Penang Watch

According to reliable sources RapidPg's new `disable friendly' buses will be supplied by SCANIA-a European bus chasis supplier, who is designing a new bus model which had been described as `super low floor'(?), with the ramp located at the middle door-in contrast to the usual location at the front door.

There are comments from industry sources that the better feature than a `low floor' buses is the `kneeling' feature of a bus, where a bus can tilt a front part down, powered by existing air-compression pump of the bus. The bus floor at the front can be lowered to 6" above ground level or even lower. No `low floor' buses can beat this feature as far as providing a suitably low floor level to fit a wheel-chair friendly ramp.

23 January 2009

Dear Editor

RE: Unofficial 30% increase in bus fares now official

The Association for the Improvement of Mass-Transit (TRANSIT) Klang Valley notes that the Commercial Vehicles Licensing Board has approved an increase in bus fares of 30%.

The request by bus operators was approved at a meeting between 200 public transport representatives and minister Datuk Noh Omar on Tuesday.

It has been stated that the final agreement will only be made when a report is made to the Cabinet later" and that "the rates may be imposed as early as next month."

Rapid Penang Sdn Bhd
Lorong Kulit,
10460 Pulau Pinang.
careline@rapidpg.com.my
Tel: 04-2288991
Jabatan Kejuruteraan
Majlis Perbandaran Pulau Pinang
aduan@mppp.gov.my
604-2682202
Kepada Semua,

07 Nov 2008 (7p - 7.20p) - bas Rapid Pg no. PHJ499 (203)
-dari Air Itam Ke Komtar. Pemandu ini tidak ingin memberikan tiket kepada penumpang
dengan berpura-pura sibuk mengawal dan memandu bas. Di sepanjang perjalanan sampai
ke Komtar pemandu ini juga sengaja berpura tidak ingin memberikan penumpang yang
lain yang naik bas.
(Pekerja khas harus diupah untuk mengesan lebih banyak pemandu-pemandu yang tidak
jujur dan sedemikian)

‘Tidal flow’ system on Penang Bridge scrapped

SEBERANG PERAI (Dec 16, 2008) : The Malaysian Highway Authority (MHA) has ordered the concessionaire of the Penang Bridge to stop its new “tidal flow” system to control vehicular traffic, contradicting the state government’s interest in pursuing the system.

MHA Director General Mohamad Razali Othman said Penang Bridge Sdn Bhd has been told to scrap the system, implemented as a trial on Monday, claiming it had aggravated congestion on the bridge.

“After trying the system, we realised it was not helping the situation but only making the traffic worse,” he told a press conference today.

Ministry's of Transports or Communication-changing names is all they do all these years?: This graphic is from the official MOT web site: http://www.mot.gov.my/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=115&Itemid=138

NST Online » Letters
2008/12/11
FUEL SUBSIDIES & PUBLIC TRANSPORT: A policy review is in order
MOHAMMED SHARIFF ABDULLAH, Kuala Lumpur

THERE is a policy mismatch in the government's handling of the fuel subsidy and the need to provide city folk with an adequate public transport system.
When the price of crude oil was US$147 (RM515) a barrel in June, the government was forced to respond to the spike.

The increase of 78 sen per litre for RON97 and RM1 for diesel was unprecedented and resulted in a public outcry.

The government's response was to provide a rebate of RM625 per vehicle and subsidies to selected groups.