new express bus terminal for penang

so! finally! it’s done! it’s happened! the bus terminal for express buses had moved to a new site – next to the pesta pulau pinang site in sg. nibong.

why sg. nibong? why so far away from city centre?

i understand the concern of the authorities that earlier the buses had been stopping at prangin mall/komtar and gelugor, which are not appropriate places, as they add to the traffic congestion. but why can’t they find an alternative site near pragin mall/komtar itself?

you know, long ago, before prangin mall was constructed, i thought they were going to have the express bus terminal there (prangin mall’s site). but then was surprised, they turned the site into another shopping complex. then when those people at ‘sia boey’ (the famous market at prangin lane) were chased out, i thought, the express bus terminal could be sited there but oh no. then of all places, it has to be at sg. nibong.

sg. nibong is not a convenient place at all… especially for those without transport. now, if the bus terminal is at komtar, people from north, south, east, west, e.g. tanjung bungah, air itam, bayan baru, could take a stage bus or mini bus to komtar, then hop in the express bus. but now that it is in sg. nibong, they have to take 2 buses! and imagine with all the heavy luggage! when they are at komtar, they have to take another bus to sg. nibong. how troublesome!

and if i understand correctly, all ticketing office will be at sg. nibong only. what?? what??? more trouble for commuters!! they (those from the northen and western side) have to take 2 buses (to and fro) just to purchase the tickets (for some occasions, tickets must be bought in advance). then come the time for them to depart, again 2 buses. so troublesome!

oh of course they could get a taxi. but do you know how much the taxi would cost? it had been proposed taxis used coupon system to ferry people from the terminal, and the cheapest price will be about RM12.00 what? goodness! that would be half the cost of the express bus trip from penang to KL already.

i’m not really against this move of the express bus terminal in sg. nibong, but the thing is before the govt. planned for the move, they should take into account the public’s views first and consider the problems that might occured. not to start considering the problems only after the move! how silly!

more on this topic can be found at malvu site.