Kuching: DAPSY Stampin Chief Lim Kai Bin said the adequacy of bus stops in Kuching should be assessed based on accessibility, coverage, and commuter needs, rather than simply the number of existing stops.
He was responding to Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng’s remarks that Kuching South and Kuching North already have more than 270 bus stops, and that he did not want Kuching to become known for having too many bus stops.
“Public transport planning is about whether people can conveniently reach a bus stop, not whether 270 sounds like a big number,” Lim said in a statement.
He said a practical benchmark was whether residents could reach a bus stop within a reasonable walking distance, commonly around 500 metres.
“Try walking 500 metres from your own home and see whether there is actually a bus stop where you can catch a bus.
“Walking conditions in Kuching must also be considered, given the lack of continuous pedestrian walkways and shelter from the sun and rain,” he said.
Lim said bus stop requirements should also take into account the locations of housing areas, schools, hospitals, commercial centres, and other high-traffic destinations.
He also questioned the condition and facilities available at the existing bus stops.
“Of the more than 270 bus stops, how many have proper shelters, seats, and lighting, and how many are merely signposts by the roadside?” he asked.
Lim said DAP supported making better use of and upgrading existing facilities, while calling on the authorities to publish the locations and conditions of existing bus stops, including the number requiring upgrading.
“For people who drive, one less bus stop may make little difference. For those who depend on buses every day, it could mean a much longer walk to work, school, or essential services,” he said.
Responding to the Mayor’s remark about not wanting Kuching to become known for its bus stops, Lim said good public transport should be regarded as a positive achievement.
“If Kuching becomes known one day for extensive bus coverage, well-connected routes, and convenient public transport, that would be an achievement, not an embarrassment.
“No city should be embarrassed because its people can get around conveniently,” he said.
