Actually if SMRT dun wan bendies why they still list it in the
tender, for show???
Anyways, I can think of pros and cons of SMRT having DDs
only.
Pros
1. Less jams at the bus stop, bus int and road(esp. one lane
roads like Tiong Bahru Rd) Less parking woes at the bus int and
depots.
2. More seats.
Cons
1. The runtime of SMRT services will be longer. From Thomson
Rd-Tiong Bahru, it will take 20mins for 851. But with DDs,
40mins... Service 300/302's runtime will also be longer.
2. Some services with road issues cannot have DDs either, like
service 800, which has a tight turn at Yishun St 71(same as
C'wealth Dr issue).
I would still prefer bendies for Feeders/Intratowns and Short
Distance routes like 856/859/962/964 etc. and DDs for CBD services
and Long Distance Routes.
CCK has no problems with bendies. Absolutely no problem.
BBT no problems but parking woes. Current situation is still
fine.
BPJ has bus stop, road and parking woes. Have to reduce the
number.
SBW has no problems with bendies. Absolutely no problem.
YIS has bus stop, road, bus int and parking woes. Have to reduce
the number.
WDL has bus int and parking woes. Have to reduce the number.
But bear in mind, once you use DDs, the runtime for
300/302/800/804/806/811/812/856/859/900/901/903/911/912/913/962/964
will be longer. DDs have speed issues as well as boarding and
alighting issues and the top deck issues.
Keep in mind that service 969's runtime will be severly
lengthened by x2!
Boarding and alighting
If the commuters vacate the bus earlier with the help of an
extra door, wouldn't the commuters be able to board faster too?
Since when the commuters alighted, there will be more space to move
in to the rear. But boarding only at interchanges is a problem.
Bendy to unload- 2 mins.
DD to unload- 6 mins.
3 Doors DD to unload- 4 mins due to the NARROW stairs.
This is especially very useful on the high demand services
800/804/806/811/812/912/913.
3 Doors DD
Yes, 3 Doors DD is useful, but have you ever forgotten about the
stairs? Narrow and steep, commuters at the upper deck still have to
climb down, which is slow and troublesome.
Top Deck Issues
Yes, more people have moved up to the top deck recently, like
291/334/Bedok/Boon Lay Feeders(except 241A). But there are still
people who refuse to go up, which is the reason why SBST refused to
deploy DDs on service 238.(And due to tight turn issues).
Note: There ARE still some SBST services in which people don't
move up. (I think SMB128B has mentioned about service 87/238
before. But I may have seen wrongly.)
And people not moving to the rear of a bendy is NOT true, look
at WDL/YIS feeders and intratowns. 856 yes but nobody wanted to
stand at the narrow rear aisle. Even on O405s, be it SD/DD(Lower
Deck)/Bendy, nobody would want to stand at the narrow rear aisle.
This excludes the top deck of DDs, due to the no standing rule. BTW
there's no "that kind of aisle" at the top deck...
Just my 2 cents worth, dun blast me for this.
Personal experience:
854 bendy from Eunos Link to HG ave 2 takes the same amount of
time as DD on 25 on the same route.
106 bendy from Stamford Road to Holland Village takes the same
amount of time as DD on same route.
From where do you draw conclusions that 851 will take the double
amount of time on DDs? It does not travel on expressway like 969 to
chiong / drive fast - no scope.
