TODAY online asked for my opinion on the rationalisation of bus services for this article:
I continue to receive frequent feedback from Bedok Reservoir residents, spanning all ages, about bus services in their area. Common concerns involve decreased bus frequencies that connect them to Bedok Reservoir MRT station and Bedok Interchange. These issues arose following the removal of several bus routes in late 2021. I have made multiple appeals to LTA to increase the frequency of the remaining bus service 228, but have been told that the overall reliability of the service is acceptable.
The key question is what is an acceptable frequency of feeder bus services to the closest MRT station. Is a scheduled frequency of up to nine minutes during peak hours, and up to 19 minutes during off-peak hours acceptable? This is the scheduled frequency for Service 228.
During the 2022 Committee of Supply debate, I stated that:
“If bus services must be removed, the frequency of the remaining feeder services to bus interchanges or MRT stations should be increased to make up for them. Commuters should not have to wait more than five minutes during peak hours or 10 minutes during off-peak hours for feeder buses.” (emphasis added)
I also stated during the Motion on the Cost of Living Crisis on 7 November 2023 that:
“Some service coverage is already being reduced. In the past three years, about 30 bus services have been shortened or removed. Such changes have affected my residents in Bedok Reservoir who continue to voice their concerns to me about long wait times and crowded feeder bus rides to the Bedok Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station. Elderly commuters who favour direct trunk services, which facilitate shorter walking distances for the commute, are also affected by these changes.”
I reiterate my stand on this. To establish public transportation as the favoured travel mode, especially in our pursuit of environmental sustainability, we must ensure that commuters do not experience a reduction in service levels because of a decrease in the frequency of bus services.
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