<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR>How transport body checks bus services
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->I REFER to Ms Tan Lay Peng's letter, 'Flaws in Public Transport Council study' (Nov 4).
The Public Transport Council (PTC) has in place a performance review and monitoring framework for basic bus service standards. All bus services are monitored for compliance with the Quality of Service (QoS) standards set. Any instance of non-compliance is thoroughly investigated and mitigating factors (beyond the control of the operators to address) considered before penalties are imposed. The PTC is satisfied that the two basic bus operators had largely met the QoS standards in the six-month period from December last year to May this year. Full details are given in our news release of Oct 15 at www.ptc.gov.sg.
We agree with Ms Tan's suggestion to tighten the frequency of feeder services. The PTC now requires at least 85 per cent to run at headways (average intervals between buses) of not more than 10 minutes during weekday peak hours. This standard will be tightened to 90 per cent by August next year.
=> That is they can choose to stop running off peak hrs if they want to!
As to Ms Tan's comments on how each bus service's adherence to its schedule is measured, buses, like any vehicle, are subject to traffic conditions. Bus speeds are also affected by the time passengers take to board and alight.
=> Blame Sporns again!
These factors can vary considerably from day to day.
=> Or it's gonna get worse by the day as more plane loads of FTrash land?
Therefore, setting service standards based on bus departures from interchanges is a practical and reasonable balance between ensuring arrival frequencies and preventing reckless driving behaviour, such as a bus trying to speed up or bypass bus stops to catch up on time lost due to traffic delays. Although the standard is measured at the interchange, the operators cannot let bus bunching or delays get out of hand, because that would mean the bus cannot be ready for its scheduled departure at the next bus interchange.
To reduce the impact of traffic conditions, more bus priority measures such as bus lanes, priority traffic signals and giving way to buses exiting bus bays are necessary. Commuters can also help buses keep to schedule by moving to the rear of buses, allowing other passengers to board quickly.
The PTC will continue to review the QoS standards, taking into account commuters' feedback and experiences.
We thank Ms Tan for her feedback and the opportunity to clarify. Looi Teik Soon
Secretary
Public Transport Council
=> If forever cannot achieve this and that, what justification is there for the incessant fare hikes? Insatiable greed & 1 Familee's rule?
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->I REFER to Ms Tan Lay Peng's letter, 'Flaws in Public Transport Council study' (Nov 4).
The Public Transport Council (PTC) has in place a performance review and monitoring framework for basic bus service standards. All bus services are monitored for compliance with the Quality of Service (QoS) standards set. Any instance of non-compliance is thoroughly investigated and mitigating factors (beyond the control of the operators to address) considered before penalties are imposed. The PTC is satisfied that the two basic bus operators had largely met the QoS standards in the six-month period from December last year to May this year. Full details are given in our news release of Oct 15 at www.ptc.gov.sg.
We agree with Ms Tan's suggestion to tighten the frequency of feeder services. The PTC now requires at least 85 per cent to run at headways (average intervals between buses) of not more than 10 minutes during weekday peak hours. This standard will be tightened to 90 per cent by August next year.
=> That is they can choose to stop running off peak hrs if they want to!
As to Ms Tan's comments on how each bus service's adherence to its schedule is measured, buses, like any vehicle, are subject to traffic conditions. Bus speeds are also affected by the time passengers take to board and alight.
=> Blame Sporns again!
These factors can vary considerably from day to day.
=> Or it's gonna get worse by the day as more plane loads of FTrash land?
Therefore, setting service standards based on bus departures from interchanges is a practical and reasonable balance between ensuring arrival frequencies and preventing reckless driving behaviour, such as a bus trying to speed up or bypass bus stops to catch up on time lost due to traffic delays. Although the standard is measured at the interchange, the operators cannot let bus bunching or delays get out of hand, because that would mean the bus cannot be ready for its scheduled departure at the next bus interchange.
To reduce the impact of traffic conditions, more bus priority measures such as bus lanes, priority traffic signals and giving way to buses exiting bus bays are necessary. Commuters can also help buses keep to schedule by moving to the rear of buses, allowing other passengers to board quickly.
The PTC will continue to review the QoS standards, taking into account commuters' feedback and experiences.
We thank Ms Tan for her feedback and the opportunity to clarify. Looi Teik Soon
Secretary
Public Transport Council
=> If forever cannot achieve this and that, what justification is there for the incessant fare hikes? Insatiable greed & 1 Familee's rule?
