Linear bus stops

Buses trying to exit bus bays are often unable to do so because motorists are unwilling to give way to them, thereby causing unnecessary delays and adding journey time for most passengers. To address the problem, LTA came up with an innovative solution: remove the bus bays altogether.

As announced in their press release dated 12 February 2007, they are embarking on a trial to convert existing bus bays along Jalan Eunos to bay-less bus stops, also known as "linear bus stops", to investigate if such bay-less bus stops are effective in reducing delays at bus stops.

Before you read further, it's best to read the full press release available below (or click here).

LTA to embark on trial to introduce Linear Bus Stops

To build on existing efforts to improve travelling speeds for buses, LTA is planning to use Jalan Eunos as a platform to test the benefits of linear bus stops.

Linear bus stops are defined as bus stops that are constructed along, and adjacent to, the road, without the inlet known as the bus bay.

Studies by LTA indicate that buses trying to exit from the bus bays are often impeded by fast moving traffic and motorists who do not take the trouble to slow down for them.

This is backed up by a survey conducted by SBST which found that 9 per cent of bus commuters' journey time is incurred when buses are trying to exit bus bays.

Thus, as part of the Jalan Eunos road widening project, slated to begin in the third quarter of 2007, bus bays will not be built along the widened roads. Instead, six pairs of linear bus stops will be built, to replace the existing ones. The widening works will be completed in 2009.

By timing the trial together with the proposed road widening project, we foresee that it is not likely to impact other motorists adversely, as there will be an additional lane created on both sides of Jalan Eunos.

Jalan Eunos was selected for the trial as it has high bus volumes as well as heavy traffic flow along this stretch of road.

Date: 12 February 2007

My take on this linear bus stop saga? It's a mere publicity stunt. Instead of focusing on lane widening, their PR team choose to focus on linear bus stops trial. Although they are essentially the same, the change in reporting focus creates a false impression that LTA is planning Singapore's road with the public transport as utmost priority.

If you read between the lines, you'll realised that the press release should really read like this:

LTA to widen Jalan Eunos (mock)

Jalan Eunos will be widened by an additional lane in each direction to cater to the increased traffic volume along Jalan Eunos.

The project, slated to begin in the third quarter of 2007, will help to alleviate traffic congestion along Jalan Eunos. The widening works will be completed in 2009.

As part of Jalan Eunos road widening project, bus bays will not be built along the widened roads. Instead, six pairs of linear bus stops will be built to replace the existing ones. This is a part of a trial to build on existing efforts to improve travelling speeds for buses by using Jalan Eunos as a platform to test the benefits of linear bus stops. Linear bus stops are defined as bus stops that are constructed along, and adjacent to, the road, without the inlet known as the bus bay.

By timing the trial together with the proposed road widening project, we foresee that it is not likely to impact other motorists adversely, as there will be an additional lane created on both sides of Jalan Eunos.

And the undercurrent to this saga? The bus bays are probably removed because there are probably no more road space to accommodate them due to the lane widening. To address this seemingly a-step-back decision, they came up with an elaborate publicity stunt of "linear bus stop trial", which will not materialise 2 years down the road (provided no construction delay), and the results of the trial most probably a year later. By then 3 years would have past, and hopefully we will still remember this "linear bus stop" thingy.