Bendies are the generally the better choice when there is high
passenger movement and high passenger load. In fact, they just
gotten more relevent after the fare system was redesigned.
Look more deeply into the differences between SG and HK before
making the comparision. Singapore operates mostly on distance based
fares, regardless of how many transfers thats been made. Commuters
benefit as there's always a bus to their house by transferring.
However, the same distance based fares also
causes a rather unexpected problem. Feeders and even some trunk
services are now being heavily utilised as commuters just need to
pay 1 or 2cents to save some walking. This becomes a big problem as
there's now have large amount of people just taking a bus for a few
stops and getting off. Putting a DD on such feeder service would
simply cause everyone to stay on the lower deck. (who would climb
up and down the stairs just for a less than 5 minutes ride?) This
is where bendies excel.
HK on the other hand does not use distance based fares.
Commuters pay a fixed fare which differs by service and there is
generally very limited transfer rebates. Even if there is 5
different services serving between two points, fares can range from
$3.20 (50cents sg) to $10 and above ($2 and above). Obviously
people will always take the cheaper option. You might ask, so whats
the more expensive services for? These services typically crosses
the harbour and goes for a much longer distance, and usually direct
to a town center or a place that people wants to go. This is very
well the reason why KMB CTB NWFB uses DD, and its because services
are very direct and there's minimal people who take longer distance
services for just a few stops.
They simply do not have a need to move large amounts of
people for just a few stops unlike what the distance based fares
has caused to our bus network!
It depends to individual mindset to move up or not. If your trip
is less than 2 stops, yes, it is better to stay in the lower deck.
If it is more, then might as well go up. Treat it as an exercise,
not being lazy and inconsiderate.
It is the same case for bendy buses as well. If my trip is less
than 5 mins, why should I bother to move all the way to the back???
Thus this causes half filled bendies hogging the roads, delaying
other buses schedules, causing long queues and jams along bus
stops, bus interchanges. Parking is a nightmare for depots. Our
limited land space isn't suitable for these kind of buses, it's a
fact.
