Oh I wanna go for a free ride too..
A free shuttle bus service for Marine Parade residents shows starkly contrasting levels of ridership, revealing a mix of popularity and challenges. According to a spokesperson for the Marine Parade grassroots organizations, the service has experienced “steady usage across most routes” but will undergo refinement based on ridership data and residents’ feedback. The spokesperson mentioned the possibility of adjusting schedules or routes before the end of the year.
The initiative, launched as a one-year pilot on July 8 for residents of Marine Parade GRC, MacPherson SMC, and Mountbatten SMC, has faced varying levels of response from the public. Over a three-month period, reporters from CNA observed passengers on four out of the seven routes to gauge the service’s utilization, particularly during weekdays over a two-week period.
The Marine Parade shuttle service, funded partly through a grant from the South East Community Development Council and supplemented by donations, aims to provide convenient transportation for residents by connecting them to essential amenities such as polyclinics, hawker centres, and MRT stations.
Upon reviewing data collected during their observations, CNA reporters noted differences in passenger numbers across the various routes, with some buses largely empty during certain times. For instance, the Braddell Heights and Kembangan-Chai Chee routes exhibited low ridership, while the Marine Parade and Mountbatten routes saw more consistent passenger engagement.
Quoted experiences from actual passengers shed light on the practical benefits and drawbacks of the service. One Marine Parade resident, Mr. Low Peng Sum, emphasized how the shuttle service encouraged him to be more active and regularly utilize the bus for his daily activities, despite acknowledging that its popularity among residents, especially retirees, may take time to establish.
In comparison, other passengers criticized aspects like irregular bus timings and insufficient awareness among residents about the service’s coverage areas. Despite efforts by the Marine Parade grassroots organizations to boost registration numbers and gather feedback, some residents expressed concerns regarding the accessibility and alignment of the shuttle service with their specific travel needs.
