Commuters left in the dark at Klang Valley bus stops

The Star

2 days ago

When he started working in Kuala Lumpur in 2019, Wong Yew Lee struggled to get a grasp of the city's bus system.
The bus stops lacked route information, leaving him unsure of which bus to take.
It was only after he found useful online resources and mobile apps that he finally began to navigate the city's public transport with confidence.
Yew Lee, 26, observed that this problem has not improved over the years.
The vandalised GoKL route display board (left) at the bus stop outside M Centura Condominium. — GLENN GUAN, ONG SOON HIN, JAROD LIM andLEW GUAN XI/The Star
'The lack of information at bus stops in Kuala Lumpur is very inconvenient for users.
'I have to rely on Google and MyRapid Pulse mobile apps to get around the city.
'It would be great if the route and bus information can be displayed at bus stops for passenger convenience,' said the data engineer, who takes the bus from Taman Sungai Besi to the city centre for work.
His frustration is a familiar one for many across the Klang Valley.
A lack of bus route maps, inconsistent real-time tracking and bus stops that are poorly maintained present a significant challenge for commuters.
An unlit bus stop in Jalan PJU8/1 in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
'Bus stops in countries such as Singapore and Thailand display the names of the stations, bus numbers serving a stop as well as bus routes and estimated arrival times.
'But in the Klang Valley, there are no boards stating the estimated time of arrival of buses.
'Some buses are also not punctual,' he added.
Fragmented system
The problem is not just a lack of information, but the overall system is a fragmented one.
Muhammad Faredhaziq Muszafar, 23, from Johor, highlighted the need for a 'unified and user-friendly digital platform' to consolidate real-time arrival information, maps and fare details.
Currently, bus users have to juggle apps and websites to obtain required information.
Even when one figures out the right route and bus to take, those unfamiliar with their intended destination could still end up getting lost. Muhammad Faredhaziq says there should be a unified digital platform for bus users.
SC Lim, 36, recounted missing his stop for Mid Valley Megamall and ending up in Subang Parade because the bus did not announce its stops.
'Currently, the names of bus stops are not clearly displayed, so how would passengers know where to get off?
'Not all buses show which stops they are approaching.
'For example, the GoKL Maroon Line does not announce upcoming stops, but its buses along the Green Line do,' he said.
Frequent bus user Ang Yi Seng, 23, noted that real-time location of buses could be unreliable, making journey planning difficult.
'I use the MyRapid Bus Kiosk website to track the real-time location of buses.
'However, for some routes, there are times buses are not traceable, which affects my journey planning,' he said, adding that the app often lagged.
Ang said route information at many bus stops was outdated and urged bus operators to work with local authorities to provide clear, updated details.
He said a Damansara Intan bus stop along the T816 route had 'absolutely no markings'.
The information displayed at this bus stop in Taipan, Subang Jaya is incomplete.
'There used to be a pole indicating that it was a bus stop, but it has disappeared since 2023.
'Given that buses arrive every half an hour there, the lack of a sheltered bus stop is an inconvenience.
'Without proper signs, non-regular bus users may not know that the spot is actually a bus stop,' said Ang.
Apart from the information gap, commuters also talk about infrastructure issues.
They say some bus stops have roofs that do not protect passengers from rain, while others are unlit at night, posing a safety risk.
'Some bus stops are not sheltered and there is only a pole with a bus stop sign,' said Muhammad Faredhaziq.
He added that buses also failed to stop at designated points in some areas where dedicated bus stops were lacking.
Although he often visits the Klang Valley, Muhammad Faredhaziq has not used the area's bus service since September 2023.
Ernest has taken the initiative to paste posters at bus stops to inform the public about bus service changes.
Falling into disrepair
StarMetro checked several bus stops across the Klang Valley and confirmed the commuters' frustrations.
Many bus stops not only lacked vital information, but were also vandalised.
Most bus stops serving Rapid KL and GoKL buses had a roof and seats, with some also having transparent panels and advertisement boards.
However, a few places in Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya only had a bus stop sign pole.
For bus stops serving Rapid KL routes, there was a poster with a QR code for passengers to scan and access a website showing bus locations.
Similarly, GoKL bus route information was displayed at most stops.
Some bus stops in Bandar Utama, Selangor, are unsheltered with just a pole displaying its routes.
Of the 15 routes GoKL serves, the bus stops on the Green Line serving the Bukit Bintang area were well maintained, but some along the Maroon Line, which covered Kampung Batu, Sentul, Titiwangsa and Chow Kit, had been badly damaged.
Among the items spotted were a broken display board at the bus stop next to M Centura Sentul Residences in Jalan Sentul Pasar and rain-ruined route maps at another stop along the same road.
At least three display boards were damaged and could not provide clear bus route information.
Even when route information was available at some bus stops, much of it appeared to be inaccurate or incomplete.
For instance, the display for the 770 bus route at a bus stop in Taipan, Subang Jaya, only showed stops within Subang Jaya, leaving out the stretch that goes to Hab Pasar Seni in Kuala Lumpur.
This meant that commuters do not get a full picture of the route.
The bus stop design, commuters say, could also be improved.
The bus stop outside Institut Latihan DBKL along Jalan Yaacob Latif with both GoKL and Rapid KL bus routes displayed.
Regular bus user Natalie Chan said the roof design of some bus stops did not adequately shield passengers from the rain during a thunderstorm.
'The curved roof does not keep the glaring sunlight away from the seats, making these bus stops uncomfortable for passengers,' she added.
There is also a disparity in the information displayed at a bus stop near Kota Damansara MRT station and on the MRT feeder buses serving the stop.
The names of the stops along the T805 route shown on the bus stop information board differs from what is displayed on the bus itself, which could confuse commuters.
In addition, some bus stops in Jalan PJU7/1, Jalan PJU8/1 and Jalan PJU8/8 in Damansara Perdana are unlit at night, posing a safety risk to commuters.
Taking the initiative
To address the information gap, transport consultant Ernest Wong puts up his own posters at bus stops, informing commuters about service disruptions and changes.
Since last year, Ernest who is from Kuala Lumpur, has placed about 40 posters along various routes in the capital city and Petaling Jaya, including T818, T852, T789 and T815, to notify commuters of event-related route adjustments.
'Rapid KL publishes this information but often only on online platforms so physical notices are rare,' he said.
He plans to create a 'Frequent Transit Network' map to highlight high-frequency bus routes, such as No. 300 (Pandan Indah–Lebuh Ampang).
With this initiative, he hopes to encourage greater bus usage and help commuters discover other options.