KMB launched a new long-distance bus service commonly known as "Luxury Bus" this Sunday (18th). Two routes P960 and P968 run between Tuen Mun and Wan Chai, and Yuen Long and Tin Hau respectively.
The new service originated from the Public Transport Strategy Study conducted by the Transport and Housing Bureau, but from the announcement of the proposal to the first day of operation, it has not been well received because it neither addresses the most fundamental commuting problems nor is it the best strategy to improve service quality.
The public transport strategy study was announced in 2017. The consultant company collected opinions from passengers, stating that passengers generally believe that new services require a comfortable journey, such as wider seats, no standing, and faster services, such as fewer stops and expressways, and The cabin is equipped with more facilities, such as wireless Internet access and charging devices.
The Transport and Housing Bureau then recommended franchised buses to launch new long-distance route services, especially during peak hours.
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KMB said early in the morning that it would launch such services, and the two routes meet the department's equipment requirements, and the prices are really nearly 50% more expensive than the same series of routes.
However, since KMB put forward its route and frequency recommendations in 2018, the external response has been mediocre.
The entire journey is only shortened by more than ten minutes, and the number of intermediate stations is reduced by only three to four. The convenience effect is hard to say.
Originally, KMB agreed to launch an online seat reservation service, but a few days before the operation, it said that it was developing related systems and the reservation function was not available.
In general, apart from being more expensive and more comfortable, passengers will not feel the difference between the new and old routes.
Can operate more than franchised buses
Residents have to commute long distances because their homes and work locations are far away, the journey time is time-consuming, various collective transportation vehicles are also very crowded, and the transportation costs are expensive.
The government should work hard to address the root causes, rather than focusing on superficial travel comfort.
Of course, creating job opportunities and building more railways in the New Territories are long-term tasks that cannot be seen immediately. However, even in the short term, the Bureau should not expect luxury buses to improve the quality of commuting. It is even worse to stipulate franchised bus companies.
The biggest problem is that it is the operation of franchised buses that will inevitably increase the fare.
As the study shows, the absence of standing seats and widening of seats has reduced the number of passengers carried per journey, and franchised bus operators will naturally increase their fare balance.
Compared with the two-line fare, the non-franchised resident bus service, commonly known as the village bus, charges much more. For example, the NR922 route between Yuen Long and Wan Chai charges $22, and several buses run between Tuen Mun Siu Hong, Siu Lun, Tai Hing and other housing estates and Wan Chai The village bus route costs about 20 yuan.
Although the carriages of the village buses are not as comfortable as the luxury buses, they are at least not equipped with standing seats.
In addition, the village bus has fewer stops on the way, and the driver can avoid congested roads when driving, so many residents choose to take the village bus to and from get off work.
The luxury buses use Euro VI environmentally friendly engines and are equipped with the latest safety devices.
(Provided by KMB)
Convenient transportation must eventually reduce private cars
Of course, franchised bus operators will not easily make profits. They may persuade the government to operate new long-distance services, or even "do it" in order to prevent competitors from stealing customers. But this is not good for operators and passengers.
If the government takes the commuting efficiency of residents as the main consideration, it should choose the village bus to undertake the new long-distance bus service.
For long-distance passengers, the most important thing about commuting is safety, and among the three of fast, comfortable and cabin equipment, fast is the first choice.
In the medium term, if the urban traffic congestion is not resolved, the method of shortening the commuting time will be more effective.
The government must target the largest number of private cars that are least effective on road use. It not only restricts the growth of private cars, but also envisages a series of alternative services, such as the promotion of car rental, online taxi and minibus, ride sharing, expansion of rehabilitation buses, etc. This allows car owners and their families to easily give up private cars for transportation, thereby freeing up the road for public transportation, and public transportation operators can truly provide convenient services by then.
The traffic in Kwun Tong should not be relied solely on the dedicated bus line "Water Taxi". The role of planning for 20 years should not be limited to the sightseeing three bus company expiring in two years. The franchise system should be reviewed.
