Wednesday January 13, 2010

New public transport system gets off to a good start

By OH ING YEEN

THE Rapid Bus Expressway Transit (RapidBET) got off to a good start yesterday as commuters lauded the shorter travel times.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat said that during the initial introductory stage, the system would run at 15 to 20-minute intervals during the morning and evening peak hours.

Two routes were introduced — Kota Damansara to KL Sentral and Pasar Seni via the Penchala Link (RapidBET1); and Bandar Sungai Long to Pasar Seni via the Grand Saga Highway (RapidBET2).

Dedicated lanes: To cut down on travelling time, marked lanes for the BET buses have been set up at the toll plazas along the route.

To help speed up the travel times, dedicated lanes marked BET have been set up at the toll gates along the route.

The RapidBET2 from Bandar Sungai Long to Central Market takes around 45 minutes while the RapidKL U41 bus takes 1 hour and 15 minutes during peak hours for the same route.

The U41 bus takes a longer time as it stops at various locations, even at places that are not bus stops, whenever someone flags it down.

Therefore, the estimated reduction in travelling time is between 20 to 35 minutes, depending on traffic conditions.

Chloe Leow, who commutes to work from Bandar Sungai Long, was pleased with RapidBET as it is more frequent and punctual.

“Previously, I had to wait between 30 minutes and an hour for a bus, moreover, there was no fixed schedule.

“With the frequency of the buses, there are less passengers, thus the bus is less packed,” she said, adding that she also planned to use the bus to get to the shopping centres near Jalan Pudu, which is one of the stops.

Sia Kum Yoke, a cleaner in her 60s who commutes from Central Market to Petaling Jaya for work, has yet to try the new system but is eager to use it when she goes to Bandar Sungai Long.

Popular choice: Many passengers tried out the bus on the first day but the frequency prevented overcrowding.

“I read about it in the newspapers and I plan to take the RapidBET when I visit my friend who lives in Bandar Sungai Long as it is almost half the travel time.

“I hope that there will also be a route to Petaling Jaya,” she said.

However, there are some who are unaware of the system and boarded the bus without knowing it was the RapidBET bus.

Siti Norfadzlynn Zain had not heard of the system but was glad that the travel time had been cut short.

“I have not heard of it and I do not use the routes provided. However, it’s great that the frequency is increased,” the 26-year-old said.