Choice quotes from the article:
"Planners' peak hour versus commuters' peak hour
Bus service 502 is my favourite example of shocking incompetence
when it comes to planning. This express route connects the Jurong
suburbs with the downtown areas of Orchard Road and the Marina
district.
The bus company doubles the capacity during "peak hours" by
splitting the route into 502A and 502B, while keeping frequency
about the same. The problem is that this "peak hours" splitting is
roughly between 8-10 am and 5-7 pm
What I have noticed is that between 5 and 7 pm, 502A and 502B
mostly run at littel more than half capacity. Some days, there are
even empty seats, let alone have standing passengers and this on
the homeward-bound leg.
But between 7 pm and 11 pm, 502 is packed solid. Sometimes, the bus
is so full, it doesn't stop to pick up passengers anymore, so those
left stranded at the bus stops have to wait another 25 minutes for
the next 502 (yes, that's the frequency of this service during
"off-peak").
No route planner seems to have realised that the surge is not at
the theoretical "peak" of 5 to 7 pm, but much later.
I really wonder whether route planners work short hours, going home
at 5 pm sharp everyday, completely unaware that other Singaporeans
work late."
"Solving the taxi problem must involve relooking at the
capabilities of bus and train. The latter must cater to a wider
variety of passengers, not just the slim, agile and baggage-less.
They must still be comfortable at surge times, not just look good
based on statistical averages. And much greater priority should be
placed on reducing travel and connection times. If the existing
duopolistic companies aren't keen to do this, then we must have new
competitors."
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