Rapid Penang To Get Even Better

The commendable new bus service Rapid Penang is set to get even better when another 100 buses is added to the current fleet of 150 buses.

100 new buses for fleet

A HUNDRED new Rapid Penang buses will be added by end of the year to increase frequency of services.

State Local Government, Traffic Management, Information and Community Relations Committee chairman Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan said with the new buses, the intervals of 20 minute to 60 minutes might be shortened.

"Syarikat Prasarana Negara Bhd (SPNB) will be bringing in the new buses as promised and we will allocate them to the routes depending on the need," he said.

He said there were many suggestions on extending and including new routes in housing estates and the Penang International Airport.

"We welcome the suggestions and will discuss them with Rapid Penang," he told a press conference yesterday.

With the addition of the new buses, Penangites can look forward to shorter intervals, more routes, increased coverage and better rides with the recently launched Rapid Penang, as if all these weren't good enough at this very moment. I admit it's not perfect but it's definitely way much better than the shitty service we had to rely on for ten years or so.

In the near future, hopefully we should see less vehicles on the roads with school going children opting to ride the reliable bus service instead of relying on their parents to get them to school and back home. This is really what's causing the traffic jams at major roads in the morning and evening compared to yesteryears when public and school buses were the usual mode of transport for students apart from bicycles and their own two legs. It's still wishful thinking at this moment in time but it's definitely something to look forward to.

When you see motorcyclists riding on buses rather than their motorcycles, that's when you know the tide has turned. If they see it safer and more financially viable to take the bus rather than their two-wheelers, public transport has achieved its goal. With the Penang Monorail to come in a few years time, public transportation will become the major people movers on the island, very much like Singapore and Hong Kong.

If that's the future we're heading to, I'm willing to bide my time and wait it out. Things are looking up for Penang, after years of neglect. It's time for the Pearl of the Orient to shine once more.

Two Thumbs Up For Rapid Penang

I managed to ride on the Rapid Penang buses before I went down to Kuala Lumpur and I must say I'm very impressed with the service. If I wasn't convinced enough that Rapid Penang's future seems bright enough based on my observations during the first two days of its service, travelling on the buses on the final day of free rides all but confirmed it.

I had to purchase an express bus ticket at the Sungai Nibong Bus Terminal for my trip down to KL. Since Rapid Penang introduced a new route from Air Itam straight to Sungai Nibong, it being the final day of free rides and I wanted to evaluate the service myself, I decided to leave the car at home and take the bus instead.

I walked to the Air Itam market to board the T306 bus. I reached the bus terminal at about 12.20pm. I asked a Rapid Penang employee if T306 was the right bus to Sungai Nibong and when will the next one be arriving. Turns out, the bus just left at 12.15pm and the next one will be in about 30 minutes or so. At 12:46pm, a T306 bus arrived and a swarm of people ran to board the bus. Wow, is this route that well sought after?

Turns out, the old ladies were only there to have a free ride. They didn't bother where the bus was headed to. All that mattered to them was the ride was free and the bus will make a return trip right back to this very bus terminal. They've decided not to get down from the bus until the bus made a round-trip back here. Apparently, they've tried out many routes in the past few days including one all the way to Bukit Mertajam! When asked if they will continue to take the bus the following day when fares will be implemented, the answer was a flat no.

The bus only departed at 12.58pm but it wasn't too long a wait. The route was a very long one with Air Itam, Paya Terubong, Relau, Sungai Ara, Bayan Baru and Bukit Jambul among the areas served by the T306 bus. It took all of one hour for the bus to reach the Sungai Nibong Bus Terminal. I went straight to the Konsortium counter to purchase my ticket and was able to hop on the same bus back to Air Itam but decided to try out a different bus instead.

I decided to try the T304 bus which runs all the way to Gurney Drive to get to my grandparents' place at Green Garden. Although it states in the booklet that the bus will pass through the Sungai Nibong Bus Terminal, the truth is it will only pass by the terminal. I had to walk to a bus stop 10 minutes away to board the bus. They should have a bus stop right opposite the Sungai Nibong Bus Terminal to improve connectivity instead of having to walk a few hundred metres to get to a connecting bus stop.

I didn't have to wait long for the T304 bus to come along - five minutes to be exact. The bus was less packed this time around and most of the passengers were genuine ones instead of old ladies looking for free rides. It took just twenty minutes for me to get to my destination which was the bus stop opposite Convent Green Lane. I had wanted to board another bus, T205 to get back to Air Itam after spending time at my grandparents' house but decided to take up my mom's offer to pick me up after work instead. :P

All in all, I find the service to be very good. Of course the buses were comfortable as they are new, so I will discount that from my evaluation. Although the seats were the plastic ones instead of the cushion ones, they were still comfortable to sit on and made more sense since they were less prone to damage and vandalism. They have surveillance cameras on board but don't think for once you will be able to catch a pickpocket through that camera. It is only meant for the driver to see if it is safe to shut the door.

The routes are very comprehensive with many areas covered but they seem a little odd. You'll get what I mean when you see the routes yourself. You can get to almost anywhere in Penang with their network but the problem is, everytime you hop on their bus, you have to pay a minimum of RM1. If a day or monthly pass is introduced like the one for RapidKL, you will be able to change as many buses as you like for a fixed price thus getting you wherever you want conveniently.

What Penangites are really looking for in public transport is the timely arrival and departure of the buses which is what Rapid Penang is providing at the moment. There must be consistency and reliability, something the old bus companies couldn't offer. The Rapid Penang drivers are not only courteous and helpful, they do not drive like Bus Rempits. It's a stark difference from the rowdy drivers from hell of the other bus companies. Some bus companies are not running a bus transportation service. Instead, they are running a bus rental service. These companies should have their licences revoked for causing great disservice to the Penang population.

These companies were given ample time and opportunities to perform and succeed. It is ironic that now they are complaining when another bus company is introduced and doing those things that they said were impossible before this. To this, I say go fuck yourself. I shouldn't be surprised by their latest outburst considering their constant flip-flops before this.

I'm looking forward to the day when a fixed fare is implemented similar to that of RapidKL. Also, a daily and monthly pass should be introduced as soon as possible. When that comes into play, we will definitely see a great increase in passengers. At the moment, there aren't as many passengers compared to the three days of free rides but the response is still encouraging. They should also introduce student rates even for university students. By encouraging students to take the public transport at a young age, this will instil in them the importance of taking public transport rather than splashing crazy money on a car.

Of course it is still to be seen if the buses will still be clean and well maintained after a few months of operation but I have every confidence they will be. I call upon Penangites to enforce their consumer rights in shunning the old bus companies (especially a certain "Italian Banana" bus company and its minibus sister company "Morning Glory", considered to be the worst of the lot) and choose to ride on Rapid Penang instead. Enough is enough. We have a choice now. It's time to choose.

Keywords: Penang public transport Malaysia bus routes Rapid Penang RapidKL Konsortium service Kuala Lumpur Sungai Nibong bus terminal T205 T304 T306 Bus Rempit Gurney Drive Convent Green Lane Air Itam Paya Terubong Relau Sungai Ara Bayan Baru Bukit Jambul

Rapid Penang Looks Promising

I intended to take a ride on the new Rapid Penang buses today but the plan didn't work out as intended but what I saw in that one hour when I was out on the road was enough to convince me this could (finally) actually work.

Everyone and their pets know how screwed up the public transportation system is here in Penang. I gave up taking the bus many years ago and never looked back. However, I'm an advocate of public transport and I look forward to the day I can leave my car at home and jump on the public transportation system to commute easily to wherever I want to go. Looks like it may materialise soon enough. Maybe Penang's traffic woes will improve from now on.

With the launch of the new bus service and Penang being earmarked as the transportation and logistic hub for the four northern states of Malaysia, things are really looking up for downtrodden Penang. Rapid Penang really looks very promising and I do hope the Penang Monorail will not disappoint when it eventually kicks off in a few years time.

I was travelling in my car for about an hour this afternoon and I saw at least five (possibly more than ten) Rapid Penang buses in that short period of time! As I left my neighbourhood, I saw a Rapid Penang bus. As I was driving on the road, I saw a few more. As I waited at a traffic lights, I saw one passed by. This is what it should be like! This is how it is like in Singapore, well-known for their efficient public transportation system.

During that same duration, I saw none of the old stages buses or mini buses plying the roads. Maybe they were on strike? Come to think of it, everytime I'm on the road trying to spot a public bus would seem like a really arduous task! I really can't remember the last time I saw a bus on the road. Yes, it's that bad. That's why I'm as blunt as to suggest that the bus companies be left to bleed financially for their lacklustre performance thus far which has caused much hardship for Penangites. This is retribution, this is payback time.

I really like what I see in Rapid Penang. It's a refreshing change. A very much needed and overdue one. I see many happy faces on the buses this afternoon. I'm looking at tomorrow or the day after to try out the new buses and it's free till then. Maybe I'll be able to comment further after experiencing the service first hand. Rapid Penang looks very promising and I hope it stays that way, if not better. Based on my observations so far, good job Rapid Penang!

Keywords: Rapid Penang bus service public transport public transportation system Penang Malaysia traffic woes

Jelutong Traffic Hell

Ever since they announced the conversion of some roads in Jelutong from one-way streets back to two-way, I knew it was a major mistake and the residents and businesses there are idiots to actually think they could save time and petrol from this change. My journey along Jalan Jelutong last Saturday only confirmed my observations and justified my convictions.

Previously, if you were going to Batu Lanchang or Jelutong from Georgetown, you would have to take Jalan Jelutong since there are no exits along the Jelutong Expressway into these areas. Now that Jalan Jelutong has been converted back to a two-way street after nearly two decades, and to ensure smooth-flowing traffic, you are unable to make any right turns into Jalan Tan Sri Teh Ewe Lim or Lebuhraya Gelugor.

Due to that change, you can neither use the Jelutong Expressway or Jelutong Road now to get to Batu Lanchang or Jelutong from Georgetown. Previously, you could turn right at Lebuhraya Gelugor to get to Jelutong or Batu Lanchang. So, the only way to get into these areas now is through Jalan Masjid Negeri which is too well-known for its traffic. Either that or you could travel the whole of Jalan Jelutong and make a u-turn at the Jalan Udini roundabout to get into Lebuhraya Gelugor. Mind you, the queue at the roundabout can be very, very, very long so braving the jam on Jalan Masjid Negeri would seem the lesser of two evils although it's a longer route.

I don't see how this traffic system would help businesses either. Those coming from Georgetown can't get to Maybank, AmBank or the other businesses on that side of the road. Of course, you could make a turning before the Penang Squash Centre if you really need to get to any of these shops but most likely, I'll rather go to another shop than to go through so much hassle, wouldn't you? Likewise, if you're coming from Bayan Baru, you can't get to the shops from the other side of the road. The only way would be to make a big loop like in the old traffic system. If that's the case, why change the traffic system at all?

True, traffic can be quite bad on Lebuhraya Gelugor with the old traffic system but I don't see how much this would change the situation since most people who wants to head to Georgetown would rather take the Jelutong Expressway than to slowly chug around on Jalan Jelutong, and that's the only major benefit from the change to the new system, a smoother and shorter drive to Georgetown. There will still be a lot of cars travelling on Lebuhraya Gelugor, maybe more since it's two-way traffic now. The cars may be moving slower now compared to before but it's only because the traffic dispersal is bad, so is this what they really want?!? More carbon emissions spewing into their homes?

I can see the necessity of this change but it's premature to do it now. Until the Jelutong Expressway is fully completed with all exits in place, capable of dispersing traffic from all these areas, Jalan Jelutong and the other affected roads should remain one-way. Traffic is already heavy when it was one-way. Can you imagine how bad it is now when it is two-way?

The residents and businesses constantly and selfishly lobbied for the change and when they finally got it, they are now complaining it's worse than before. [PDF] WTF?!? You mean you couldn't see this happening when they came out with the plan? Are Jelutong folks really that shallow and/or short-sighted? That's why I say the Jelutong folks are a naive lot to actually believe this would be a change for the better. It will, but now's not the right time. If the Jelutong folks were the only ones suffering from this folly of theirs, I would just leave the system to remind them of their silly mistake. Unfortunately, Jelutong is one of the nerve centres on the island and now others have to share in this hardship caused by some selfish and brainless folks who are better off keeping their heads buried under the sand. At least then they wouldn't harm anyone else but themselves.

Keywords: Jelutong Penang Malaysia traffic Udini roundabout Jelutong Expressway Batu Lanchang Georgetown

Let Existing Penang Bus Companies Suffer

Last year, the Penang bus companies threatened to cease operations. [PDF]

Penang bus firm to cease operations

PENANG: A bus service operator here is about to cease operations due to the new zoning system imposed on April 1.

Angkasa Barisan (M) Sdn Bhd chairman Datuk Abdul Ghani Ali Kadir said: "I am quitting because I have lost confidence in the Co-operative and Entrepreneurial Development Ministry, CVLB (Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board) and the state government. [...]

A few weeks back, they cried for a buyout. [PDF]

Cry for a 'buyout'

[...] To avoid any unhealthy competition, Lim suggested the Federal Government buy them out.

"There will definitely be stiff competition among the drivers of existing bus companies and those from RapidPenang when they compete against each other to pick up customers," he said. [...]

Now, they say they are prepared to face the challenge posed by RapidPenang. [PDF]

Prepared for challenge

Penang bus operators are prepared to face challenges from RapidPenang which will begin operations in the state in August.

Milan Travel Sdn Bhd manager Lim Theam Hock said the company would work doubly hard to serve commuters in the island. [...]

Just makes you wonder if they are ever serious in tackling the chronic public transportation issue in Penang. The arrival of RapidPenang will provide the healthy competition that is needed to help solve Penang's public transportation woes. It's HEALTHY competition, Mr. Lim of Milan Travel, not unhealthy competition as what you are so wrongfully trying so hard to point out. Like the saying goes, if the fire is too hot, get out of the kitchen!

Let there be no buyout. Let them bleed financially if they can't compete. Let them pay for the sufferings and exploitation of Penangites all these years. Let them be bankrupted and all assets sold off cheaply to RapidPenang and all worthy workers absorbed into the expanded company. All unscrupulous workers should be left to suffer for their hand in making Penangites' commute a living nightmare.

The existing bus companies have been given too many chances to provide acceptable public transportation for Penangites. Too long have Penangites been made to suffer in the hands of these irresponsible crooks. Enough is enough. It is payback time!

Keywords: Penang Malaysia public transportation bus traffic woes RapidKL RapidPenang CVLB Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board Angkasa Barisan Milan Travel Siang Cemerlang Transit Link KGN-Hin Bus Penangites competition

Penang's New Bus Routes

Nope, it's no April Fool's Joke. The new public bus system for Penang will take effect from tomorrow. I would have blogged about this a few days ago if I had a copy of the map showing the new bus routes earlier. I just got a copy of them from the Penang Municipal Council website which wasn't of much help, really. You can judge for yourself by clicking on the maps below.

(pictures from Penang Municipal Council)

Browsing through the maps is such a hassle. You can't zoom in or out which makes it very dysfunctional. Fret not, I've generated the maps into PDF for your (and my) convenience; for both stage buses and mini buses. Why they have not thought of distributing the maps as PDF, I really cannot comprehend but that is a topic for another time. :P

I'm happy that something is being done to eleviate the dilapidating public transportation system in Penang. To be fair, Penang is not alone in facing this problem but it's probably more chronic here than compared to towns like Ipoh, Alor Setar or Kuantan, to name a few. In the new system, stage buses will ply the main roads and mini buses will play the role as feeder buses. The public transportation system in the state will also be seperated into three zones to reduce competition and increase efficiency.

From what I can see, the new system is very good in many ways IF properly implemented and enforced by the relevant authorities. In the new system, a larger area will be covered which is a very good thing considering many routes were not serviced in the previous system because they were considered less profitable. People complaining that they do not have a bus taking them directly to a certain destination is really living in a dream. Even in Singapore you have to hop on several buses and MRTs to get to a certain destination and their public transportation system is world-class!!! This is the most viable and efficient way, really. You just can't provide direct services to everywhere! That's totally insane. They should be thankful that more areas are reachable now with the new system which were totally impossible previously. You can hop onto a connecting bus easily with the new system thus taking you to more places on the island than previously possible. If you want to stop directly at the doorstep of a particular destination, you should probably take the taxi instead.

One major reason for the meltdown of the public transportation system in Penang, in my opinion, is the bus leasing system implemented awhile back. This created serious competition among the drivers whom totally neglected the safety, comfort and needs of the passengers. The only thought on their minds were to maximise earnings and I truly cannot blame them for that. They have families to feed and expenses to pay. They have no social obligation to anyone but themselves. I put the blame on the bus companies instead. They do have a social obligation to provide a reasonable and acceptable standard of public transport. They were issued the licenses to operate such services and should be held accountable. They were not issued the licenses solely to make a profit.

The only way to curb this problem is for the bus companies to hire drivers and pay them a basic monthly income. Only then will the drivers not feel the need to maximise profits first and attend to the needs of passengers second. The needs of commuters should always come first. In the present system the companies are not running a public transportation business but a bus leasing business instead which is totally wrong! I'm sure they were issued permits and licenses to provide public transport and not lease buses. This way, the bus companies cannot wash their hands clean if any problem arises. They will also find the need to keep their buses in proper condition since they will be held accountable for the deplorable state of their buses. They will directly feel the pinch if a bus breaks down and at the receiving end of any action arising from complaints lodged against them instead of drivers who are feeling the heat at the moment. Commuters should be given a bigger role to play by providing channels for them to lodge complaints and stern action taken immediately on the perpetrators. Only then will the bus companies and drivers be on their toes all the time and provide the best services to the public.



What we would need urgently apart from the revamp of the current public tranportation system is a light rail system or the alternative of a monorail which has been suggested by the Penang State Government. It's good that the Penang Monorail has been promised in the 9th Malaysian Plan but it still remains to be seen if it becomes a reality since it was promised to us a decade ago but put on hold time and again. Till today, it remains a promise and nothing more. To improve the new bus system further, an introduction of a payment card like the one widely used in Singapore's public transportation system through Touch 'n Go or something else would be very much welcomed. There are many benefits of using a payment card instead of cash and the bus companies should seriously consider this avenue.

Frankly, I find the current bus rates to be quite costly to actually attract and encourage people to switch over to public transport. Prices should be reduced and utilising a payment card system can help reduce costs in several ways which can be translated to higher profits in the long-run. It is still to be seen how successful the revamp of the bus system will be but at least it is a very good first step in improving the public transportation on the island. Let's see how the system pans out tomorrow. It will definitely be chaotic for at least a month or so when the drivers and commuters get used to the new system but I foresee a good outcome from this and you don't find me saying this often about the Penang State Government or something related to Teng Hock Nan. Can we expect clean, safe and reliable buses in the near future with the implementation of the new system? Only time will tell and I truly hope that is the case.

Penang Traffic Woes

Lately, the traffic problem in Penang has been in the news a lot more including the projects that will help ease the problems.

It probably started off from the formation of a coalition of citizens and NGOs that called on the State Government to improve the public transportation system in the state. Still there are people calling for the Penang Outer Ring Road (PORR) project to be scrapped and use those funds to upgrade the public transportation system instead.

Also, there's also this news about a local firm that is willing to fully fund the construction of the proposed second bridge in Penang and that work on the PORR will commence very soon. Work to expand the current Penang Bridge is already underway. Looks like there's going to be a lot of development here in Penang for the next few years mostly concentrating on improving the traffic condition on the island. That's really good news indeed.

The State Government is looking to apply for a special fund from the Federal Government to help subsidise the public buses on the island. Also, senior officials including the Chief Minister of Penang has agreed publicly that the current traffic situation in Penang is just horrible and the alternative of public transport is even worse. The State Government is also implying that they are powerless in this matter as the public transportation system is under the perogative of the Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (CVLB) and that funds for any of these projects must come from the Federal Government and approval from the Cabinet. All this time Penangites are bashing the State Government for inaction. Why only now do they choose to inform us of this 'problem'?

I think it is high time that the Federal Government does something to eleviate the traffic problem in Penang. We have been waiting for some major development in Penang for years and there is no better time than now to start the ball rolling. In my opinion, all the projects must go hand-in-hand. I know that will cause a great strain on the Treasury but working only on one project is not going to help the situation at all. Worse still, it might create more problems.

I think the PORR is not such a bad idea after all. Let's take Singapore for example. They have so many expressways (if not highways) on the island itself! It makes travelling around so much easier. They don't have toll plazas that will cause jams. They use the gantry system for the inner city to collect toll. Don't get me started with their public transportation system! It's just such a wonderful experience taking public transport in Singapore. Heck, I might even choose public transport over private transport in Singapore! The PORR can really help improve the roads in Penang. Have you been stuck in a crawl when a car breaks down or an accident occurs? The PORR will give us an alternative route and the RM1 is minimal amount for a fast and stress-free trip across the island. If the concessionaire plays it right, they don't have to increase the toll at all. Volume is good enough to generate enough revenue for them.

The bus routes must be totally revamped. Major routes must have buses plying them more frequently and buses must cover more parts of the island to make them more viable. The Penang Monorail must also kick-off. It can't wait for 2010. By the time it is completed, the traffic condition in Penang would have been so chronic, it might be just too late. Work must start now. We were suppose to be the first state to have a light rail transportation system back in the mid-1990s. Till now, we still hear only promises. This project is way overdue and there should not be any more postponement.

The Penang Bridge has exceeded its limits long ago. The expansion it is receiving now will only make it sustainable for a while more. Building a bridge that massive takes a lot of time. Work has to start now. Why must we wait for the Penang Bridge to be choking again before work on the new bridge starts? By that stage, the Penang economy might even collapse!

All these projects must go hand-in-hand if the Federal and State Governments are serious in tackling this problem. Penang is the second largest city after Kuala Lumpur and this is no small feat considering we are only an island! Yes, there is the mainland but there is still time to develop the place. In fact, it is getting more attention and development projects at the moment compared to the island. It's about time Penang regains its shine.

Tell Us Something New

The Star did an exclusive on the worsening traffic condition on Penang roads today with quotes from those that are either responsible in handling the issues or those who are related to it. After reading the articles, I can't find any new or interesting ideas or suggestions that will counter this crippling problem once and for all. The same old things are being said over and over again. One of the article lists the roads and the times when these infamous roads will experience the worst traffic jams. Come on, do you think Penangites need to know that information? Even my foreign friends (yes, this means they are not from Malaysia) studying at USM knows by heart the roads that will experience terrible traffic jams and when are the peak hours! A lecturer from USM suggested that the available facilities be optimised first before new roads are being used. This is actually a no-brainer, frankly speaking. It's just that our politicians and the people that are responsible for this task are either ignorant or plain stupid to have realised this in the first place.

The State Local Government, Traffic Management, Information and Community Relations Committee chairman Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan and the Penang Municipal Council infrastructure and traffic committee member Khoo Kay Hean are becoming more and more like a broken record or a bloody parrot repeating the same things over and over again, sitting idly on their hands and coming up with dumb ideas or excuses which they will defend vehemently although it is so obvious that they are so wrong. Stop talking and start implementing the workable ideas. Ditch the lame ones and stop wasting public funds on such initiatives. We need action to be taken now and not later! If the personnel needs to be changed so that a change for the better can be initiated, so be it...however low or high that person may be. Penang needs more young, dynamic, capable and knowledgeable people at the helm and these two are the perfect example of what we don't need. Stop the rot NOW! Bring back the glory days of Penang and return the people-friendly and responsive government we used to enjoy! Start by telling us something new and useful!

Penang's Second Link: Alternatives

Coverage on the Penang Second Link continues today in The Star's second installment of a three-part series which attempts to rationalise the RM2.6b project or find alternatives to resolving the traffic woes on the Penang Bridge.

The CAP's suggestion was similar to the one made by me yesterday which stresses the importance of an efficient and sustainable public transportation system.

Another article quotes lecturer Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ahmad Fathan Mohd. Sadullah from the School of Civil Engineering in USM. He suggests that a bus shuttle to and fro the island and mainland could help resolve the current traffic condition on the Penang Bridge. He envisions that a bus capable of carrying 60 passengers could translate to having 60 less cars plying the bridge. It is similar to my opinion that a monorail linking the island and mainland would help reduce traffic on the bridge but his idea is more suitable for implementation in the near future and probably more cost-effective.

Both are noble ideas which must be explored immediately if we are to tackle the traffic woes in Penang and the bridge, in particular. The Penang Municipal Council and Penang State Government should stop wasting time and public funds on silly things like the 'ugly cones' and start working on important matters such as this. Can't they set their priorities straight?

Still No Inkling on Penang's Second Link

Penang Bridge is congested, congested, congested....
Penang Bridge is congested, where's my Second Link....

(Sung to the tune of 'London Bridge is Falling Down')

Penangites would be singing to this tune soon if the current situation continues. The North section of The Star today highlighted the plight of motorists plying the Penang Bridge during the recent long holiday weekend and once again called upon the authorities to act and rectify the problem fast.

The Federal Government recently approved the expansion of the current Penang Bridge from 4-lanes to 6-lanes and postponed plans for a second bridge between the island and the mainland to after the completion of the expansion. The question here is, can we truly afford to wait any longer? For 10 years now the current Penang Bridge has been running on over-capacity on a daily basis. The situation of the Penang Bridge is very much like a blocked artery and this is causing Penang to lose its charm when attracting foreign-direct investments (FDIs).

I agree that Penang probably has too many cars/motorists for its own good but the two things that can help reduce the number of motorists (the implementation of a new and efficient public transportation system and the construction of a monorail system) are yet to be seen. As such, Penangites will still have to wait for a long time before the situation gets any better and more people will rely on cars to get to their destinations on time.

In my opinion, the Penang State Government should act quickly to revamp the current embarassing public transportation system and make it a priority to implement the monorail system immediately. Maybe then, we wouldn't need a second bridge and the proposed RM2.6b to be used for the Second Link would have been used effectively in elevating the traffic woes in the state through an efficient public transportation system with the monorail as its backbone.

Public Transport in Penang Set to Improve?

The CM of Penang announced yesterday that efforts are underway to improve the disgraceful and inefficient bus services in Penang, reports The Star. He is also confident the Penang monorail project will still be implemented as talks are still ongoing. I've heard this talk too many times to know that Penangites must still wait for awhile more before this becomes a reality.