BEST may scrap free rides

State govt to stop bus service if poor response persists

GEORGE TOWN: The Bridge Express Shuttle Transit (BEST) park-and-ride system from Seberang Jaya on the mainland to the Bayan Lepas Industrial Park on the island may be scraped due to poor response.

State Local Government and Traffic Management Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said the free bus service would be stopped in August if it failed to reach the target of 800 passengers daily.

“Currently, there are only about 400 passengers daily.

“We have decided to extend it for another six months to monitor the progress and response,” he said.

Chow added that the state government spent about Rm1.92mil annually on the bus service, which works out to RM160,000 per month.

“We need to ensure that the public funds allocated to the service are well spent.

“Therefore, I have written to the Free Industrial Zone Penang Companies Association to look into the matter. During a meeting with representatives of factories and companies last week, we identified several problems, including the lack of publicity on the service.”

Chow said companies needed to find ways to encourage their employees to use the service.

The system was launched on March 1 last year to reduce traffic congestion on the island and Penang Bridge. The bus service is from Monday to Friday.

Commuters need only pay to park their vehicles in Seberang Jaya.

The Penang Municipal Council also operates a free shuttle service along a 8km route between the Tun Raja Uda ferry terminal and Komtar from 6am to midnight daily using Rapid Penang buses.

The service, which had initially operated between 2001 and 2007, was re-launched in January 2009 and has received good response from locals and tourists.