Bus Public Transport Improvements and Service Integration in Penang, Malaysia
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Bus Public Transport Improvements and Service Integration in Penang, Malaysia Azfizan Aziz Department of Geography, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University Downloaded from http://meridian.allenpress.com/awg/article-pdf/22/1-2/78/2598368/1480-6800_22_1_78.pdf by guest on 30 September 2021 of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia and School of Housing, Building and Planning, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 USM, Penang Malaysia Jamilah Mohamad Department of Geography, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia This research analyses the Rapid Penang bus operation and network in detail, using a system of indicators derived from surveys and detailed information supplied by the operator. The research approach employed could also be used as a template for bus service reviews elsewhere, where operational data is scarce due to a lack of smartcard electronic ticket information. The analyses concentrated on the bus fleet information, level of service, Rapid Penang timetables and survey data, Rapid Penang ridership data and survey data. Measures for reliability and integrating bus services are concentrated on the physical structure of different levels of integration, including physical integration, network, ticket, fares and information system. Finally, the research yields several recommendations to improve reliability, convenience, accessi- bility, coordinated physical integration and frequent services and a reasonable fare on bus services. Keywords: Transport Planning, Public Transport and Integration Policy, Governance Structures, Penang, Malaysia Introduction In most developing countries, public transport is a means for making journeys to work, school, shops and other daily activities. It is also a means of providing greater freedom, access, opportunity and choice for those ‘finan- cially-challenged’ living in these urban areas and those who simply cannot afford to have their own private vehicles (lles 2005). The public bus service in Malaysia, for example, is often connoted with the 3Cs, the catchy words Convenient, Comfort and Cheap. Commuters seek convenient and comfort- able services at cheaper and affordable prices. While the 3Cs are becoming the major drive for operators of public bus transport, it is only ironic that the quality and efficiency have often been sacrificed (Suria 2012). The Arab World Geographer / Le Géographe du monde arabe Vol 22, no 1-2 (2019) 78-101 © 2019 Geo Publishing, Toronto Canada Bus Public Transport Improvements and Service Integration 79 The process of urbanization, together with the increase in population, has contributed to the expansion of many existing urban areas (Angela 2005). This suggests that the mobility rates will be exceptionally higher in larger or principal towns compared to the smaller ones. Several attempts have been made to draw up plans for urban transport in many Malaysian towns. However, the existing public transport phenomenon, which encourages Downloaded from http://meridian.allenpress.com/awg/article-pdf/22/1-2/78/2598368/1480-6800_22_1_78.pdf by guest on 30 September 2021 private car ownership, has led to a declining modal split ratio for public trans- port (Barter 2004).The decline in the use of the public transport is partly due to the fact that public transport is regarded as a socially degraded mode of transport. It is quite true, as the conditions and services of public transport have been deteriorating, despite some incentives and fragmented attempts introduced by regulatory bodies to restore its now damaged reputation. The absence of a sole responsible body for the planning of public transport has been found to be another issue contributing the present state of deficiency. In recent years, integrated public transport has received considerable particular attention in Europe, Singapore, Hong Kong and many other cities. There is real effort for improving the connectivity across transport modes so that public transport becomes a viable alternative to car travel, thus reducing road congestion, pollutant emission and other aspects. The concept of integra- tion in public transport generally accepts the vision of ‘good practice’ in terms of integration of public transport services. Integration is about getting from one place to another via rider-friendly intermodal facilities and interconnec- tions. Improved integration between the public transport modes helps people move around more easily and reduces the costs and inconveniences of travel (Ibrahim 2001). People in Hong Kong can afford the current transport fares with shorter waiting and travelling times. Any coordination between different transport modes will minimize wasteful competition and duplication of services. More people will use public transport services if they offer reason- able fares, speed and convenience with good quality vehicles. Entering the new millennium, people need to have a vision for for a better future. Continuing improvement and upgrading of the quality of the public transport system in an environmentally friendly manner will maintain its popularity and sustain a better quality of life for our future generation (Yiu, Kwok-Kin and Antonio 2005). Meanwhile, in Europe, integrated public transport and the accompanying policies are gaining more attention. In the area of transport, land-use planning and environmental policy seeking the need for an integra- tion of policies is apparent. Current policies call for a new form of integration, co-operation and government involvement, based on new ideas in public administration such as network management. This trend has developed over the last decade and is partly in reaction to previous policies that are character- ized by central steering, autonomous policy developments for specific domains and a hierarchical set of relations. The Arab World Geographer / Le Géographe du monde arabe Vol 22, no 1-2 (2019) 80 Azfizan Aziz and Jamilah Mohamad This paper attempts to review bus services issues (related to bus network accessibility, connectivity and coverage, bus operations, public transport planning, integration and urban development) in the hope to improve bus services on Penang Island. Background of the Case Study: Penang Island Downloaded from http://meridian.allenpress.com/awg/article-pdf/22/1-2/78/2598368/1480-6800_22_1_78.pdf by guest on 30 September 2021 The state of Penang lies on the northwest coast of Malaysia, to the south of Kedah and to the north of Perak. It comprises two parts, Penang Island and Seberang Perai, with Penang Island connected to the mainland via the Penang Bridge and the Georgetown – Butterworth ferry. Connections to the remainder of Malaysia are provided via the North-South Expressway, the Butterworth – Kulim Expressway, through Penang International Airport and to a much lesser extent, through the Butterworth – Kuala Lumpur rail corridor. The state of Penang covers 1,065 square kilometres, with the island occu- pying 310 square kilometres and the mainland occupying 755 square kilome- tres (see Fig. 1). Almost all of the current development on Penang Island is concentrated along the eastern and northern seaboards. Georgetown forms the commercial hub of Penang Island and is the centre of Government for the state. Its immediate suburbs include Gurney Drive, Air Hitam, Jelutong and Gelugor, all of which form one continuous urban área. The recent 2010 popu- lation and housing census have recorded an overall population of 1.52 million people resident in this Island state. Some 704,000 live on Penang Island and the remaining 816,000 reside on the Mainland (sourced by the Department of Statistics, Penang Branch. Based on the record established by the (Road Traffic Volume Malaysia, 2017), 2.5 million vehicles were registered in Penang up until 2017 and became the third state in Malaysia to own more than 18% of the total number of registered vehicles in the country. According to information from the Land Public Transport Commission SPAD (2016) and Suria Haron (2012), all public transport bus services on Penang Island are provided by Rapid Penang, whereas on the mainland, Rapid Penang services complement five other operators (see Fig. 2). The vast majority of Rapid Penang’s 27 Penang Island-based local bus services are radial in form, starting from Weld Quay in Georgetown and extending to Komtar (also in Georgetown). Other key terminal locations on the Island are the Express Bus Terminal in Sungai Nibong, Penang International Airport and the Balik Pulau Bus Terminal. On the mainland, Rapid Penang opérates a total of 15 local bus services. All but four of these from Penang Sentral in Butterworth link Butterworth with other major towns on the Mainland. A new fare structure was introduced in August 2009 (Transport Ministry 2009), in line with the government’s announcement and intention to improve the public transport system. This announcement has standardized the fare rates at RM 0.94 for the first two kilometres and RM 0.094 for each The Arab World Geographer / Le Géographe du monde arabe Vol 22, no 1-2 (2019) Bus Public Transport Improvements and Service Integration 81 subsequent kilometre. In Penang, Rapid Penang has used these national fare rates to develop their own zone-based fare structure. Meanwhile, a normal fare-paying passenger is one who is not classed as a senior citizen, physically disadvantaged (OKU) or a uniform-wearing schoolchild; three groups which are entitled to get travel discounts (Rapid Penang 2011). A ticketing system was implemented to allow passengers to travel on the