A bus isnt a car. A car can swerve in and out of traffic jams if
the driver is skilled. A bus cant and has to stay on the left most
lane 93% of the time.
So if I give you 2 routes for express route from Synergy to
Orchard, a bus using a straight route with lesser turns and
changing lanes will edge out a winding route with changing lanes
many times. Im ignoring mileage here as there's a clear winner for
this.
1. PIE: L-Toh Tuck Ave (no problem) then keep right to turn
right (so-so but depends on the queue to PIE), then enter PIE (have
to deal with merging traffic) then keep right cos ALOT of vehicles
exit at Clementi Ave 6 (big problem), then deal with merging
traffic when entering the main PIE road. Then at every entry and
exit points have to deal with the merging and exiting traffic and
you know how cars and taxis cut lane like using penknife. Then you
approaching Adam Flyover it feels slow. You tune in to hear Flying
Dutchman saying "Heavy traffic on the PIE towards Changi at the
Stevens Rd exit". If that makes it to the radio EVERY MORNING, you
know u cant go anywhere faster with this. Stevens Rd ok but when it
comes to the Anderson Rd right turn.. another problem. So many
problems already you still want the drivers to continue driving?
This is WITHOUT traffic lights being brought into the picture.
2. Holland: Straight down to C'wealth Ave West. Slight queue at
the Clementi Ave 6 junction, then down to Clementi MRT and
sometimes some idiots park their vehicle just before the Clementi
MRT stop but keeping 1 lane out isnt a very big problem (but on PIE
it IS a problem!). Then left to Clementi Ave 2 and you get a
problem here - the cut 3 lanes to turn right to Ulu Pandan Rd. This
area chews up time but its a one off issue. The traffic lights at
this junction are favourable so it wont take very long for the bus
to turn out. If S7 can do it, S502 can too. Ulu Pandan and Holland
Rd are generally smooth flowing other than the fact that there's
alot of traffic lights. Even if the left lane is blocked shifting
to the centre lane is easier compared to the PIE when the cars and
trucks and maybe the 190s overtake you like the road is collapsing
from behind.
If applying this to PM peak, no 2 will still edge out despite
both having equally bad jams. However in most cases PIE gets jams
worse than holland rd.
People at Scotts are affected yes. But got think where they
actually walk from to the bus stop for 502? probably areas like
Hyatt, Far East Plaza, Lido, Wheelock, Hilton, Forum and Delfi.
These fellas affected are likely to be young and able bodied. If
they can walk from Wheelock to Far East Plaza for a cheap lunch I
dont see what's the problem in walking from Far East Plaza to Thai
Embassy for 502?
1) PIE jam but at least the traffic is moving. From Boon Lay way
to Tph Guan route. Passby 2 traffic lights then to PIE. I
understand the lornie rd that sector is the bottleneck but after
that it is rather smooth. More importantly, smoother rides for
passengers and drivers. There are many occasions where cars cut
into the bus rote along holland rd.
2) Boon Lay to Commonwealth AVE is the bottleneck(along the
viaduct). So this evening 2 - 3 buses are stuck there. You can see
cars are jammed there stationary without moving. So had u
counted how many traffic lights thaty the buses passes by? I had
taken in the peak hrs where the bus stop in almost all the traffic
lights along Commonwealth ave. Like I say just use cle ave 5
like svc 7 to clement ave 2 could save some time and avoid the
heavy traffic. 7 traffic lights to Ulu pandan from Boon Lay Way
ave. Then along ulu pandan Rd to holland rd, the bumpy
rides that cause almost everyone onboard to vomit
when the bus is speeding along that sector. Not to forget the heavy
traffic along Holland RD during the peak hrs.
Compare the walking distance for ppl in Suntec to cross
over the route to the ppl walking to Royal Thai embassy? I
not picking on this point since it is amended but hope
that SBS can think of the passenger affected in the future.