Latest news with #Kummute
The Star
20-05-2025
- The Star
Boosting commutes with RM1 rides in Penang
PUBLIC transport is not really an attractive option for most people if the nearest bus stop is a 30-minute walk away. But what if you could get to your destination for just RM1 through Rapid Penang On-Demand (ROD), a first-mile-last-mile transport solution. Jelutong resident Lucia Lai is one Penangite who decided to give it a go. She took an ROD ride from her neighbourhood with booking made through the Kummute app. A passenger using the Kummute app to book her ROD van ride. 'Booking was simple. The app tells you how long it will take for the van to arrive, along with the number plate and driver's name,' she said. For her first ride, Lai was picked up from the bus stop in front of her apartment in Jelutong and dropped off at the St Giles Wembley Hotel in George Town. 'There were only two passengers in the van. I paid by swiping my debit card on the machine and received a receipt right away,' she said, adding that the van was comfortable and the air-conditioning worked. Lai took her first ride from her apartment in Jelutong to a George Town hotel. She said there were 11 seats, three rows with three seats each and a final row with two seats. She was told that one seat in the second row was left empty to make it easier for passengers to get in and out. On the second leg of her journey from St Giles Wembley Hotel to City Bayview Hotel, Lai was the only passenger and sat in the front row behind the driver. 'Overall, I'm satisfied with the service. Some say the wait times can be long during peak hours. 'But I wasn't in a rush, so I didn't mind,' she added. An ROD driver receiving payment from a passenger using her debit card. Receipts are issued. Pharmacist Jusrizal Azeem Jamaludin, also from Jelutong, uses the ROD service a few times a week to commute to Penang Hospital. Usually, he takes a bus from the Sunshine Jelutong stop to Komtar, and then books an ROD ride to the hospital. 'The vans are clean, the seats comfortable and the air-conditioning works well,' he said. 'The drivers are polite and friendly. I have even had nice chats with a few,' said Jusrizal, adding that he appreciated the inclusivity of the service, including accessibility for people with disabilities (OKU). 'The app is user-friendly, and the flexible payment options are a plus. 'One can use the Pas Mutiara My50, Pas OKU Smile, debit or credit card, DuitNow QR or an e-wallet. 'It's a great initiative that offers a reliable alternative to driving, especially in areas not well served by buses,.' ROD vans also have special equipment to cater to people with disabilities. Bridging the gap When the service was first launched on Aug 1, 2024, it featured only two vans operating on the T210B route between Farlim (Bandar Baru Air Itam) and Air Itam. It was then known as Demand Responsive Transit (DRT). Rapid Bus acting chief executive officer Ku Jamil Zakaria said two additional vans were introduced on the T210B route to meet demand and reduce wait times from 17 minutes to 10 minutes. 'With the two extra vans, the average daily ridership has reached 137 passengers, surpassing our initial target of 100. 'In just seven months of operation until February, the total number of passengers on this route has exceeded 26,000,' he said. Ku Jamil said adding vans to serve the route had significantly improved connectivity between the ROD service and existing Rapid Penang buses, while offering passengers more direct access to their chosen destinations. THE ROD can accommodate 10 passengers, with one seat left empty. Today, the ROD service has a fleet of 31 vans covering six key zones, including one on the mainland. The zones are: Gurney and Tanjung Bungah (six vans), Sunway and Butterworth (six vans), Bandar Baru Air Itam and Paya Terubong (five vans), George Town (six vans), Jelutong (four vans) and Bayan Lepas (four vans). Ku Jamil said he hoped the service would encourage more people to shift to public transport instead of using private vehicles. 'Indirectly, this effort can help reduce traffic congestion and address the issue of limited parking space, especially in the George Town city centre,' he added. Ku Jamil emphasised the company's commitment to expanding the ROD service to areas previously underserved by Rapid Penang buses. 'To support the next phase of expansion, we will gradually introduce 21 additional vans, starting next month,' he said. 'The expansion is part of our ongoing efforts to enhance access to ROD services, particularly in regions with limited Rapid Penang bus coverage.' Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) president Mohideen Abdul Kadeer welcomed the expansion of the ROD service, especially with the addition of several new routes. 'Feeder vans like these are essential for residents in areas without regular bus access. 'We have long advocated for services like ROD to boost public transport usage, reduce reliance on private vehicles, ease traffic congestion and shorten commute times,' he said while emphasising the importance of keeping fares affordable to ensure the service remains accessible. The ROD service operates daily from 6am to 11pm. Rides can only be booked through the Kummute app. Once the app is open, click 'book a ride' then choose which type of service. The van service will appear automatically from the commuter's location. Choose the pick-up point and scroll through the list of drop-off points (usually the pick-up and drop-off points are designated Rapid Penang bus stops or landmarks like hotels, malls and apartments). Once booking is made, the app will show how long it will take the van to arrive. The app will show the van's plate number and driver's name. During the ongoing promotion period, fares are RM1.
Barnama
28-04-2025
- Business
- Barnama
Rapid Bus Expands Connectivity With KTM Komuter, KLIA Transit Services
GENERAL KUALA LUMPUR, April 28 (Bernama) – Rapid Bus Sdn Bhd (Rapid Bus) will launch seven new routes starting April 30, aimed at improving connectivity between its Rapid KL On-Demand services and major rail networks like KTM Komuter and KLIA Transit. In a statement today, it said the new routes are set to benefit commuters and transit passengers, particularly those from Kajang, Bangi and Salak Tinggi. The new routes include connections from KTM Kajang-Jalan Reko; KTM UKM-UKM; Bandar Tasik Kesuma-Bandar Rinching; KTM Bangi-Bandar Bukit Mahkota; MRT 16 Sierra-Taman D'Alpinia; LRT Putra Heights-Rimbayu/Bandar Saujana Putra and Salak Tinggi KLIA Transit-Kota Warisan. Rapid Bus acting chief executive Officer Ku Jamil Zakaria said the move would enhance the commuter experience by offering seamless transitions to their next destinations, improving journey planning and providing more efficient first and last-mile connections. 'It would be an added convenience for commuters using public transportation beyond the existing Rapid KL bus and train services,' he added. Rapid Bus also operates Rapid KL buses as well as the MRT/LRT feeder buses. Since the launch of Rapid KL On-Demand in January 2024, 34 zones have been operational across the Klang Valley, with daily ridership peaking at 7,442 passengers. The service offers guaranteed seating through the Mobi, Trek Rides or Kummute apps (depending on the area), operating from 6.00 am to 11.30 pm, with a promotional fare of RM1. For more details, visit official Rapid KL social media channels or
Malay Mail
28-04-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Rapid Bus boosts links to KTM, KLIA Transit with seven new routes from April 30
KUALA LUMPUR, April 28 — Rapid Bus Sdn Bhd (Rapid Bus) will launch seven new routes starting April 30, aimed at improving connectivity between its Rapid KL On-Demand services and major rail networks like KTM Komuter and KLIA Transit. In a statement today, it said the new routes are set to benefit commuters and transit passengers, particularly those from Kajang, Bangi and Salak Tinggi. The new routes include connections from KTM Kajang-Jalan Reko; KTM UKM-UKM; Bandar Tasik Kesuma-Bandar Rinching; KTM Bangi-Bandar Bukit Mahkota; MRT 16 Sierra-Taman D'Alpinia; LRT Putra Heights-Rimbayu/Bandar Saujana Putra and Salak Tinggi KLIA Transit-Kota Warisan. Rapid Bus acting chief executive Officer Ku Jamil Zakaria said the move would enhance the commuter experience by offering seamless transitions to their next destinations, improving journey planning and providing more efficient first and last-mile connections. 'It would be an added convenience for commuters using public transportation beyond the existing Rapid KL bus and train services,' he added. Rapid Bus also operates Rapid KL buses as well as the MRT/LRT feeder buses. Since the launch of Rapid KL On-Demand in January 2024, 34 zones have been operational across the Klang Valley, with daily ridership peaking at 7,442 passengers. The service offers guaranteed seating through the Mobi, Trek Rides or Kummute apps (depending on the area), operating from 6.00 am to 11.30 pm, with a promotional fare of RM1. For more details, visit official Rapid KL social media channels or — Bernama
Malay Mail
24-04-2025
- Automotive
- Malay Mail
Rapid Penang rolls out on-demand vans in George Town, Jelutong and Bayan Lepas from this Saturday to tackle congestion
GEORGE TOWN, April 24 — Rapid Bus Sdn Bhd has expanded the Rapid Penang On-Demand van services to cover three more areas on Penang island from Saturday onwards. The three new zones will focus on the city centre of George Town and the highly dense urban areas of Jelutong and Bayan Lepas. According to Rapid Bus acting chief executive officer Ku Jamil Zakaria, initially, a total 14 vans will be used for the Rapid Penang On-Demand service for the three new zones. Six will be in George Town, four in Jelutong and four in Bayan Lepas. 'To support the following phases, Rapid Bus will introduce another 21 vans in stages by June,' he said. He said Rapid Bus is committed in expanding access to Rapid Penang On-Demand services in areas with less Rapid Penang bus coverage. 'To improve the operations, we will be combining the Rapid Penang On-Demand services in Paya Terubong and Farlim starting from May,' he said. He said the restructuring of the on-demand services will improve first mile and last mile connectivity for passengers. 'It is hoped that the availability of the services in the new zones will encourage more people to take public transport,' he said. He said this will reduce cars on the road and at the same time resolve parking issues especially around the city centre. The Rapid Penang On-Demand services started with two vans plying the Farlim zone. The service in Farlim recorded an average of 120 passengers per day. The service was expanded to Gurney, Sunway and Paya Terubong with a total 17 vans plying the routes. 'With the earlier expansion, the service was well received with an average of 753 passengers daily,' he said. The Rapid Penang On-Demand operates daily from 6am to 11pm. Passengers will enjoy special promotional rates of RM1. Passengers will need to book the service through the Kummute app and payment can be made through Pas Mutiara My50, Pas OKU Smile, debit or credit card, DuitNow QR or e-wallet. Further details on the service can be found at
