I have taken 85 before and it is a myth that Punggol and
Sengkang east residents take it to Punggol (even if there are it
will be lower unit digi. In my observation, there are distinct
loading patterns for sv 85
Punggol MRT --> Punggol Central (some who stay over alight
along Rivervale area)
Sengkang East --> Sengkang East Rd (many take as intra town
and alight at Sengkang east road, Kopitiam, transfer to other
services)
Sengkang East Rd --> Sengkang West / Jalan Kayu (since there
is no feeder yet. 85 is the only option to Sengkang West BTOs
currently)
There are few who head to Yishun...
Sorry, but I have to disagree with your "distinct loading
patterns" with my own experience of loading of svc 85. This is
loading on sv 85 on 4th June, at 6.15pm: (I posted this in "Loading
levels on buses" thread as well)
Punggol Temp Int - 18 (Svc 3 just left 1 min earlier)
Punggol Ctrl - [-1] 17, [+5] 22, [-5+3] 20, [-1+6] 25
(Note that at least 11 pax who board from interchange have not
alighted yet)
Punggol East - [+6] 31
Sengkang East Dr - [-2] 29
Sengkang East Way - [-1+3] 31
Rivervale Dr - 31, [-1+7] 37
Compassvale Dr - [-3+3] 37, [-1+6] 42
Sengkang East Rd - [-2+17] 57 (BC had to tell people to move
in)
Sengkang East Way - [+2] 59, [-5?+3] 57, [+2] 59
Sengkang West Way - [-1+5] 63 (KUB in opposite direction had 10
standees), [-6?+6?] 63 (totally lost count, actual pax onboard may
be slightly smaller but not much difference), [-4?+5?] 64
Jln Kayu - [-2+3] 65, [-1+3] 67 (Citaro in opposite direction had
around 15 standees)
Lentor Ave - 67 all the way
Yishun Ave 2 - 67, [-26?+2] 43 (Khatib MRT), [-1+1] 43, [-12] 31,
[-3] 28 (Yishun MRT)
Yishun Temp Int - [-28] 0
So, if you do some simple calculations:
1. At Sengkang East Rd, there are still many ppl on the bus who
boarded from Punggol. At least 7 pax from Punggol MRT were on the
bus before Compassvale Dr, of whom at least 3 pax did not alight
until Sengkang East Rd (this is based on the assumption that those
who alighted before Sengkang East Rd all boarded at Punggol MRT,
which is obviously not true). At least 23 pax from Punggol
(including Punggol Ctrl/East) were on the bus before Sengkang
East Rd, and not all alighted at Sengkang West or Jln Kayu -- I
believe there must be some of them who alighted at Yishun/Khatib.
Take note these are the minimum numbers.
2. 17 pax boarded at Sengkang East but only 2 alighted at
Sengkang East Rd. I even doubt that all of them alighted before
hitting TPE.
3. I agree that most ppl taking sv 85 at Sengkang East Rd use it
as a feeder to Sengkang West. However, take note that many boarded
at Sengkang West towards Yishun also.
4. There's a good 67 pax on board when reaching Khatib MRT, so
I'm afraid the statement "There are few who head to Yishun" is
untrue.
I also thought 85 is an almost useless service before I
personally went down to do loading analysis. I was also shocked
when some ppl were almost unable to board.