Public Transport Woes :: My Thoughts

It has gradually come to my attention that Public Transport woes are happening every single day, the situation is especially so after the major breakdown of the North South Line on Dec 15, 2011. 

It is appalling and surprising that such failures, or rather, a series of failures in both the trains and buses are happening in Singapore, a recognised World Class Public Transport country. Singaporeans would definitely wonder what has gone wrong. Not to mention, not only the public transport standards are deteriorating, the increase in frequency of flooding, large influx of foreign workers, and ungracious behaviour has been happening again and again in Singapore.

Why has Singapore changed so much? We really have to ponder this dont we? 

Let's focus on Public Transport for now. 

I am actually a bus fan with interests of the public transport services in Singapore, especially the Buses. Since young, when the bus fare for students was only 45 cents, I'd happily pick a bus service, and travel from one end to another whenever I'm free. I'm also super excited to see new bus models and would grab the opportunity to board them when I have the chance!

I still remember how comfortable the bus rides were when basically you will have no problems boarding the 1st bus you waited. 

Who can remember there were yellow buses on the roads in the past? It was not until 2004 when SMRT has officially acquired Trans Island Bus Services (TIBS), rebranding it to SMRT Buses. I can never forget the quite satisfying experiences I have with TIBS buses and the drivers then. It was a pleasure riding on them. 

As I was a frequent commuter of Bus Service 163, I have the best of both worlds. 163 was one of the very few bus services which have undergone the handover exercises between Singapore Bus Service (SBS) and Trans Island Bus Service (TIBS) in 1995 and 1999 respectively. From a full non-aircon bus services in SBS, to partial aircon bus service until 1995 when TIBS made 163 full aircon bus services. 

The experience was exhiliarating on both sides. SBS and TIBS generally provides very good bus service standards, or rather, reasonable bus standard then where buses will generally reach the bus stops on time, and that you would have no problems to board the buses at all. You can almost guarantee that you will reach a certain destination at an estimated amount of time. 

However, sad to say, I can't really do that now. I'm forever unsure when can I board my bus (now no longer a frequent commuter of 163), or whether I can board the next train and whether I have to end up walking on train tracks or get stucked in the train due to breakdowns and disruptions. What really annoys me is having to squeeze till the very edge of the bus almost everytime and gasping for air. The travelling experiences in the bus services now definitely is not satisfactory. 

I acknowledge the government's efforts in trying to raise the bus and trains service standards, implemented from 2011, named the Bus Service Enhancement Programme. However, has situation really improved? I would say, yes, but to a limited extent. 




Something you cannot help but agree that the population in Singapore has increased significantly since 2010. I do not want to go about debating how government's treatment towards us locals and foreigners because this is not the issue here. 

My point is, the Bus Service Enhancement Programme (BSEP) aims to ease the public transport travelling experiences and reduce overcrowding. By adding 800 buses on the roads, with 40 new bus routes in the plan may seem to be a feasible solution, however, it is going to trigger to a new problem. LTA also has plans to open new mrt lines in the next 20 years.

With the already congested roads in Singapore, adding more bus services and more buses will result in heavier congestion, and what's next to remedy this problem? More ERP?

Ok back to the topic, I agree that these solutions do help in improving the bus services standards, but without controlling the influx of population, will it actually help the situation? 

I applaud the efforts of both SBS Transit and SMRT in their fleet renewal, especially SBS Transit, renewing almost the whole fleet of theirs to improve comfort level in travelling. However, more has to be done to solve this overcrowding issue. 

The recent video that was uploaded and has gone viral was the 13 bus wait for Service 190 before one can board. 

Bus Service 190 is a notorious bus service under SMRT which has very very very high demand. It is definitely a torture to be inside a bendy bus of 190, standing up squeezing with the other passengers, and travel along the expressway. Of course, it is no wonder why everyone is boarding 190 because it is one of the very few bus routes and the shortest one to get from Choa Chu Kang to Town. 

MRT is always faster than buses? Not for this case.

I would want to comment that I am actually very disappointed in how SMRT is managing their bus services ever since they took over. We have seen many issues that were not surfaced before. Increase in frequency of bus breakdowns, poor maintenance of buses, buses not arriving on time, and lots of other issues which did not surface during the TIBS days. 

SMRT is also making matters worse by not purchasing high capacity buses. With the current limited amount of Bendys they have in their fleet, the problem of overcrowding persisted. This is especially evident in North West region, managed by SMRT, namely Bukit Batok, CHoa Chu Kang and Woodlands and Yishun. 

It just seems that either SMRT does not want to bother about improving their bus services, or they just could not manage. Why not hand some of the bus services, for example 190 over to SBS Transit as I believe they have better capabilities in managing?

I had several unpleasant experiences with Bus Service 857 as well. I had to wait up to 4 buses (around 40 mins) before I can board the bus to school. What if im in a rush to exams? 

I do understand the limited resources SMRT has, but I guess the problem is taking too long. LTA has to solve them by giving some of the bus services to SBS Transit or purchase new high capacity buses for SMRT to cope with the load. 

This comes to another debatable issue on whether government agencies should provided aid to private companies which I do not want to cover in this blog post. 

Let's really hope this situation will improve soon. 

:: Busy Week :: a week of thorough learning

It has been super long since I last blogged. Apologies. I'm super tied up with my projects and hardly had time to breathe. I had such an enriching outdoor session with my "Together Grow" group on Sunday, and from there I've learnt so much and get to know them better.

You know the power of these kind of SSA Gakkai activities is that you will never fail to feel redetermined and renewed after each and every session. You might think I'm kidding and all, but honestly, it is the constant engravement of such teachings and values into yourself that you are able to pick yourself up from the low life condition much easier.

I had alot of things I needa do and TG on Sunday basically took up the whole of my Sunday. 

We were splitted up into 4 groups and played quite alot of team bonding games. We didnt know each other well except Delisa whom is my SMU Senior. We managed to know each other better through playing games, thinking of ideas together and playing together. We didnt do quite well for some games but it doesnt really matter as I feel that as long as we are very clear of the objectives and did our best it was enough. 

We then proceeded to make kites to fly. Unfortunately, hand made kites were very difficult to really fly high up into the sky. As much as we tried, none of the kites managed to fly. However, we had quite a good time figuring out how to make the kite, designing it and making it fly. 

Then within our small groups, we further engaged ourselves into small group dialogues with the readings of the week as the topic. It was 'Fresh Leaves' from NHR Vol. 4. 

It was a loooong 66 pages readings and I took quite long to finish reading. It is definitely a challenge for me, considering that I had alot of school work to cope with as well. Here are some of the pointers I've taken down and also my takeaways:

•  this chapter depicts Sensei's hope in fostering the youths(us) to and sincerely wants us  to grow on our own, not relying on other people as much as possible. 
• I guess this point made me reflect on how I have lived in the past where I'm quite dependent on other people. It just daunted upon me that because of the reliance on other people, I actually do not really learn much from the activities. I strive to overcome this and be independent in future activities that I'm engaged in.
• plant the seeds of growth, be determined to encourage youth and wholeheartedly giving to my members
• this reasonates alot in me. Being a CIC in SMUSD, I felt that I have not done enough in engaging my members. It is very important to keep engaging them and ecnouraging them as they are really precious Bodhisattvas of the Earth! They all have limitless potential waiting to be discovered! I decided to really try my very best to be there for my members everytime, and making sure I see them grow in the process. 
• to develop the deep sense of personal responsibility in all aspects of Gakkai and in life aspects
• this is incredibly important! Without this deep sense of personal responsibility, one can never put in his 100% effort in the task he is given, living a meaningless life, etc. Because u courageously taking up the responsibilities and taking the responsibilities of whatever you are doing, in Gakkai and in other aspects of your life, you know YOU MUST NOT FAIL. It's only through struggling to win in all of them that you see yourself grow in the process. 
• Put in 100% effort to accomplish the responsibility of ours!
• Youths cannot be passive.
• I'm guilty of this. I have always been passive and does not really like to take initiatives nor responsibilities. It is wrong. I read that it is better to try something and make mistakes to be scolded at, than doing nothing and not being scolded. Being a fool for a second beats being a fool forever. You never try you will never know!
• The great mission is being given to the youths, and it is up to us to spread the spirit around. We must be responsible individuals.
• Time management issues: Set a determination to never retreat a single step!
• This is my greatest flaw. I have the tendancy to slack my time away doing nothing, or sleeping, and ended up to realise that I have wasted so much time and couldnt understand what the hell did I did the whole morning etc. This HAS TO CHANGE. Challenge!
• I also have the tendancy to give up easily when I'm met with problems. This has to change too! If you dont challenge to overcome, you will never learn. I must live my life differently. 
• In any situation, challenge our own limits and exert wholeheartedly in all the things and in any situation
• Important! Without challenging our limits and exerting wholeheartedly, the output one produce will never be satisfactory! 
• Study earnestly and work hard!
• As a student, this hit me quite abit. Have I been studying earnestly or working hard? It's time, to buck up and give my all in my studies, ALL OUT. in buddhist studies as well too.
• Have the determination and seeking spirit!
• Seeking spirit leads to self-realisation. We will always ponder on how to improve and what to improve, and how to encourage people to lead a happier life. 
• Without a determination, one can achieve nothing.

You can never believe the actual proof i see for myself just on the Monday itself. I chanted wholeheartedly that I must live my life very differently from now on. That monday, my life condition was so high that I'm really fearless of anything. And I kept telling myself, "there's no time to waste, NO TIME TO WASTE". Woke up at 6am, to faster finish up my FYP stuffs,and rush to school for FA Project meeting. Spend time in the bus to read and do my report. Basically utilising every available time that i can find. 

We started the FA report from scratch at 12noon and finished it completely at 6pm. I was so productive that I couldnt really believe it myself. It is achievable one loh. Unfortunately this life condition lasted till tuesday. 

Again, I'm back to the lazier me on Wednesday so I went to chant hard again. Managed to get back the momentum and move on. However, I admit im rather taken aback by the number of projects I needa do. It's like never ending and its so difficult. How to do? 

Ok never begrudge. I know i ahve to clear one thing by one thing. Be patient be patient. I shall not retreat a single step .

Today, I reviewed through the stuffs I needa do for FYP and theres actually a whole lot of things I need to get settled before the acceptance which is less than 1 month away. I wrote a very long email to my members, updating them and scheduled meetings with them. I hope to deliver the sense of urgency in them and really hope I can lead the group to victory! 

Enriching and power-packed week I would say, and I have lots of stuffs I needa clear! Shall end here and continue my CHALLENGE!!!