Monday, January 5, 2009

malaysiakini and our POOR TRANSPORT SYSTEMS

It seems that public transport systems are not a major priority of the government even though a lot of hot air has been exhausted by our top leaders.
Perhaps the reason is that with poor systems, the citizens are forced to support the local car (or tin-can) industry by buying cars that will not give you much protection in a major collision.
Just visit the Puduraya bus terminal in KL and you can see for yourself how a bus station should operate 40 years ago.
There is an interesting letter in malaysiakini about a new bus terminal and the problems sound all too familiar Why not free shuttle service for Klang Sentral?
Down in JB, the RM1billion new CIQ has been operating for about 2 weeks and the following is noted:

1.The building is impressive but the operating costs esp. air-conditioning will be quite high as the roof is rather high. Also so many water features just waste energy.
2.I doubt bus passengers will enjoy all that decorative features when they have to walk so far to get to the exit at JB Central or to City Square. I estimate the distance from the CIQ exit to JB Central to be at least 500meters and there are no hand-rails on slopes to help the elderly or infirm.
3.It is rather strange that the offices of the government departments and car parks have been located between the CIQ and JB Central as this makes the walk for pedestrians even longer than necessary. The building is not fully occupied so perhaps it is part of a shopping complex and thus the poor bus passengers are being forced to make the long detour.
4.The present so-called JB Central is nothing more than a place by the road-side and it remains a mystery why the proper bus drop-off has not been completed but barricaded. This is just after the Caltex station that used to enjoy a brisk business.
5.If you take the bus after the CIQ, you will note that the escalators are located on the outside of the stairs. With the really high roof, this will ensure that it will get wet during heavy rain. Expect frequent break-downs here.
6.There are no separate motor-bike lanes on the 2-lane narrow hair-pin access roads so one can expect a few serious accidents here.

Overall, the new CIQ is a major disappointment and does not solve the traffic jams on the Causeway.

2 comments:

justicenequality said...

Your are SPOT ON concerning the new spanking CIQ at JB.

It is more impressive that the S'pore CIQ; just like an Int'l Airport Terminal.

But, alas, what a WASTE!

Mana ada system??I mean the Sofware-the people, the system, method, etc.

Hello, this is 2009, where is the WORK FLOW[WORK STUDY]?

Making us[those taking public transport] walk LOOOOOOOOOONG DISTANCE especially after SPENDING MONEY in Johore & MALAYSIA to return back to S'pore. Is this the WAY to treat your most VALUED CUSTOMERS[S'poreans contribute more than 65% of TOURISTS to Malaysia]? Really Malaysia BOLEH at its best.

Some more, see so many Immigration officers with 3 Pips on their shoulders walking here and there. Ask her why we have to walk LOOOOOONG Distance, she just simply answered-Ah COMPLAIN only, not HAPPY don't COME to Malaysia lah...so EASY & Simple.

Kepala Pusing...Why do my friends and I still WANT to visit JB?? Bodoh S'poreans, maybe??

H J Angus said...

justicenequality
thanks for your comment.
Those officers are not responsisble for the layout of the CIQ.
I suspect some of them are also not happy with the new set-up - now it's more difficult to sneak away for kopi tarik at the shops.
I think if one does not want to walk, take the bus to Kota Raya and maybe the bus will stop at JB Central.