extracted from ST forums.
I refer to the report 'Top bus woes: Long wait and overcrowding'
(Sunday Times Nov 27).
The survey result comes as no surprise. It appears that the Public
Transport Council (PTC) attributes these woes to motorists who
occupy bus lanes during peak hours.
Aside from this, has the PTC ascertained why bunching (two or more
same service buses arriving at about the same time) takes place
often even though traffic conditions are normal?
To be fair, commuters are partly to blame for refusing to move to
the rear of the buses to allow others to board, giving the
impression that the buses are packed to capacity.
Compared to the bygone days when there was competition, commuters
who were dissatisfied with the services of the defunct Singapore
Traction Company have other options. They could board the buses of
companies such as Tay Koh Yat, Green Bus, Changi Bus, to name a
few. Commuters who rely solely on public buses to get to their
destinations have no alternative now.
Many commuters do not mind the fare increases. However, they expect
the public transport operators to match this with a reasonable
standard of service.
Andrew Seow Chwee Guan
