Rapid Bus chief executive officer Muhammad Yazurin Sallij (standing, left) said test runs were conducted to fine-tune the DRT service. — AZHAR MAHFOF/ The Star
CITY bus service provider Rapid Bus Sdn Bhd is set to expand its on-demand van service with the addition of some 100 vans by year end, a move aimed at enhancing the first-mile last-mile connectivity in the Klang Valley.
Called the demand-responsive transit (DRT) service, the first additional 20 vans will be rolled out in June with the rest to be added gradually.
Rapid Bus chief executive officer Muhammad Yazurin Sallij said three test runs were conducted since 2021 to fine tune the service.He said the service was introduced in population-dense areas such as Shah Alam, Wangsa Maju and Petaling Jaya to gauge public response, with vans that passengers can book rides for via the Kumpool app.
“We found that the service was so popular that the vans were unable to cope with the high demands.
“For this reason, we decided to only offer the service in areas with low to medium population density,” he told StarMetro.
Muhammad Yazurin said the DRT service was meant to complement the existing bus service and enhance coverage in selected areas.
“Unlike the buses, which must stick to their designated routes, the DRT vans are more flexible.
“They can traverse areas not reachable by bus and reroute during emergencies such as when there is flood,” he said.
Asked how many areas would be covered by the DRT service, Muhammad Yazurin said Rapid Bus was in the midst of identifying them.
“We have found several potential areas, and are working with a consultant to map out their travel patterns and demographics,” he added.
Members of the media were given a preview of the DRT vans at Prasarana headquarters in Ara Damansara, Selangor on May 24.
The vans were capable of seating 12 people, with seven or eight passengers expected during peak hours.
To use the service, a passenger would need to choose a designated location and wait for about five minutes to be picked up.
A ride costs RM1 and is payable via Touch n Go, MyCity Pass, Family Pass, MyRapid Concession Card, Free Travel Pass for OKU Smile or cash. Those with My50 Unlimited Travel Pass may use it free of charge.
The service is available from 6am to 11.30pm daily, providing increased accessibility with additional stops beyond the existing bus stops for certain routes.
Muhammad Yazurin said a further announcement would be made soon to inform the public about the apps to use to book the service.
He explained that the app might vary, depending on which area the passengers were booking the service from.
“However, we are working to integrate all the apps and are targeting to have them all streamlined soon,” he said further.
Rapid Bus also runs an exclusive door-to-door transportation service called Rapid Mobility, which began operations around 2011 in Kuala Lumpur and 2016 in Penang with a newly adjusted fare rate of RM7 for two passengers per booking that includes one passenger with a disability and one companion.
This new fare adjustment will benefit existing passengers and is expected to attract the wheelchair community to enjoy the service in the future.
In line with the new fare rates, Rapid Bus is also introducing a cashless payment method, where Rapid Mobility passengers can make payments by scanning a QR (Quick Response) code displayed inside the vehicle.
However, passengers still have the option to pay in cash if they do not have the QR code facility.
The service covers areas such as Shah Alam, Kajang, Seri Kembangan, Cheras, Subang Jaya, Petaling Jaya, Ampang, Selayang, and Kuala Lumpur for the Klang Valley.
For passengers in Penang, for the time being, Rapid Mobility is only offered for areas on the island.
On a separate matter, Muhammad Yazurin said Rapid Bus had begun outsourcing the operations of 30 bus routes in Klang Valley.
This move, which came into effect in June, was aimed at keeping costs down while maintaining service quality, he said.
At present, Rapid Bus operates a total of 264 routes and more than 900 buses in the central region.
Also present were Rapid Bus special project head (2) Khairil Khalid and Rapid Bus senior vice-president Syed Mohd Faisal Syed Kamaruddin, who is also the fleet planning and acquisition head.
