The Association for the Improvement of Mass-Transit (TRANSIT) would like to comment on the letters by Distressed Commuter , Bus Commuter, and Esther, regarding the recent announcement by RapidKL of a change from daily passes to a system of zone-based fares.

TRANSIT is of course disappointed with the change in fare systems because it amounts to a fare increase that the public must pay for - without a corresponding improvement in service quality, reliability and frequency. However we understand that the impetus for the change in fare systems has come from pressure from the Commercial Vehicles Licensing Board and pressure from other operators who were not capable of competing with RapidKL.
It is probably because of this pressure that the RapidPenang bus service did not adopt the daily pass system when service began in 2007.

In such an environment we can only hope that bus operators like RapidKL and RapidPenang will offer as many concession fares as possible, to get more “choice riders”.  RapidKL has introduced new Monthly Travel Cards to encourage commuters to save money.  We at TRANSIT call on the Federal Government to extend tax relief - beginning with this 2009 Assessment Year - to persons or companies that purchase Monthly Travel Cards for public transport.

We have also always been in support of extending the concession fares and monthly concession passes to include college students who show a current college ID.  In 2007, I wrote of the multiple benefits of extending the concession to college and university students. Students would save money and learn to be smart consumers. With more disposable income they would be able to spend their extra income on a variety of activities which would increase the local economy and stimulate jobs.

More young people using public transport would reduce congestion on our roads, which would reduce air pollution and stress.  People who are not caught in congestion would be able to spend more time with their families - an obvious social benefit of good public transportation.  The local colleges and universities would benefit because they would have less need for parking space, which has to be maintained, monitored and kept secure. And of course the operators would benefit from carrying young passengers - who might choose public transport in the future.

I was extremely happy when RapidPenang chose to offer a concession fare to college and university students almost immediately when they started operations.  But for some reason, RapidKL has been resistant.  We ask RapidKL to extend the concession fare and Monthly Concession Pass to college and university students.

A copy of this letter has been forwarded to RapidKL for their information and awareness on this matter.  TRANSIT also encourages current and future college and university students to contact RapidKL directly at suggest@rapidkl.com.my or their helpline: 603-7625 6999 and encourage them to adopt the concession fare for college and university students.

Sincerely

Moaz Yusuf Ahmad
on behalf of TRANSIT