Troubling bus rides
As the government reinstates restrictions in its bid to curb the Covid-19 outbreak, such as the work from home (WFH) practice, closures of some service industries and fewer dine-in hours in restaurants, the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) says bus-ridership has steeply declined. This has made it necessary for the agency to cut back its bus fleet in response to what is deemed to be ‘lower demand’.
The state-run agency told local media this week that bus-ridership was down by 50%, from 800,000 passengers a day to 400,000 a day, and it has worked out a plan to lower bus numbers accordingly. The adjustment is to take effect next week.
The agency promises the plan will not cause any trouble for commuters as it plans to reduce the number of buses in less-travelled routes, while the more popular fleets will remain unchanged. Late buses will still be available.
On the surface, the adjustment may be justifiable as the city administration has re-launched its “new normal” measures, in response to the virus resurgence. As of yesterday, accumulated infection cases in Bangkok and Nonthaburi had reached 2,779. The cases keep rising.
Additionally, the cash-strapped agency has begun business restructuring to stay viable. Therefore, operation adjustments and cost-cutting would, even in normal times, be deemed logical. But the Covid-19 outbreak is not normal. All the agency’s operations must also be compatible with the government’s antivirus measures.
The agency’s assurances that the lower bus numbers would not have a big impact — there are already fewer commuters travelling on the road — may be partially true.
It is probably too early for the bus agency to attribute the lower demand in ridership to having something to do with the mass exodus out of town during the festive season.
Even if there is a lower ridership, the BMTA has to acknowledge the necessity of keeping buses emptier.
If vehicles are too crowded, it would not be possible to maintain social distancing — a key virus prevention measure.
The BMTA must also be aware that a large portion of its customers are low-income people whose jobs make it impossible for them to WFH. These people include cleaners, vendors and security guards who have to be at their physical workplace, working odd hours too.
During last year’s lockdown, a large number of commuters complained the BMTA’s adjustment plan caused them trouble. With fewer buses, social distancing became hard, if not impossible.
Some bus drivers, to maintain distancing measures, simply passed by waiting crowds at certain spots, forcing commuters to wait for the next bus. Those who had to be punctual for work were forced to hail taxis, which cost them more.
It’s understandable the BMTA needs to stick to the cost-benefit principle, but it has to place service before cost-cutting during this era of Covid-19.
The Transport Ministry should provide assistance to the BMTA and make sure that any adjustments will not make it too hard for commuters, nor cause compromise to virus prevention measures.
The BMTA has worked out a plan to lower bus numbers, to take effect next week.