1. yes, i dun see any problem with that. n it will jus have to
turn as slow like other 12m buses.
2. Ghim Moh: while bendies are unlikely to touch Ghim Moh Ter,
bendies are not suitable for this terminal as there is insufficient
(imo) parking space for it and U-turning back after alighting pax
at the rubbish dump is not easy.
Buona Vista: while bendies are unlikely to touch Buona Vista Ter
too, bendies may pose a hazard to other SBST 12m buses when parking
in the end-on lots. however, this was possible in Boon Lay Int,
prob cos 172 & 178 "sandwich" 187's bendies, so any collision
with those bendies will be SMRTB's problem.
Shenton Way: bendies from 700 are known to serve shenton way route
during evening peak hours. however i have never observed if the
bendies start a new trip from anson rd or do a normal return trip
from bt panjang. but i dun expect shenton way to pose a problem to
bendies, jus that they might have to be given roadside lots &
not end-on lots.
3. while the allocation is partly due to the fact that bendies are
used by SMRTB, i suppose it is mainly because SBST wants to set
aside exclusive lots for SMRTB to use so that it won't conflict
with SBST buses, for example during heavy parking times there is
the issue of who should have priority over parking lots if they are
all shared, which involves a lot of politics & not simple
first-come-first-serve logic. SBST, who is in-charge of Tampines
& Bedok Interchanges, have to take care of SBST drivers first.
so setting aside exclusive lots for SMRTB buses make sense, and it
happens that the only space left that can be let out are those lots
by the roadside. note that there is a non-roadside lot for a 12m
SMRTB bus at Tampines Int at the edge of the bend next to where the
other SMRTB buses park.