Latest news with #RapidPenangOn-Demand
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Penang Rapid On-Demand expands van-bus service in seven zones
GEORGE TOWN: Rapid Bus Sdn Bhd (Rapid Bus) will expand its Rapid Penang On-Demand service through a three-month Proof of Concept (POC) phase starting May 31, involving seven zones. Prasarana Malaysia Bhd group chief operating officer (operations) Amir Hamdan said his party identified the seven zones based on local demand, population density and the need to improve connectivity with existing bus route service coverage. He said the first zone, the Alma zone, will be equipped with four vans to connect passengers with existing bus routes such as (No.) 708 (Bukit Mertajam – Junjung), 801 (Penang Sentral – Nibong Tebal) and 802 (Bukit Mertajam – Nibong Tebal). "Next, the BM (Bukit Mertajam) City zone will operate with three vans in the Seberang Perai Tengah (SPT) town centre, which provides a solution for first and last mile access as well as through better interconnection with the existing bus network. "This involves routes 606 (Bukit Mertajam – Kepala Batas), 701 (Bukit Mertajam – Penang Sentral), 702 (Bukit Mertajam – Penang Sentral), 707 (Bukit Mertajam – Taman Pelangi), 708 (Bukit Mertajam – Junjung), 709 (Penang Sentral – Machang Bubuk), 802 (Bukit Mertajam – Nibong Tebal) and CT14 (Bukit Mertajam – Komtar)," he said in a statement today. Amir said the Bayan Baru zone would involve three vans to provide access to existing bus services including routes 301 (Weld Quay – Relau), 302 (Weld Quay – Batu Maung), 303 (Weld Quay – Bukit Gedung), 304 (Gurney Promenade – Bukit Gedung), 306 (Hospital – Penang International Airport), 308 (Sungai Nibong – Gertak Sanggul), 401 (Weld Quay – Teluk Kumbar), 401E (Weld Quay – Balik Pulau) and CT13 (Bayan Baru – Seberang Jaya). In addition, he said two vans for the Bertam zone would connect commuters with routes 601 (Penang Sentral – Kepala Batas), 606 (Bukit Mertajam – Kepala Batas) and 610 (Kepala Batas – Tasek Gelugor) to reduce waiting times for these routes. "The Balik Pulau zone will also have two vans for the first and last mile access with existing bus routes, namely routes 401E (Balik Pulau – Weld Quay), 403 (Balik Pulau – Pulau Betong), 404 (Balik Pulau – Pantai Acheh) and 502 (Genting Town, Balik Pulau – Weld Quay). "The Transkrian or Nibong Tebal zone also involves two vans that will operate specifically in the Transkrian area to connect communities with the Rapid Penang bus service network, while three vans will be for the Batu Kawan zone, which is an industrial, commercial and new residential hub that does not yet have a public transport network around it," he said. Amir said throughout the POC period, Rapid Bus will monitor demand and usage patterns to ensure that the service is relevant to meet needs while implementing improvements based on evaluation results and passenger feedback. As of mid-May, the service had been operating in six zones involving 31 vans with an average daily rate of 1,828 people, thus showing good acceptance among commuters. – Bernama
Barnama
4 days ago
- Business
- Barnama
Penang Rapid On-Demand Expands Van-bus Service in Seven Zones From May 31
GEORGE TOWN, May 27 (Bernama) -- Rapid Bus Sdn Bhd (Rapid Bus) will expand its Rapid Penang On-Demand service through a three-month Proof of Concept (POC) phase starting May 31, involving seven zones. Prasarana Malaysia Berhad group chief operating officer (operations) Amir Hamdan said his party identified the seven zones based on local demand, population density and the need to improve connectivity with existing bus route service coverage. He stated that the first zone, the Alma zone, will be equipped with four vans to connect passengers with existing bus routes such as (No.) 708 (Bukit Mertajam – Junjung), 801 (Penang Sentral – Nibong Tebal) and 802 (Bukit Mertajam – Nibong Tebal). 'Next, the BM (Bukit Mertajam) City zone will operate with three vans in the Seberang Perai Tengah (SPT) town centre, which provides a solution for first and last mile access as well as through better interconnection with the existing bus network. 'This involves routes 606 (Bukit Mertajam – Kepala Batas), 701 (Bukit Mertajam – Penang Sentral), 702 (Bukit Mertajam – Penang Sentral), 707 (Bukit Mertajam – Taman Pelangi), 708 (Bukit Mertajam – Junjung), 709 (Penang Sentral – Machang Bubuk), 802 (Bukit Mertajam – Nibong Tebal) and CT14 (Bukit Mertajam – Komtar),' he said in a statement today. Amir said the Bayan Baru zone would involve three vans to provide access to existing bus services including routes 301 (Weld Quay – Relau), 302 (Weld Quay – Batu Maung), 303 (Weld Quay – Bukit Gedung), 304 (Gurney Promenade – Bukit Gedung), 306 (Hospital – Penang International Airport), 308 (Sungai Nibong – Gertak Sanggul), 401 (Weld Quay – Teluk Kumbar), 401E (Weld Quay – Balik Pulau) and CT13 (Bayan Baru – Seberang Jaya). In addition, he said two vans for the Bertam zone would connect commuters with routes 601 (Penang Sentral – Kepala Batas), 606 (Bukit Mertajam – Kepala Batas) and 610 (Kepala Batas – Tasek Gelugor) to reduce waiting times for these routes. "The Balik Pulau zone will also have two vans for the first and last mile access with existing bus routes, namely routes 401E (Balik Pulau – Weld Quay), 403 (Balik Pulau – Pulau Betong), 404 (Balik Pulau – Pantai Acheh) and 502 (Genting Town, Balik Pulau – Weld Quay). 'The Transkrian or Nibong Tebal zone also involves two vans that will operate specifically in the Transkrian area to connect communities with the Rapid Penang bus service network, while three vans will be for the Batu Kawan zone, which is an industrial, commercial and new residential hub that does not yet have a public transport network around it," he said.
The Star
5 days ago
- Automotive
- The Star
On-demand van service cheap but not speedy
MY ATTEMPT to ride Penang's Rapid On-Demand (ROD) van from Pulau Tikus to Cecil Street Market was a failure. I was initially intrigued by Penang's latest first-mile-last-mile public transport service. I gave it a try because the app showed the van service could pick me up right in front of my apartment and drop me at the market's food court entrance, about 4.7km away. I've longed for the old-school hawker food there but haven't visited in over three years because of the difficulty in finding parking space there. The service operates within zones, with overlap at the edges, meaning I would change vans at the zone boundaries to continue on towards Cecil Street Market. My first stop was to be at Pangkor Road near Gleneagles Hospital, 1.6km away, but this took 30 minutes due to the roundabout route to pick up and drop off passengers. When I arrived at Pangkor Road, it was already time for me to make my way back to work, so I didn't get to complete my journey to Cecil Street. Using the app was a breeze, and the van arrived within six minutes. It was also clean and air-conditioned, along with a friendly driver. At RM1 for one ride, the pricing was tempting. The Rapid Penang On-Demand service serves as a good way to travel within neighbourhoods. — CHAN BOON KAI/The Star But as the saying goes: what's cheap and good isn't fast; what's fast and good isn't cheap. If I had chosen to drive, the journey would have taken me three to five minutes while walking would have taken about 20 minutes. But that short van ride at 10.30am on a Saturday took too long as the driver had to circle to drop off and pick up passengers. During my ride, two passengers were dropped off and four others picked up along the way. When I asked if people used the vans to get to work, the driver said yes, but advised against it. 'If your work requires you to arrive punctually, this service might not get you there on time because we drive around in circles within a small zone to pick up and drop off many passengers,' he explained. The service, however, is great for short trips within neighbourhoods and I did notice a few passengers with bags of groceries getting picked up near Pulau Tikus market to go home. Perhaps I was pushing it by trying to use it for a cross-town food run. Penang island, now the country's second most densely populated place after Kuala Lumpur, is more congested than ever and any new public transport service is welcome here. But my fantasy of paying RM2 to reach a cross-town food haven while skipping the parking hassle was wishful thinking. Save time or save money; it was too much for me to expect to save both.
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.
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
