus bays take up 9 per cent of the average time a bus commuter spends
per trip.

Said BG (NS) Yam: "If the results are very good ... then clearly we should
explore expanding (the scheme) to other areas."

Meanwhile, SBS Transit has launched a "Move To The Rear" campaign aimed at
encouraging commuters to move to the rear. Three bus services - 15, 27 and
36 - will have speakers playing a public announcement which urges
commuters to avoid crowding the front of the bus, hence reducing boarding
delays.