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.
Baseless assumptions.
Runtime won't be longer even if SMRTB uses double deckers. And
SMRTB bus services needs a bit more runtime for many bus services
as most BCs have to rush to complete the journey. This adds up to
the stress they are facing driving the bus services everyday. No
wonder the PRC BCs went on strike and may are unhappy with the
working hours and conditions.
Boarding and unloading time is more of less the same for both
double deckers and bendy buses. But bendy buses take up much more
space in the bus stop and delaying other buses behind. Double
deckers on the other hand gives the flexibility for other buses
behind to stop and allow boarding and alighting and do not delay
buses behind. I don't see double deckers along bus stops delaying
other buses but the long queues caused by bendy buses
always delays other buses.
Upper deck seating issues is improving, in fact many people are
moving up because they want to find a seat and break away from the
crowd in the lower deck. Bendy buses are also problematic when
people do not want to move into the rear of the bus. Feeder
services will be better to improved with more frequencies using
single deckers, unless LTA wants to cut down the number of feeder
services. Long frequencies using bendy buses is not efficient for
places with many services.
Do you think they will reject?
If they want to reject, why not?
Bendy buses are not relevant to their operational needs anymore.
They created more problems to SMRTB instead.
Singapore road heavy vehicles speed sure invite disaster either
from other road users,Enforcement team and the passengers
itself.Above 70 bendy already like snake and roller coaster if hit
bump...Not much different.Which you prefer a bit slower but
comfortable or roller coaster ride if a bit faster?
If you have noticed, many of these SMRTB buses are already
exceeding the speed limits for commercial vehicles. Wonder
what are all the TPs doing.
