Boredworkers.com

There’s been a whole lot of effort and emphasis put on improving the state of public transport in Malaysia, and specifically the Klang Valley. The most recent development is the consolidation of major bus and rail services into one conglomerate entity that is Rapid KL. This is both good and bad. On the one hand, it creates a monopoly of sorts. On the other, with everything under one management, discounted fairs can be readily afforded to the public. The system should also theoretically run smoother. But is it really meeting expectations?

Personally speaking, it isn’t enough to convince me to switch over from driving. While RapidKL have introduced flat day rates for bus and rail routes under their care, the transit process is still more expensive and time consuming than driving. To get from where I stay to my office, I’m required to take a bus to KL Sentral, switch over to Putra LRT, and take a shuttle bus to my final destination. The reverse is true when coming home. It takes about 2 hours for a one way transit (or 4 hours roundtrip!) which costs me RM7.00 a day.

Driving to work takes all of 30 minutes using the Sprint Highway (RM1.50) and parking is covered by my company. Inspite of soaring petrol prices, my fuel consumption is still in the low RM6 round trip. That’s only slightly more expensive than public transportation at a fraction of the time. Not to mention the convenience of having a car on hand should my plans change for the day. On a bad day, I may wind up caught in heavy traffic. But that being the case, buses would suffer a similar fate.

On a different note, has anyone ever considered that public transportation in Malaysia is one of the major causes of traffic jams? Think about it. How often have you been stuck because of buses breaking down, or blocking the route at major interchanges?

This morning, I was caught in a 1 hour long queue in front of Eastin Hotel. After inching through the jam, I discovered that the cause of it all were not one, but TWO Rapid KL buses that had broken down at the traffic lights. It is not an unusual sight to see Rapid KL buses breaking down. I see them almost every other day along Jalan Ampang. Considering that they have taken over a majority of the bus routes, Rapid KL should at least pay more attention to maintaining the vehicles.

Bus stops are another major hassle. Try driving along Jalan Ampang during rush hour and you’ll find yourself stuck behind a bus picking up passengers every 50 metres or so. Major bus stops such as the one in front of Ampang Park and KLCC is also a problem. There are usually 4 or 5 buses at the stop at any given moment and they usually hog two lanes.

Try driving by Maluri where they have a major Rapid KL interchange and you’ll see buses making U-turns at places not meant to accommodate these giants, stopping on either sides of the main street, and blocking up 70% of the road.

While there are drivers and motorists who drive wrecklessly and pose a danger to themselves and those around them, some bus drivers are worse! They dodge in and out of traffic with regard to other motorists. The fact that they are in command of behemoths just compounds and multiplies the danger. If you get into an accident with a car, your vehicle may suffer dents. Get run over by a bus and you’ll be lucky if anything but your car is smashed.

WL argues that it is convenient for her since she’s only one bus ride away from her office. While this may be true, it is also an inconvenience for many. For those who have little choice, public transportation is a god send. However, for those who have options open to them, they are nothing more than an alternative during emergencies. More often than not, they are a nuisance. Or at least that’s how I feel about the current state of public transportation.

While cost and efficiency is an issue, so too is safety and not being a nuisance to others. Public transportation fails for me on all fronts. How about you? Does it work for you?