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My50 unlimited travel pass will be extended to Penang

My50 unlimited travel pass will be extended to Penang - Anthony

The My50 Unlimited Travel Pass Programme will be extended to RapidPenang bus users by the second half of this year, according to Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook.

He said the move to extend the facility to Penang would be the second phase of the programme before expanding it to other states.

“We hope it could be introduced in the quarter or by the second half of this year. I have asked Prasarana to study (this matter) immediately and work out a proposal,” he told a press conference today.

The My50 travel pass, introduced on Dec 1, allows commuters to access unlimited rides on all RapidKL buses and MRT feeder buses for 30 days at a cost of RM50.

It was launched together with My100 pass which allows commuters to enjoy unlimited rides on all RapidKL rail and bus services including MRT, LRT, Monorail, the Sunway BRT services, RapidKL bus and MRT feeder bus within 30 days with just RM100.-- Bernama

Rapid Penang Airport Bus

Rapid Penang Downtown Free Bus

Rapid Penang Bus

Website http://www.rapidpg.com.my/

Malls launch free shuttle service

Malls launch free shuttle service

GURNEY Plaza and Gurney Paragon Mall, two popular shopping malls here, have introduced a free Rapid Penang loop shuttle bus service.

The service, which is fully sponsored by the two malls, offers transport between the two malls and around the Pulau Tikus area.

It is also expected to reduce traffic congestion near and around the malls, especially during peak hours and holidays.

From 8am to 11pm daily, the shuttle bus will make a total of 16 trips hourly.

It starts at Gurney Plaza and makes 19 stops along the way in Jalan Kelawai, Jalan Bagan Jermal, Jalan Burmah and Jalan Pangkor, and ends at Gurney Paragon Mall.

The bus in blue and purple is easily recognisable and distinct from the regular Rapid Penang, which is in blue and yellow.

Pulau Tikus assemblyman Yap Soo Huey, who helped initiate a two-month trial of the shuttle service last year, said the bus connected Pulau Tikus with the two malls.

“People can now park their car in Pulau Tikus and take the bus to the malls or the other way around.“

“This will give more convenience to drivers who would be able to save time looking and waiting for a place to park.

“They can also take in the sights in Pulau Tikus, especially the Wat Chayamangkalaram and Dhammikarama Siamese and Burmese temples, and sample the famous hawker food before or after visiting the malls,” she said after launching the shuttle service with state Local Government and Traffic Management committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow in Jalan Kelawai recently.

Yap praised the two malls for making the effort to ease the traffic congestion in the area and encouraging people to use public transport.

“We are trying to promote public transport with the aim of reducing air and noise pollution as well as traffic congestion,”” she said.


Chow Kon Yeow (left), Yap Soo Huey (second from left) and Rapid Penang chief operating officer Major (rtd) Mohd Shukri Abdul Rahman (fourth from left) launch the new service.

~News courtesy of New Straits Times~

Rapid Penang Bus Routes

http://www.rapidpg.com.my

Bus and ferry companies go extra mile

Bus and ferry companies go extra mile for passengers

RAPID Penang will be extending its operation hours for certain routes until 2am tomorrow, in view of the various New Year’s Eve countdown celebrations tonight.

Its commercial and communications manager Mohd Tajudin Mohd Kassim said the extension of the operation hours till after midnight was to cater to the needs of the public, who will be attending various events all over the state to celebrate the New Year.

He said 17 bus routes on the island and mainland would be extended until 1.30am or 2am.

Buses that will operate until 1.30am are plying these routes:

202 (Weld Quay to Paya Terubong) and 203 (Weld Quay to Air Itam);

301 (Weld Quay to Relau) and 303 (Weld Quay to Bukit Gedong);

401 (Weld Quay to Balik Pulau via Bayan Baru);

601 (Penang Sentral to Kepala Batas);

801 (Penang Sentral to Nibong Tebal) and 802 (Bukit Mertajam to Nibong Tebal).

Buses that will operate until 2am are:

101 (Weld Quay to Teluk Bahang);

302 (Weld Quay to Batu Maung via Jalan Bukit Gambir), 304 (Gurney to Bukit Gedong) and 307 (Weld Quay to Batu Maung via Bayan Baru);

401E (Weld Quay to Balik Pulau via Queensbay);

502 (Weld Quay to Balik Pulau via Paya Terubong);

701 (Penang Sentral to Bukit Mertajam via Megamal), 702 (Pe-nang Sentral to Bukit Mertajam via Ampang Jajar) and 703 (Penang Sentral to Seberang Jaya).

For the timetable, visit http://www.rapidpg.com.my/ or its Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/rapidpgfans.

Penang Port Sdn Bhd has decided to provide ferry services for over 43 hours from 5.20am today.

Its ferry services unit head Fisnol Mahmud said the ferry services would start at the normal operation hour of 5.20am from the Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal in Butterworth today.

“We anticipate a huge crowd on Dec 31, hence we are extending our operation hours until the last ferry departs from the Pengkalan Raja Tun Uda ferry terminal in Weld Quay at 1am on Jan 2,” he said when contacted yesterday.

He added that the extension of the operation hours would depend on the traffic volume of those using the ferry services.

~News courtesy of The Star~

‘Tap and go’ bus rides

‘Tap and go’ bus rides

Rapid Penang will test run its E-ticketing system for three months, starting June 1, to enhance the bus fare collection process.

Its media relations manager Mohd Tajudin Mohd Kassim said the system would be put on trial on 50 buses departing from the Weld Quay bus terminal for the Paya Terubong, Air Itam, Farlim and Balik Pulau routes.

“Under the ‘Taptopay’ electronic fare system, commuters only have to tap their bus passes on decoders once they board the bus, and the fare will be deducted automatically.

“The system will cut down the commuters’ boarding time and eliminate the hassle of using cash and coins for every journey,” he said when contacted yesterday.

Mohd Tajudin said once the system is proven to be feasible and able to link to the company’s existing Global Positioning System (GPS), it will be implemented on all the 350 buses statewide.

“Commuters wishing to participate in the test run are required to change to the new microchipped bus pass at our headquaters on Lorong Kulit.”

For more information, call 04-2381313 or visit the company’s website (www.rapidpg.com.my).

~News courtesy of The Star~

Penang Hill Scenery

View of Penang Bridge from Penang Hilltop
Penang Hill bus service - Rapid Penang 204

Typical Rapid Penang Bus

Typical Rapid Penang Bus

Rapid Penang king of the road

Rapid Penang king of the road

Three years after starting its service, Rapid Penang has knocked out its competition on Penang Island.

Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) traffic management senior engineer A. Rajendran said an observation made by the council showed that no other buses from other firms like Milan, Transit Link and KGN Link were seen picking up passengers at Weld Quay, the Komtar bus interchange and the Bukit Jambul bus stop.

He said although these bus companies were still operating, their buses were not seen plying the streets here.

State Local Government and Traffic Management Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow claimed the lease scheme and the attitude of drivers were the main reasons the other bus companies lost out.

“Under the lease scheme, bus companies rent out the buses to the drivers, allowing them to decide when to work, which route to ply and waiting until buses are full before they leave the bus stops,” he said.

He told a press conference yesterday that the scheme caused inefficiency and created a bad reputation for Penang’s public transportation.

“We want the best for the public in terms of safety, efficiency, affordability and cleanliness,” he said.

Plans are also in the pipeline to upgrade the infrastructure at the Komtar bus interchange.

Rajendran said heavy duty tiles would be used to pave all the lanes as they are more durable.

He said the waiting platforms would be closed up with air-conditioning.

-News courtesy of The Star-

Council seeks three additional CAT buses

Council seeks three additional CAT buses

THE Penang Municipal Council has requested three additional Central Area Transit (CAT) city shuttle buses from Rapid Penang to ply the CAT route in George Town.

MPPP financial management sub-committee alternate chairman Tan Hun Wooi said that there would be a total of six CAT buses if Rapid Penang agreed to the council’s request.

The three buses that ply the CAT route each make 14 trips per day within the heritage enclave.

“The council pays Rapid Penang RM50,000 a month to operate the service from 6am to midnight daily,” he said.

Tan said Rapid Penang owed the council RM656,000 in site rental for the Lorong Kulit, Tanjung Bungah and Balik Pulau bus stations.

“Therefore, we will contra the debt with the monthly payments for the three new buses,” he said.

Tan said Rapid Penang was required to provide the service as part of the conditions set by the council for Rapid Penang to enjoy the 50% discount in the site rental at the bus stations.

“We have also asked Rapid Penang to appoint three state representatives including an MPPP representative, who will be named by the Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to sit on Rapid Penang’s board of directors,” he said.

Speaking to newsmen after the meeting, Tan said the additional three new CAT buses would allow Rapid Penang to clear the debt with the coun- cil while the council gets to provide additional transport service which would benefit Penangites and tourists.

-News courtesy of The Star-

Get Around

Public transportation around the city is not very well organized. There are, however, buses that ply the length and breadth of the city, and even one that can take you around the island itself. Having said that, there is a chance you master the system by going either to the KOMTAR building or the ferry terminal. There, all busses stop on their route, and if you don't mind going around the city a bit if you actually want to leave it, you have good chances of getting where you want. But if you're planning to venture out of Georgetown to the suburbs and beyond for a day's tripping, do bear in mind that the public buses STOP picking up passengers AFTER 10PM daily - apparently even on weekends and holidays (as of November 2006). And if you need to take a taxi back to your quarters after midnight, be prepared to pay a 100% surcharge on top of the usual quoted fare.

Going to and from the airport (Rapid Penang bus 401, 401A, 401E from the airport to Komtar and the Jetty, and vice versa) takes about an hour, and the buses come once every 30 minutes. The bus fare is RM2.70. This is in contrast to the official taxi fare of RM38 with a journey of about 45 minutes from the airport to downtown Georgetown, and vice versa.

According to the Ministry of Tourism, "City taxis are required to charge according to the meter effective from August 2006" (from "Penang: Pearl of the Orient", published May 2008). However, as in Kuala Lumpur, many taxi drivers have no respect for the law or at least believe that foreigners have no legal rights and will even try to cheat foreigners.

Therefore, taxi rides within the city may cost up to RM20; agree on the fare before you get in. Taxis can also be hired for a minimum of 3 hours at RM25 per hour. A good way to see the Northern and Western parts of the island if you don't have your own vehicle.

Trishaws cater to tourists and charge around RM30 per hour. However, these trishaw rides are becoming more of a curiosity rather than the norm as the number of trishaw peddlers are now lower in number than before.

You may also rent your own motorbike or little scooter to get around. These shops can be found along Chulia Street and also Penang Road. Cost around 25 ringgits for 24 hours rent. Deposit is 200 ringgits but most do though accept other currency as well.

Street view of Lebuh Chulia (Chulia Street)

Street names can be confusing: the street signs are in Malay, but locals will invariably use the old English names, e.g. Pitt Street instead of Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling, Beach Street instead of Lebuh Pantai, etc. Lebuh, Jalan, Lorong, etc. are the Malay words for street, road, lane, respectively.

Georgetown is a pedestrian nightmare as there are very few footpaths. In places without footpaths it is almost impossible to get around on foot due to the heavy traffic and prevalence of deep, wide, disgusting open sewers.

-Info courtesy of Wikitravel-

Luxury on wheels

Luxury on wheels

IF you think travelling on a public bus is boring, try hopping on one equipped with a computer, flatscreen television and PlayStation 3.

The newly launched Rapid Hitz on Wheels bus, which is touted as the first of its kind in the country, kicked off in George Town on Thursday for a three-month trial run.

A joint effort between Rapid Penang and AMP Radio Networks, it is specially tailored to those aged between 16 and 24.

Rapid Penang chief executive officer Azhar Ahmad said they hoped to shift the youngsters’ mindset on public transport with the introduction of Rapid Hitz on Wheels.

“Many of them view public buses as just the transport mode of the low-income group when it can actually be a fun way of travelling for professionals and youths,” he said after launching the bus with AMP Radio Networks executive director Datuk Borhanuddin Osman on Thursday.

Crew of Hitz.fm, an English radio station under AMP, will drop by at different bus stations to pick up 15 lucky commuters for a short free tour.

There will be live broadcasting and quizzes on the bus from time to time. Those who answer the questions correctly will receive goodies.

The crew will also provide free canned drinks and magazines for commuters.

Those who wish to enjoy the fun ride can look out for the bus from 4pm to 10pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday when it takes the route along Belissa Row in Pulau Tikus, Gurney Drive, Farquhar Street, Weld Quay and Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling before returning to Belissa Row.

On Friday from 6pm to midnight, Rapid Hitz on Wheels can be spotted along Jalan Bagan Jermal, Jalan Tanjung Bungah, Bayview Beach Resort, Jalan Fettes and Jalan Burma.

From 3pm to midnight on Saturday, the bus will go to Gurney Drive, Penang Bridge, Jalan Juru, Weld Quay, Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah and Belissa Row.

On Sunday from 11am to 8pm, the bus will ply the route from Belissa Row to Jalan Perak, Jelutong Expressway, Jalan Aziz Ibrahim, Weld Quay and Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah before returning to Belissa Row.

Borhanuddin said they chose to have the first of its kind Rapid Hitz on Wheels in Penang because they believed Penangites were quite receptive to changes.

“We want to promote public transport to youths before they decide to purchase cars and make the roads more congested,” he said.

Asked if there were plans to have more of such buses or extend the three-month trial period, Borhanuddin said they would decide later.

Azhar later introduced press members to the company’s first 'Go Green’ concept bus that was developed to promote environmental-friendly public transportation system.

Designed with flora and fauna images in the interior, the bus is equipped with pipe-in music of nature’s sounds, including the chirping of birds.

-News courtesy of The Star-

Bus 102 to ply Teluk Bahang

‘Rock Route’ 102 to ply Teluk Bahang tourism belt

BUS passengers can now ride Rapid Penang buses direct from Penang International Airport in Bayan Lepas to the tourism belts of Batu Ferringhi and Teluk Bahang respectively, effective yesterday.

With the new route, commuters no longer have to transit at the Weld Quay bus terminal to take the journey to Teluk Bahang.

The direct route, described as the ‘Rock Route’ since the bus would be passing by Hard Rock Hotel on its way to Teluk Bahang, would only cost a flat rate of RM5 from the airport to Teluk Bahang and vice versa.

Rapid Penang chief executive officer Azhar Ahmad said residents living in Bayan Lepas, Bayan Baru and Gelugor area who were working in Tanjung Bungah, Batu Ferringhi and Teluk Bahang, as well as those living in Tanjung Bungah, Batu Ferringhi and Teluk Bahang but working in the Free Trade Zone in Bayan Lepas, would be the ones to benefit from this service apart from airline passengers.

The first bus for the Rock Route — 102 — starts at 5.30am while the last departs at 10pm.

“Rapid Penang hopes to reduce the use of private vehicles. This would ease the traffic congestion on Penang island,” he said after launching the new route at Hard Rock Hotel yesterday.

Azhar said Rapid Penang had also extended its Route 306 from the airport to Penang Hospital by plying through the Paya Terubong and Air Itam areas.

“The residents here can now travel to Penang Hospital conveniently.

“This is in line with our initiative as a caring and responsible corporate company that also oversees the social needs of our commuters,” he said.

The first bus for Route 306 starts at 6am while the last departs at 10.30pm.

“Four buses will ply the 102 and 306 routes respectively, with the frequency of an hourly interval,” he said.

The journey from the start to end point of both routes will take around one hour and 30 minutes, depending on the traffic flow.

Azhar said Rapid Penang would also be ceasing operations of its Route 401A from the airport to Weld Quay.

“However, commuters at the airport will still be able to commute on the Route 401 and 401E buses from Balik Pulau to Komtar and Weld Quay,” he said.

Rapid Penang's website

-News courtesy of The Star-