With public transport getting a very public airing recently, here are some of my thoughts.
Bus campaigns
First, I noticed, as some of you must have too, these ads painted on buses telling us that there are reasons why two buses might arrive at the same time. Then, there is this campaign exhorting passengers to flag the bus early. I don't mean to be rude or to trivialise the plight of passengers or drivers but I couldn't help laughing. I mean, do these two issues warrant campaigns?
I'm sure (most) people know there are reasons why two buses might arrive at the same time. Wouldn't the effort be better spent reducing the incidence of buses arriving at the same time?
I'm also sure (most) people know they should flag the bus early and, although I no longer take the bus regularly, I'm pretty sure most people do flag the bus early. Why would anyone want to flag the bus late? I mean flag the bus late deliberately?
Youthink articles
I read the youth contributions to yesterday's ST, also on the topic of public transport. I agree with the writers who said that (1) something needs to be done to 'ease the crush' on the trains, if the intention is to have 70% of peak-hour commuters on public transport (currently it's 63%) and that (2) a 'multi-pronged strategy is necessary', including leaders setting the example, publishing bus schedules and having full-day bus lanes.
This bus schedule thing has been suggested for some time and I don't know why it hasn't been taken up. We once stayed with this family in Kamakura (just over an hour or so off Tokyo by public transport, if I remember correctly). Their housing estate was on a little hill but travelling to Tokyo was rather 'seamless'. The buses come to the bus stop (complete with bus schedule) at the bottom of the hill on time, according to the bus schedule. Don't ask me how they manage it during rush hour but they do. The bus goes to the train station, where you can get your train to other parts of Kamakura or other parts of the country very easily. Of course, the trains also come on time, on the dot, according to the train schedule.
I also second the suggestion about the bus lanes but I hope they will exercise great common sense when drawing up these bus lanes. As many drivers have complained after they got booked for driving in the bus lanes during restricted hours, sometimes you just have to get onto the bus lane. Some bus lanes end too close to left turns, and some bus lanes start too close to minor roads leading out to main roads. During peak hours, nobody will give way and if you need to turn left, you need to turn left. Either you wait forever for someone to give way (thus holding up traffic), drive by some convoluted route to avoid the bus lanes (thus getting to work or wherever late), crash into the buses (thus holding up even more traffic and causing everyone to be late) or drive on the bus lane.
Then, there was this young man, final-year student at NTU, who wrote that the views of the young must be considered because 'we are the ones who will be thinking of buying a car'. He says that 'faced with increasing fares - especially in the case of taxis - many may choose to buy a car. If I am going to spend more on public transport, why not buy a car and travel in comfort?' Hmmm... I may be wrong but this guy sounds like he's got his ideas about the car wrong. He also needs some help with the math, I think, if he thinks it's cheaper to own a car. Anyway, are young people the biggest buyers of cars? I'm not really sure.
May I just add that, more important than the views of the youth, the needs of the ELDERLY must be taken into account. For obvious reasons.
Bus campaigns
First, I noticed, as some of you must have too, these ads painted on buses telling us that there are reasons why two buses might arrive at the same time. Then, there is this campaign exhorting passengers to flag the bus early. I don't mean to be rude or to trivialise the plight of passengers or drivers but I couldn't help laughing. I mean, do these two issues warrant campaigns?
I'm sure (most) people know there are reasons why two buses might arrive at the same time. Wouldn't the effort be better spent reducing the incidence of buses arriving at the same time?
I'm also sure (most) people know they should flag the bus early and, although I no longer take the bus regularly, I'm pretty sure most people do flag the bus early. Why would anyone want to flag the bus late? I mean flag the bus late deliberately?
Youthink articles
I read the youth contributions to yesterday's ST, also on the topic of public transport. I agree with the writers who said that (1) something needs to be done to 'ease the crush' on the trains, if the intention is to have 70% of peak-hour commuters on public transport (currently it's 63%) and that (2) a 'multi-pronged strategy is necessary', including leaders setting the example, publishing bus schedules and having full-day bus lanes.
This bus schedule thing has been suggested for some time and I don't know why it hasn't been taken up. We once stayed with this family in Kamakura (just over an hour or so off Tokyo by public transport, if I remember correctly). Their housing estate was on a little hill but travelling to Tokyo was rather 'seamless'. The buses come to the bus stop (complete with bus schedule) at the bottom of the hill on time, according to the bus schedule. Don't ask me how they manage it during rush hour but they do. The bus goes to the train station, where you can get your train to other parts of Kamakura or other parts of the country very easily. Of course, the trains also come on time, on the dot, according to the train schedule.
I also second the suggestion about the bus lanes but I hope they will exercise great common sense when drawing up these bus lanes. As many drivers have complained after they got booked for driving in the bus lanes during restricted hours, sometimes you just have to get onto the bus lane. Some bus lanes end too close to left turns, and some bus lanes start too close to minor roads leading out to main roads. During peak hours, nobody will give way and if you need to turn left, you need to turn left. Either you wait forever for someone to give way (thus holding up traffic), drive by some convoluted route to avoid the bus lanes (thus getting to work or wherever late), crash into the buses (thus holding up even more traffic and causing everyone to be late) or drive on the bus lane.
Then, there was this young man, final-year student at NTU, who wrote that the views of the young must be considered because 'we are the ones who will be thinking of buying a car'. He says that 'faced with increasing fares - especially in the case of taxis - many may choose to buy a car. If I am going to spend more on public transport, why not buy a car and travel in comfort?' Hmmm... I may be wrong but this guy sounds like he's got his ideas about the car wrong. He also needs some help with the math, I think, if he thinks it's cheaper to own a car. Anyway, are young people the biggest buyers of cars? I'm not really sure.
May I just add that, more important than the views of the youth, the needs of the ELDERLY must be taken into account. For obvious reasons.
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