7/31/2007

Better quality public transport

So we are going to see better quality public transport and a transformation of the quality of life of the commuters. Travelling in public buses is now going sci fi with life information of bus arrival time. That's not all. Information will also tell whether the bus is wheelchair able. And since we are having such a sophisticated system, as a commuter, I would like to see more information provided. How about displaying how many empty seats available, the aircon temperature in the bus, the type of bus and the type of seats, cushion or plastic? Some may not be able to sit on hard plastic because of medical or physical conditions. We can add on more quality services later on. And with so many things to read on the screen, bus stops must be upgraded so that commuters can spend more time to enjoy the facility in comfort, eg air condition and pipe in music, to read books. Another thing that they must upgrade is the quality of the drivers. Oops, sorry, captains. Lets have something like airline captain standards, with nice manners and at least clean and nicely pressed uniforms, and with a captain's peak cap to go with the new image. And must send them for personal grooming courses so that they appear more like a captain. We will look quite futuristic as a city. Clean, green, sophisticated, hi tech, sci fi, and well groomed. Talking about making use of satellite technology to the fullest. It was reported that the first proposal cost $100 mil and the second was $40 mil. Both were scrapped because of cost and now this one is cheaper. But no figures given.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Would displaying the time of arrival make a difference to commuters? A long delay is a long delay and displaying the time of arrival does not help commuters arrived at destinations faster. What they must do is to provide more regular bus services, not long waiting time or sophisticated information screen that does not solve the problem but just tell you the length of time you have to wait.

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

exactly. what is the point for the doctor to tell the patient that his blood pressure is high when he should be administering the medicine to bring it down.

and just to tell the blood pressure is high, the patient needs to pay a bomb, depending on how sophisticated is the equipment used to measure his blood pressure.

Anonymous said...

S T U P I D!

INCORRIGIBLE!

FOOLISH!

The last antic was displaying public posters onboard their buses preaching that commuters be kind to bus captains..

Sengkapolians r not stupid. We'r really fed up! :(

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

what we really need are good ideas to reduce cost and run the transport system efficiently. not adding more cost for little perks.

please don't spend public money on frills and thrills. these are for people spending their own spare cash to buy comfort and style.

think of cost, cost and cost.

Anonymous said...

Then increase fare, fare, fare!

It's the same tune la. They sing not sian, we hear also tu lan liao! :-)

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

yes, they are going to ask for more increases.

is there anyone in public service out there who will stand up to speak for the interest of the masses and commuters instead of caring for the profit of monopolistic organisations?

are there people who are genuinely caring for the people?

Anonymous said...

Is there anyone in public service out there who will stand up to speak for the interest of the masses and commuters instead of caring for the profit of monopolistic organisations?

are there people who are genuinely caring for the people?

There ARE people who are genuinely caring for the people.
BUT they're NOT found within the ranks of monopolistic organisations.

Want to find caring people? Got!
But cannot anywhere anyhow find one ok. :)

Anonymous said...

Is there anyone in public service out there who will stand up to speak for the interest of the masses and commuters instead of caring for the profits of the monopolistic organisations?

Of course not. The people in high positions are like chorus boys singing the same song as the monopolistic organisations. After all, they stand to get handsome bonuses with record profits. Let the peasants be squeezed for all they care.

Anonymous said...

we will continue to be milked until there is no more grass and the milk run dry.... then animal farm will close shop.... just wait and it will happen

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

sometimes they say they are caring.
sometimes they say they empathise with you.
sometimes they say this is the brutal truth.
sometimes they say we are family. sometimes they say we move forward together.
sometimes they say don't talk too much.
sometimes they kiss your babies.

Anonymous said...

That's why you got so MUCH to blog abt here mah, Beanee babe! :-)

*elle*

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

hi elle,

who says blogging cannot be fun? this phenomenon of cynicism and calling a bluff a bluff is something that authorities around the world are finding it difficult to swallow. without the monopoly to censor and print selectively, everything is aired. and when people make stupid jokes, they will find the cyberspace laughing, not at their jokes.

you can sense this in all the posts here by all the anonymouses and bloggers.

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

i dunno how much more the commuters would have to pay for this wonderful experience in using public transport. and the likely effect is that everyone will be so happy and wear a smile every time they take a bus.

i would like a bit more, like a beautiful bus hostess to belt out some lullabies along the journey. that will be a great experience.

Anonymous said...

Better still, have a massage on the bus. Call it 'Massage on Wheels"? That will be another great experience. You know, we are beginning to think like million dollar minds without being paid millions.

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

massage and manicure on the bus! hey that is a great business idea.

SMRT/Bus should grab this idea and rent out little corners in the train/bus for operators to service their customers. and hopefully with this new income, business on wheels, they can stop raising fares.

but you better go and patent this service, intellectual property, and ask for a royalty.