Elderly folk prefer uninterrupted rides
-
Apr 9, 2010 - ST Forum
Elderly folk prefer uninterrupted rides
MOST senior citizens like me prefer not to switch trains when travelling from point A to point B when we can make an uninterrupted journey by bus.
On top of this, I must incur additional costs, even after transfer discounts. This also holds true for those with regular travel cards.
In other countries, frequent travellers can buy a 'season' card which allows multiple journeys in a fixed period, although some may travel more than is covered by the card.
On the issue of buses arriving late at bus stops, this is mainly due to the rule that drivers cannot check into a depot before or after the scheduled time. It is time the authorities looked into this rule as it results in bunching of buses.
Tham Siong Tuck
-
Apr 9, 2010 - ST Forum
Duplication should not be only criterion
I REFER to the report, 'Government to review long bus routes' (March 29). Duplication of routes between bus and train operators should not be the only criterion for terminating a route.
For instance, service 147 duplicates the North-East Line from Serangoon to Outram Park. As a regular user of this service, I notice that a considerable number of people, especially elderly folk, use the bus service to get from Hougang or Serangoon to Bencoolen Street or Chinatown in the morning.
The main advantages of long bus routes are a wider range of landmarks and less walking distance between transfers from bus to MRT. Those who have difficulty walking long distances prefer journeys that are direct.
There needs to be a balance between altering the ratio of commuters who make direct and transfer journeys in order to optimise resources, and satisfying commuters' demands since more transfers mean more waiting time. Waiting time in this case includes the time required to walk from the bus stop to board the train in the MRT station.
Tan Jun Jian
-
The population is aging.
