Not to agree or disagree but I certainly disagree why SMRTB
don't want to buy double deckers instead, if the ban for bendy
buses is valid. There is no law in Singapore to state that SBST is
the only public bus company that is entitled to buy and use double
decker buses only. And the stupid mindset of both companies not
trying to get into the boundaries of even getting the type of buses
to use. Like if SBST use double deckers, then other companies
cannot use it, and TIBS brought in bendy buses, SBST can't really
entitled to use these type of buses in the end (sad fate for
SBS998Y and SBS999U).
Both companies are providing bus services to commuters, and
providing the best way for smooth operations and most
comfortable buses to them is the higher priority, not engaging to
some senseless wars that deprive the use of specific buses for the
comfort of commuters. This is called stupidity and childish in
mindset in the so called first class public transport
companies.
Look at Hong Kong, does KMB and Citybus are so completely
against each other that one company cannot use double
deckers/midibuses/regular buses??? No. They uses the same type of
buses mostly, be it a double decker or single decker or midibuses.
Moreover they can use the same brands, same models, i.e. Both KMB
and Citybus uses Volvo B9TLs, Volvo Olympians, Dennis Tridents,
Alexander Dennis Enviro 500, etc.
Unlike Hong Kong, our local companies not only takes the pie of
the bus manufacturer and also the type of buses they should
use. This is real dumb. If SMRT can bring in double deckers,
half of their overloading problems is solved. Even if there is no
such ban on bendy buses, I believe SMRT won't be bringing in more
bendies, because space constraints for all depots and temporary
night parkings.
Let's talk about the ban in effect. SMRT can still buy double
deckers for their operations if bendies are banned. Building depots
of higher heights in future will cater for the needs for double
deckers to be parked in depots. And depots of multistories may
likely be the future as I believe URA may/may not limit the land
use of bus depots in land scarce Singapore.
Next, I believe LTA bans bendies in Singapore for the following
reasons:
- longer bus queues along bus stops, especially those busier
ones. This might cause other buses behind to wait even longer to
load and unload their passengers.
- longer bus queues form in bus interchanges/terminals,
this problem gets very bad in Yishun interchange, and WRI at
some berths.
- longer parking spaces, which means more limited space in
depots/interchanges may be taken up for these lots. (2 bendy lots
can park 3 single and double decker buses with a little more
allowances.)
I believe LTA has this kind of negative mindset that long bus
queues along Singapore roads and bus stops are no good, which I
think is bad. Other reasons I believe:
- longer vehicles tends to take up more space on the roads, thus
bus companies may have to pay more ERP charges for the larger area
of space they have to take up on the road (Not sure about this).
(Btw, paying ERP for public transport, buses and taxis is another
dumb idea from LTA). However this is more of the bus operator
issue.
- These longer buses tends to block certain slip roads'
pedestrian crossings, yellow boxes which may not be in favor of
LTA's mentality of more free flowing roads for other motorists and
pedestrians.
- Not cost effective (e.g. ERP) for operators, if the bus is
empty during operation, and certainly cause more unwanted delays
for other buses behind and takes up more road space.
- Complaints about the back trailers that tends to swing
dangerously, especially on wet roads.
- Fire incidents on bendy buses, since they mostly have to work
extra hard in order to hurl the longer trailer and more passengers
since bendy buses uses the same engines as single deckers.
Generally Singapore roads are considered narrow and bus stops
and bus bays are generally short and small and thus not
really that suitable for bendy buses. Judging by the road
conditions here and in Hong Kong (and also looking into population
and road density in both cities), both are similar in many aspects,
thus that's why I believe why Hong Kong operators
uses majority DD fleet instead for so many decades.
That's why I feel that since bendies are banned or limited, then
SMRT should go for double deckers instead and throw away that
stupid mindset. In this way, they can solve the problem of parking
spaces in depots and at the same time, needless to say to solve the
problem of driver shortages.
This shows another inflexibility in our public transport system,
when compared to other countries like Hong Kong.
Singapore First Class Public Transport System = failure.
i feel cars should be banned instead.
Then there will not be the need for any buses anymore, since
there is no need for roads.
I personally think should ban cos sometimes take out too much
space at bus stop and cause jam..
I stated my points above, which I agree too..
dont argue anymore. now go study and get better grades and in
the future you will be driving cars. you can even be the atas in
lta and relift the limit.
I agree too. From the way LTA wants to restructure the local bus
system, and they are more in favour towards an inflexible rail
system as backbone in future, the future of better bus services and
networks seems bleak. Especially for people like me who only likes
to take buses only.