RapidPenang

[rizalhakim]

Syarikat Bas P. Pinang akan beroperasi semula

PULAU PINANG 31 Julai - Syarikat Bas Negeri Pulau Pinang akan beroperasi kembali bagi menampung keperluan perkhidmatan bas yang tidak mencukupi di negeri ini terutama untuk perjalanan antara jabatan kerajaan dengan kawasan taman perumahan.

Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Kerajaan Tempatan, Pengurusan Lalu Lintas dan Alam Sekitar negeri, Chow Kon Yeow berkata, keputusan tersebut juga diambil bagi melahirkan persaingan yang sihat di kalangan pengusaha perkhidmatan awam.

''Kita sedar bahawa perkhidmatan pengangkutan awam di antara jabatan-jabatan kerajaan dan taman-taman perumahan tidak mencukupi.

''Oleh itu, selain menggerakkan semula operasi syarikat bas negeri, kerajaan negeri juga sedang berunding dengan pengusaha bas awam sedia ada untuk menubuhkan konsortium perkhidmatan bas awam bagi menampung keperluan itu.

''Bagaimanapun, kita sedar perkhidmatan pengangkutan awam secara amnya telah bertambah baik sejak Rapid Penang Sdn. Bhd.(RapidPenang) memulakan operasinya pada 1 Ogos tahun lalu di negeri ini," katanya di sini baru-baru ini.

Menurut Kon Yeow, RapidPenang juga dijangka menambah 200 buah bas dalam usaha meningkatkan mutu perkhidmatan pengangkutan awam di Pulau Pinang.

Sebanyak 100 buah bas, katanya, akan diperoleh dalam jangka masa terdekat manakala 100 buah lagi akan diperolehi dalam tempoh 12 bulan.

Dalam pada itu, mengulas mengenai penggunaan sistem gas asli padat (CNG), Kon Yeow berkata, pihaknya telah mengenal pasti tapak untuk membolehkan kemudahan itu disediakan kepada pemandu teksi dan pengangkutan awam.

''Dengan adanya kemudahan ini, pengusaha perkhidmatan awam dapat menjimatkan kos dan dalam masa yang sama dengan menggunakan CNG, sistem teksi bermeter dapat diperkenalkan," katanya.

[rizalhakim]

RapidPenang komited tawar khidmat terbaik
Oleh Norakmah Mat Youb
norakmah@nstp.com.my
Syarikat sasar 120,000 pengguna sehari menjelang 2010, kurangkan tempoh menunggu

HARI ini, RapidPenang Sdn Bhd (RapidPenang) genap setahun beroperasi di Pulau Pinang sejak dilancarkan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi pada 31 Julai 2007. Wartawan Berita Harian, Norakmah Mat Youb menemubual Ketua Pegawai Eksekutifnya, Azhar Ahmad, bagi penjelasan mengenai mutu perkhidmatan syarikat itu dalam menjayakan misi untuk mengubah pola pengangkutan awam di negeri ini.

S: BAGAIMANAKAH prestasi RapidPenang dalam usia setahun beroperasi di negeri ini?



J: Pada peringkat mula, pelbagai komen negatif dikeluarkan dan ada pihak meragui kemampuan RapidPenang untuk mengubah pola pengangkutan awam di negeri ini. Bagaimanapun, hasil kerjasama dan sikap tidak putus asa kami berjaya membuka mata rakyat mengenai keseriusan syarikat memberikan perkhidmatan terbaik kepada pengguna bas di negeri ini. Purata pengguna sebulan meningkat daripada sejuta kepada 1.4 juta orang sekarang.

S: Setakat ini, berapakah jumlah bas yang ada di negeri ini?

J: Kita mempunyai 150 bas, 70 peratus beroperasi di bahagian pulau, selebihnya di Seberang Prai. Bagaimanapun, kerajaan akan membekalkan 200 bas lagi secara berperingkat mulai hujung tahun ini sehingga pertengahan tahun depan.

S: Bagaimana bas tambahan itu akan diagihkan?

J: Kita akan mengagihkannya sama rata. Seratus bas ditempatkan di Seberang Prai manakala bakinya di pulau. Di Seberang Prai, kita akan tambah 14 laluan baru menjadikannya 22 laluan. Di pulau pula, penambahan bas akan mengurangkan tempoh menunggu daripada 25 kepada 10 minit. Hujung tahun ini, kita akan menyediakan pengangkutan ke Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Bayan Lepas (LTABL) dari jeti. Selain itu, hampir semua kawasan pinggir bandar akan turut mendapat kemudahan.

S: Adakah kenaikan harga minyak baru-baru ini menjejaskan operasi syarikat?

J: Ada sikit kesan tetapi kenaikan harga minyak itu juga sekali gus menyaksikan orang ramai beralih menggunakan pengangkutan awam. Ini mengurangkan beban kami.

S: Difahamkan RapidPenang tidak mendapat subsidi minyak. Adakah bercadang untuk menaikkan harga tambang?

J: Sebelum ini, kita tidak mendapat subsidi, tetapi sejak Jun lalu kita sudah diberikan subsidi sebanyak 90 peratus bagi diesel. Ia meringankan bebanan kerana kami menggunakan 500 liter diesel sebulan. Jadi, tiada cadangan menaikkan tambang, sebaliknya kita tawarkan diskaun kepada pelajar dan warga emas selain orang kurang upaya (OKU). Ini adalah tanggungjawab sosial kami kepada masyarakat.

S: Apakah cabaran dihadapi RapidPenang sepanjang tempoh setahun ini?

J: Kami tempuhi pelbagai cabaran, termasuk persaingan tidak sihat daripada operator bas lain yang mengamalkan sistem pajak. Kebanyakan syarikat itu hanya berorientasikan keuntungan dan ia berbeza dengan objektif kami yang mengutamakan pengguna. Kewujudan RapidPenang, syarikat bas lama rasa tergugat dan menggunakan pelbagai taktik kotor termasuk membaling batu pada bas dan mengugut pemandu.

S: Ada cadangan kerajaan negeri menubuhkan syarikat bas sendiri. Adakah ini akan menjejaskan RapidPenang?

J: Kami melihatnya sebagai persaingan sihat untuk kebaikan pengguna pengangkutan awam. Bagaimanapun, pada 70-an dan 80-an, Majlis Perbandaran Pulau Pinang (MPPP) pernah menyediakan kemudahan bas awam tetapi ditutup. Jadi, mengapa kerajaan negeri mahu berbuat demikian, lebih baik menggunakan wang itu memperbaiki kemudahan awam sedia ada.

S: Apakah harapan dan rancangan RapidPenang pada masa depan?

J: Kami teruja dengan kejayaan awal iaitu 40,000 pengguna setiap hari. Dengan tambahan 200 bas lagi, kita sasarkan 120,000 pengguna sehari menjelang 2010, selain mengurangkan tempoh menunggu.

[Skyprince]

Originally Posted by rizalhakim

Syarikat Bas P. Pinang akan beroperasi semula

PULAU PINANG 31 Julai - Syarikat Bas Negeri Pulau Pinang akan beroperasi kembali bagi menampung keperluan perkhidmatan bas yang tidak mencukupi di negeri ini terutama untuk perjalanan antara jabatan kerajaan dengan kawasan taman perumahan.

Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Kerajaan Tempatan, Pengurusan Lalu Lintas dan Alam Sekitar negeri, Chow Kon Yeow berkata, keputusan tersebut juga diambil bagi melahirkan persaingan yang sihat di kalangan pengusaha perkhidmatan awam.

''Kita sedar bahawa perkhidmatan pengangkutan awam di antara jabatan-jabatan kerajaan dan taman-taman perumahan tidak mencukupi.

''Oleh itu, selain menggerakkan semula operasi syarikat bas negeri, kerajaan negeri juga sedang berunding dengan pengusaha bas awam sedia ada untuk menubuhkan konsortium perkhidmatan bas awam bagi menampung keperluan itu.

''Bagaimanapun, kita sedar perkhidmatan pengangkutan awam secara amnya telah bertambah baik sejak Rapid Penang Sdn. Bhd.(RapidPenang) memulakan operasinya pada 1 Ogos tahun lalu di negeri ini," katanya di sini baru-baru ini.

Menurut Kon Yeow, RapidPenang juga dijangka menambah 200 buah bas dalam usaha meningkatkan mutu perkhidmatan pengangkutan awam di Pulau Pinang.

Sebanyak 100 buah bas, katanya, akan diperoleh dalam jangka masa terdekat manakala 100 buah lagi akan diperolehi dalam tempoh 12 bulan.

Dalam pada itu, mengulas mengenai penggunaan sistem gas asli padat (CNG), Kon Yeow berkata, pihaknya telah mengenal pasti tapak untuk membolehkan kemudahan itu disediakan kepada pemandu teksi dan pengangkutan awam.

''Dengan adanya kemudahan ini, pengusaha perkhidmatan awam dapat menjimatkan kos dan dalam masa yang sama dengan menggunakan CNG, sistem teksi bermeter dapat diperkenalkan," katanya.

Puh leeeeeeeeeeeeeeeezzz.... Just let Rapid Penang to take over the whole bus operation in Penang !!

[allurban]

Just got this through email

Rapid Penang Carnival 2008

Date : 30th August 2008
Time : 10.00am onwards
Venue : Gurney Plaza

Dear Commuters,

Greetings!

In conjunction with Rapid Penang’s 1st Anniversary and Merdeka Celebrations 2008, we are pleased to inform you that a Rapid Penang Carnival will be held on 30th August 2008 at the Gurney Plaza Al-Fresco area (in the middle of Chili’s, Dome and Starbucks).

Part of the exciting activities lined-up include the Rapid Penang Coloring Contest, the Rapid Penang Urban Dance Competition, a special appearance by International Superstar Vandal: The Nomadic Addict, and the very first Rapid Penang Treasure Hunt 2008!

We would hereby like to invite you to be a part of the upcoming celebrations. Attached is the necessary Entry Forms and the Rules & Regulations of the various competitions for your further action. Please note that the closing date for registration is the 15th of August 2008; and that registration is on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Rapid Penang Colouring Contest (see attached entry form)

- Open to all Children aged 7 years to 12 years old.
-- RAPID A for children aged 7 to 9 years
-- RAPID B for children aged 10 to 12 years.

- Participants will be required to colour a picture within a given time frame.

Prizes (for each category) :

1st Prize – RM 300 cash
2nd Prize – RM 200 cash
3rd Prize – RM 100 cash

Rapid Penang Urban Dance Contest (see attached entry form)

Categories : Group / Solo

Type Of Dance : Break Dance, Bboy Dance, Shuffling , Latin, Hip-Hop, Modern Dance

Prizes :

1st Prize - RM 1,000 cash
2nd Prize - RM 500 cash
3rd Prize - RM 300 cash

Rapid Penang Treasure Hunt 2008 (see attached entry form + rules & regulations)

Open to Malaysian Citizens aged 18 and above. Participants must register in a group of 4.

Prizes :

1st Prize – RM 2000 cash
2nd Prize – RM 1000 cash
3rd Prize – RM 500 cash

Good luck!

Other Activities

***face painting***henna art***sand art***games***clown appearances***magic shows***snake shows***stilt walkers***unlimited candy floss***unlimited pop corn***and many, many more!** only @ the Rapid Penang Carnival!

I admire RapidPenang for really focusing on interesting ideas and service.
Now...how many people will actually use public transport to get there?

Cheers, m

[nazrey]

Rapid Penang treasure hunt on Aug 30
Thursday August 14, 2008
TheStar

RAPID Penang is calling on the public to participate in the Rapid Penang Treasure Hunt 2008 to be held at Gurney Plaza Al-fresco area on Aug 30.

Rapid Penang Sdn Bhd creative communication assistant manager Yap Lee Ying (pic) said the treasure hunt was being organised in conjunction with Rapid Penang Carnival, which would start at 9.30am and end at 6pm.

“The treasure hunt will be a fun-based event to showcase Rapid Penang as a comfortable, affordable and reliable transport service apart from creating public awareness of our services,” she said.

Yap said participants of the treasure hunt would be divided in teams of four and each team would be given a road book with clues to guide them from one location to another.

“These locations are places of interests where teams will be required to search for answers or complete simple challenges in order to complete the hunt,” she said, adding that there would be a participation fee of RM40 per team. T-shirts will be given.

A total of RM3,500 cash prizes would be given to the win- ners.

Apart from treasure hunt, there is also colouring contest for children aged seven to 12, an urban dance contest and guest artiste appearance.

Yap said the objective of the carnival was to launch Rapid Penang’s global positioning systems (GPS) that had been installed in all buses effective Monday to help commuters anticipate when buses would arrive.

She added that the carnival was also to celebrate Rapid Penang’s first year anniversary, Merdeka as well as to recognise the employees’ contributions.

For details on the carnival, call Melissa at 2381313 ext 216 or Yap at ext 203.

[rizalhakim]

Extended bus services on Aug 30


RAPID Penang will extend its service hours for most of its routes until past midnight on Aug 30 to provide rides home for National Day Eve revellers.

Rapid Penang assistant communication manager Yap Lee Ying said the service hours for the U101, U103, U104, U201, U202, U203, U204, U301, U302, U303, T304, T306, U307, U401, U401E, U601, U602, U701, U702, T703, U704, U705 and U801 routes would be extended until 1.30am on Aug 31.

Service hours for these routes normally end at 10pm or 11pm.

Yap also said the U307 and 401E buses would not be entering Queensbay Mall from today until Sunday in view of the National Day parade, its rehearsals and preparation.

She said the two buses would pass Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah and Jalan Aziz Ibrahim from Kompleks Bukit Jambul before exiting at the Persiaran Bayan Indah roundabout on these days.

For further information, call Rapid Penang’s hotline at 04-2381313.

[rizalhakim]

51st Merdeka: Flag down this 'special' bus



RapidPenang staff pasting the Jalur Gemilang and 51st Merdeka logo on one of the buses in conjunction with the Merdeka celebrations yesterday.


GEORGE TOWN: Even RapidPenang is getting into the Merdeka mood.

Two of the company's buses now have the Jalur Gemilang on both sides, with the faces of the nation's five prime ministers on the rear.

Its creative communications assistant manager Yap Lee Ying said the idea was mooted by the creative communications department to chief executive officer Azhar Ahmad.

"He agreed and the buses now have the Jalur Gemilang," she said at the company's headquarters here yesterday.

Yap said both buses plied the Pengkalan Weld-Balik Pulau route, adding that the vehicles would be used during the RapidPenang carnival tomorrow at Gurney Plaza to ferry treasure hunt participants to the first checkpoint at Pengkalan Weld.

"Both buses will then resume their respective routes."

[nazrey]

What about Rapid Penang services!?

[nazrey]

by venycal

image hosted on flickr

[TWK90]

http://www.rapidpg.com.my/news/NST2908.html

Ah, finally the GPS system installed on Rapid Penang buses, now commuters can call the hotline or through SMS...

Source : http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/N...337190/Article

'Hello, hello, when is my bus coming?'
By : Tan Cheng Yean

GEORGE TOWN: From tomorrow, all commuters need to do is call 04-2381313 to know how long it would take for the next Rapid Penang bus to reach their stop.
Rapid Penang Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Azhar Ahmad said commuters could use the hotline for 18 hours a day beginning from 5am.

Speaking after launching the Penang Intelligent Commuter Information System (ICIS) at Gurney Plaza here yesterday, Azhar said commuters would also be able to download the bus arrival schedule through the short messaging service (SMS).

The ICIS is an innovative automatic vehicle locator system which uses the Global Positioning System (GPS) to keep track of the buses.

"Rapid Penang's fleet of 150 buses is the first in Malaysia to be equipped with the Global Positioning System."
Azhar said 17 million people had used the Rapid Penang bus service since the company began operating on Aug 1 last year.

He said Rapid Penang would take delivery of another 200 new buses over the next 12 months.

The new buses will reduce commuters' waiting time from 25 minutes to 10 minutes, besides expanding services to 14 new routes on the mainland.

A total of 140 new buses will also have disabled-friendly facilities, including a state-of-the-art ticketing system.

Azhar said Rapid Penang had proposed to the state government to take over the maintenance of 300 bus stops on Penang island.

This would improve the quality of the facility for the public and the disabled.

Azhar later flagged off two buses carrying 25 teams of contestants taking part in the Rapid Penang Treasure Hunt.

The teams were from various organisations and companies like Kelab Media Pulau Pinang, Penang Press Club, Intel, Osram, CIMB bank, Penang Island Municipal Council, Celcom, Maybank, Agilent, Holiday Inn, Befrienders and Robert Bosch.

The carnival also had a colouring contest, dance competition and a performance by international superstar Vandal.

[khensthoth]

Isn't that old news? That was started 1 September. I will be trying to get RapidPenang to release all the GPS data. Wish me luck.

[TWK90]

Originally Posted by khensthoth

Isn't that old news? That was started 1 September. I will be trying to get RapidPenang to release all the GPS data. Wish me luck.

Ha, i don't know it was old news, i just knew about the GPS system on Rapid Penang from an advertisement on Rapid KL bus....

Anyway, this video, i found from Youtube, tells how the ICIS system works on Rapid Penang...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKbCNJ0QL7o

[khensthoth]

I am impressed that a Malaysian company is behind the technology that they are using. Anyway, I suggested to RapidPenang long ago that they should implement a system like this. Little did I know they were looking into it.

Ultimately I think they are, and I hope they will be looking into screens on major stops informing the commuters when the buses will arrive, instead of having people to call or sms. It's actually relatively, conceptually easy to implement. Just need a lot of $.

[TWK90]

I wonder whether SMS service is available currently or not, because i cannot find their SMS number...

[khensthoth]

Nah, I don't think it's available. Probably a little harder to implement. A human can understand where you are when you say it. SMS would most likely rely on bots replying back. Unless all the stations have a identifying number or tag, it's quite hard to estimate the time of arrival.

[Skyprince]

Gotta sms/ make phone call to knw arrival time ?

Until they install arrival time screen/ paper timetable in every bus stop, am not gonna be impressed.

[TWK90]

Originally Posted by Skyprince

Gotta sms/ make phone call to knw arrival time ?

Until they install arrival time screen/ paper timetable in every bus stop, am not gonna be impressed.

Install it at major stations enough i guess, if install at every stops, it is likely to be stolen, hehe

[Skyprince]

Screens at major stations and paper timetable at otherz

[TWK90]

Now this is what i like, local council such as MPPP fund the free shuttle bus service inside George Town!

Source : http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story...319&sec=nation

Free shuttle bus service in inner George Town
By WINNIE YEOH

GEORGE TOWN: Rapid Penang is ready to introduce a free shuttle bus service in inner city George Town by the end of the year, its chief executive officer Azhar Ahmad said.

The company is ironing out the final details with the Penang Municipal Council, which will fund the service, he said.

“We started negotiations with the Council in June and we’ll have three or four shuttle buses covering the T10 route currently provided by Rapid Penang.

“The shuttle buses will be stationed at the main terminal in Weld Quay and cover a distance of about 13.5km,” he told reporters after a Public Transportation seminar on Tuesday.

[rizalhakim]

Pengguna RapidPenang dapat bas perantara
Oleh Norakmah Mat Youb
norakmah@bharian.com.my

Khidmat percuma jangka dilancar hujung tahun ini

GEORGETOWN: Kira-kira 10,000 pengguna bas Rapid Penang Sdn Bhd (RapidPenang) di bandar ini bakal menikmati perkhidmatan bas perantara percuma, mulai hujung tahun ini.

Ketua Pegawai Eksekutifnya, Azhar Ahmad, berkata pihaknya sedang menunggu keputusan akhir mengenai pelaksanaan itu daripada Majlis Perbandaran Pulau Pinang (MPPP).



Jika cadangan itu dilaksanakan, kerajaan negeri akan membayar pampasan kepada RapidPenang.

"Jika semuanya berjalan lancar, perkhidmatan percuma yang diberhentikan sejak dua tahun lalu itu akan dilancarkan semula hujung tahun ini," katanya selepas menghadiri Forum Pengangkutan Awam Lestari di sini, kelmarin.

Forum yang dihadiri kira-kira 50 wakil pelbagai badan bukan kerajaan (NGO) itu dianjurkan RapidPenang bagi mencari penyelesaian terbaik pengangkutan awam di Pulau Pinang.

Turut hadir, Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Kerajaan Tempatan, Pengurusan Lalu Lintas dan Alam Sekitar negeri, Chow Kon Yeow.

Azhar berkata, RapidPenang akan menggunakan perkhidmatan tiga bas perantara bagi laluan T10 iaitu membabitkan perjalanan sejauh 13.5 kilometer dengan kekerapan setiap 15 minit.

Laluan bermula di Pangkalan Weld-Gat Lebuh Chulia-Lebuh Pantai-Lebuh Light-Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling-Lebuh Farquhar-Jalan Penang-Kompleks Perangin-Komtar-Jalan Magazine-Jalan Penang-Jalan Burma-Jalan Anson-Jalan Perak-Jalan Utama-Jalan Penang-Jalan Burma-Jalan Transfer-Jalan Hutton-Jalan Penang-Lebuh Farquhar-Lebuh Downing-Pangkalan Weld.

Terdahulu, Azhar berkata, maklumat yang diperoleh dalam forum berkenaan akan digunakan untuk menambah baik pengangkutan awam di negeri ini bagi memastikan pengguna menikmati perkhidmatan terbaik.

"Kita sentiasa sedia untuk mendengar dan menerima kritikan membina demi meningkatkan mutu pengangkutan awam, selain mengalu-alukan setiap cadangan daripada orang ramai," katanya.