To be honest, if LTA and PTOs are not going to support the use
of Bendy buses on feeder routes, atleast please don't deploy 2-door
double decker buses. Don't need 100% bendy for feeders but atleast
1 in 2 or 1 in 3 will be good because these buses use the space
more effectively and they can manage the loading patterns of a
feeder like SDs can, plus reduce driver to passenger ratio. If not,
just use SD and increase frequency which in turn is less cost
effective in some ways because more space, more drivers but more
cost effective cos lesser models to manage. There is always a
tradeoff. 3 door 12.8m DD could be a solution but we have to see if
these 12.8m can negotiate the sharp turns too as feeders Ply
narrower roads.
I will say Bendy bus operations are feasible in Singapore, as
long as they are not deployed in the current fashion. We are no
country with a lot of road space to have so many bendy on the
roads. If even woodlands interchange reserves those Bendys
for 858 and feeders/intra town, the congestion issues will be more
under control. Anyway with close to 150 O405Gs being deregistered
this yr, I believe SMRT will pull the remaining Bendys to serve
feeders. SD and DD shld form the bulk of Singapore fleet with
200-300 bendy at most to plug in gaps with their advantages. And
talking about congestion, have you seen Boon Lay... The congestion
is partially due to heavy alighting at the interchange from 2 door
DD buses. I'm not saying use bendy there but my point is, no bendy
doesn't mean no congestion.
I think those who want to comment, please analyse the situation
first and don't anyhow blindly say just put 2-door double deck.
Ideally it solves the problem cos LTA see both same capacity and
lesser space on the road. The truth is these DDs are doing a "not
bad job" at the expense of people inconvenience and time. Bendys
may congest the interchange for now but once they are out into
those you roads where U have only 1 or 2 service, they are superior
and at MRT stations they layover shorter times. And bear in mind,
with more stations emerging in heartlands, people are going to
travel lesser distances on feeders.. There will be more cases like
912 913 and 302, unless of course the feeder concept is extinct in
Singapore.