Calling for more professional bus service
WHEN taking a bus in Johor Baru, one will notice that there are various problems with the bus system in the second largest city in Malaysia.
Most of the buses used by the operators are of the older design where passengers would have to take two to three steep steps to get to their seats. This causes significant challenges for the elderly and physically disabled.
Due to the number of bus operators, the bus drivers are also constantly racing each other to the next stop. The drivers also stop illegally to pick up passengers, neglecting the safety of their passengers.
Overly packed buses also endanger the lives of the standing passengers. The crowded buses prevent the drivers from having a clear view of passengers exiting via the rear door as well. In some cases, the buses start to move while passengers are still trying to disembark, causing them to fall off.
Frequency of the buses is also infamously unreliable. There is no fixed schedule followed by the drivers. The buses are often poorly maintained, hardly washed, and have no air-conditioning system.
Through its investment arm, the state government should consolidate the various bus operators in Johor Baru to reduce the unnecessary competition among the operators. This would also expand the fleet size and increase the bus frequency on each route, leading to better reliability.
The regulatory authorities should also ensure that the buses used are designed to be barrier free and friendly to the elderly and passengers using wheelchairs. Currently, the grip handles for standing passengers are designed to move freely along a horizontal bar along the aisle of the bus. This design flaw means that in the event of an emergency stop, there is nothing stopping the passengers from being thrown forward.
Similarly, local city councils are responsible for maintaining and designing the bus stops so that it is easier for the passengers (especially the elderly and physically disabled) to board and alight from the buses. It is disappointing to see that bus stops along major roads (for example Jalan Tebrau) are surrounded by grass and become muddy when it rains.
Bus operators must also ensure that their vehicles are properly maintained and cleaned with disinfectant at the end of the day. This will ensure a more comfortable experience for passengers and also help prevent the spread of diseases.
Using a closed-circuit television (CCTV) system in the bus would allow the drivers to monitor the passengers entering and exiting the vehicle. CCTV cameras installed at the rear and sides of the buses would also help in eliminating blind spots.
It is a basic right for every Malaysian to have access to an efficient and reliable public transport system. I am sure that Malaysians not only in Johor but throughout the country as well would welcome a better bus system as not all of us have the luxury of owning a car.