S179A underops again, 241 getting ghost buses

last SG · 2013-12-05T09:49:52+00:00

Frequency quite high for both leh, but it will denfintely be good to have 179 with a frequency better than 179A... And that is the case. Observe aft PIE towa...

BusAnalayzer SG

I have a suggestion:

Create another service on 179 that loops in another direction. Similar to how the Bukit Panjang LRT works, maybe this new service can go in the other direction (via Nanyang Drive) as the original service (via Lien Ying Chow Drive).

And you are right... There is definitely a perception issue and few that make the problem sound larger than it is. If to clear the perception, we want to create two loops, we can. That would in turn reduce the frequency at each stop, and stain people will complain.

BusAnalayzer SG

I still take 179 and 179A daily but for the PM peak, it is still a headache (not saying it is not a headache on other services).

Stopping at Pioneer is generally good at other times but at PM peak, every single full DD takes almost 2 minutes to completely offload. Together with 241, 255, Pioneer shuttle and the factory buses which eats up 1 of the 2 lanes, the entire road is already congested even without 179A stopping there. All thats needed to bring traffic to a standstill is a impatient driver who lets pax off while having the tail of the bus blocking the other lane.

From a operator standpoint, it is not easy to balance the pax between 179 and 179A, because if more 179 are operated, the pioneer stretch gets congested which will eventually affect the runtime of many buses. More 179A are operated, then the alighting bay at BNL itself gets congested.

Perhaps an alternative option would be to have a SWT 179B in the evening to alight pax at the opposite side of pioneer (coffee shop side) and terminate there since it is less congested. This could fill up the demand to alight at pioneer and also relieve some buses from using the congested bus stop. These BC can alternate between 179A and 179B so less traffic is going back into the interchange, while still getting their well deserved rest.

I agree with your point about the rush at Pioneer stop. During PM peak! almost all of 179/255/257 alights at Pioneer MRT stop and each bus can take up to 2 ,mins to unload. I think this issue can be resolved only once JOO Koon comes up and then the load is distributed. Already some services like 182/254 do not call at Pioneer and go express from Boon Lay due to bus stop issue at Pioneer. I don't think much can be done about this today.

Pervertedboy SG

I have a suggestion:

It is not (only) about clearing perception. This idea is mainly about diverting the crowd and making bus rides on 179 more comfortable.

Regarding the reduced frequecy and longer waiting time, this is perhaps inevitable. This is perhaps what NTU commuters have to trade-off for less crowding and quicker boarding. Anyway, on the positive side, I'm sure (most of) the students have access to wi-fi, where they can check what time the bus arrives and leave for the bus stop just on time. I don't think reduced frequency would be a problem.

I think I got the idea after viewing http://youtu.be/aUuqq8RcaEg and saw the Red and Blue campus loop shuttle bus services: they run in opposite directions as each other. Somehow, this makes me think of the Bukit Panjang LRT and... *light bulb*

If NTU can come up with this idea of having its two internal shuttle bus services run in opposite directions(probably to split up the crowd), why not also propose this idea on 179?

The earlier part of the loop of original 179 can enter/leave the campus via Lien Ying Chow Drive. The later part of the loop of original 179 can enter/leave the campus via Nanyang Drive. This would split the crowd into two, while enhance the bus connectivity within the campus.

Bus Stopping SG

I have a suggestion:

If the suggestion is to create congestion within NTU itself, then yes that works.

The roads in NTU are not wide enough to allow large vehicles to pass at a high frequency. Even now 179 have to yield to opposite buses when turning after LWN library, and near the bus stop before innovation center.

Also, that would be rather pointless since there would effectively be no boarding after WKWSCI since the rest of the route can be covered by 199.

Pervertedboy SG

If the suggestion is to create congestion within NTU itself, then yes that works.

possible solution: create bus lanes for the shuttle buses and public buses serving NTU commuters. If need be, expand the roads to accomodate the addition of bus lanes.

Either way, the costs would be (much) lower than investing in LRT system or some driverless transport(http://media.ntu.edu.sg/NewsReleases/Pages/newsdetail.aspx?news=635afd55-4f9b-484a-a658-2187e2bb788d) in NTU.

BusAnalayzer SG

possible solution: create bus lanes for the shuttle buses and public buses serving NTU commuters. If need be, expand the roads to accomodate the addition of bus lanes.

Again, there is no need yet. The issue is made to sound larger than it is. 179 is doing the job well.

carbikebus SG

Aiya just introduced 179E from Boon Lay to NTU for AM peak with 6 buses and vice versa for PM peak NTU to Boon Lay skipping Pioneer Stn

Pervertedboy SG

Aiya just introduced 179E from Boon Lay to NTU for AM peak with 6 buses and vice versa for PM peak NTU to Boon Lay skipping Pioneer Stn

Indeed, the traffic jams can be quite serious sometimes, such that you can watch the sky turn bright or dark during the jam. I believe the reason behind this suggestion is because of the usual traffic jams along sections of Pioneer Road North near Pioneer MRT Station.

Personally, I think that (at least) the section of Pioneer Road North between Jurong West Avenue 4 and Boon Lay Way (and the section of Jurong West Street 63 until the traffic junction at the other end of Pioneer MRT station) should (at least) have a normal bus lane specially for public buses to use during morning peak hours. Otherwise, as I’ve mentioned previously, there should not be any more new public buses added to the existing bus routes or have new bus routes plying (at least the section of) Pioneer Road North.

If for some reasons the idea of having (at least) a normal bus lane at Pioneer Road North is rejected, then I think the only thing to do is to re-route some bus routes to the minor roads (using Jurong West Ave 4 and Jurong West Street 61) and have less bus routes plying the section of Pioneer Road North after Avenue 4 and towards the AYE.

Pervertedboy SG

It was so peaceful then before Pioneer MRT Station opens. Everybody went to only Boon Lay MRT Station to take train and there was no traffic jam that serious (at least) at the section of Pioneer Road North between Jurong West Avenue 4 and Boon Lay Way.

Nonetheless, the traffic jams back then at the sections of Jurong West Avenue 4 (nearer to the cluster of temples), Jalan Boon Lay, Boon Lay Way and Jurong West Street 81 are still present today.

When LTA reviews the public bus network of the Jurong West Extension again, (at least) in tandem with the opening of Joo Koon Bus Interchange in 2015, I hope that the bus routes plying such roads can be re-routed somehow. Similarly, bus lanes should be added to those sections of roads, unless the bus routes are adjusted somehow.

Actually, if there is a good road and public bus connection to Pioneer MRT Station, some bus routes(eg.243G/181) from Boon Lay Bus Interchange and some roads near Boon Lay MRT Station would not be so heavily utilised during peak hours because more people would use Pioneer MRT Station and less would use Boon Lay MRT Station. Therefore, instead of avoiding Pioneer MRT Station, LTA should review the bus routes and do some changes to the roads(eg. add bus lanes), to take advantage of Pioneer MRT Station to relieve the crowding conditions at Boon Lay Bus Interchange and the traffic jams on roads near Boon Lay MRT Station and also at other parts of Jurong West Extension, when people are encouraged to switch to public transport as the public bus connection to Pioneer MRT Station is enhanced.

manjalink SG

Are you Pang Soon Tan?

BusAnalayzer SG

Are you Pang Soon Tan?

If you really want to know, you should send PM - not disclose any names publicly.

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