‘Van-on-demand’ in Klang Valley can resolve first, last mile issues

 

It was with great interest and high expectations that I read recently that both the transport ministry and the Selangor government have expressed an intention to offer a new “van-on-demand” service in the Klang Valley.

Both services will reportedly function in a manner similar to existing e-hailing services. The use of vans will allow access into narrow and densely-packed areas which cannot be serviced by big buses.

If properly implemented, the service will close yawning gaps in first and last mile connectivity which have plagued our public transport setup for the longest time.

It is indeed a very good initiative and promises to bring users of the LRT, MRT and KTM Komuter services substantial benefits.

Big buses

Despite the massive costs incurred, the deployment by Prasarana of big buses has failed to properly address the troublesome first and last mile connectivity issues.

The failure has deterred a large segment of the public from using its LRT and MRT services. The Prasarana bus network also does not service KTM Komuter stations.

Over the years, substantial public funds have been invested in these big buses. Despite this, the service is only utilised by only a fraction of LRT and MRT passengers, resulting in them operating well below optimal levels.

Van-on-demand

The van-on-demand service is a massive departure from the “big bus” approach.

Firstly, given its smaller size, vans are much more agile. They are also faster and can serve residential areas in neighbourhoods located near a given station.

Secondly, the service frequency is bound to improve as these vans carry only one-third of the capacity of a big bus.

Fewer passengers also mean less stops to drop off and pick up passengers, making journey times much shorter.

Then there are passenger expectations, which require the service to be cheap, reliable, safe, high in frequency, to reduce waiting times, and provide almost door-to-door services, thereby reducing walking distance for users.

If the above factors are met, then the chances of attracting a greater number of passengers to use the LRT, MRT and KTM Komuter services would be much higher.

The prospect of retaining the van-on-demand service as a permanent feature of our public transport network will also improve tremendously.

Private sector participation

So, kudos to both the federal and Selangor state government for their initiative.

To address a need over the longer term, they may also want to consider how to encourage the private sector to operate the service.

For instance, it could specify the level of service required according to the individual needs at each station and allow potential operators to propose services to meet the needs of a specific catchment area.

For starters, there should not be more than one operator in a small catchment area.

Another viable avenue to explore will be to allow owners of school vans to offer such services.

The fleet is readily available and school van operators will surely be happy to perform these services outside school hours to generate extra income.

At the end of the day, all it takes is a small dose of imagination, some management and proper administration to make public transport work better. - FMT

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.