In Kuala Lumpur, 65,000 per day ride fare-free buses

The GoKL bus allows public transport users and tourists to travel to various places around Kuala Lumpur.
GoKL has an average daily ridership of 65,000 passengers with 40 buses servicing its four lines.
The first two lines, Purple and Green Lines, were came into operations in September 2012, while the Red and Blue Lines were introduced in May 2014.
Loke added that GoKL is popular as it is free and provides convenience for people to move around the city.
“Based on a survey last year, 60 per cent of GoKL users are locals while the remaining 40 per cent are foreign workers and tourists.
“We hope that the service will be continued for free or at a minimal fee,” said the minister.

https://www.malaymail.com/s/1684331/transport-minister-proposes-dbkl-to-take-over-gokl-free-bus-service 

Public transportation in Estonia to be free of charge

The Jakarta Post : "Advocate João Peschanski, a researcher at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, who studies public transportation around the world, was quoted as saying, “It is an especially important idea in poor and more unequal societies, because without mobility assistance, some people will be prevented from having access to resources ― to jobs, culture and leisure opportunities”

Aside from helping poorer people travel around, the free public transit will also be able to reduce traffic and carbon emissions on the road.

“We hope it gives people a reason to use their car less, or not use their car at all on working days,” Alaküla said. “In Tallinn we have taken several measures to reduce car usage along with free public transportation ― special bus lanes, more bike tracks to encourage cycling, and we have also raised on-street parking fees and reduced parking places.” (ely/mut)"

Pakatan Harapan mulls free public transportation for Miri City

thesundaily : "MIRI: Pakatan Harapan (PH) is planning to provide free public transportation for Miri City as part of it strategy to ease the burden of lower income groups following the successful implementation of a similar system in Selangor and Penang."

#Publictransit "not sustainable" ...... wait, what?

Cheap public transport fares popular but 'not sustainable': Khaw Boon Wan - Channel NewsAsia: ""We must be careful that (fares) are not priced too cheaply, as maintaining a high-quality transport system requires resources," he said. "Cheap fares are popular, but they are not sustainable."

The current formula is "inadequate", he said, and the Public Transport Council (PTC) is reviewing it to take into account "total costs"."

Really? The poles are melting. Humans are approaching extinction. But the subsidized automobile system must keep on rolling.



Public transport pays for itself by reducing car costs.

Plan ahead and use public transportation by using this free GoKL bus service

Not sure how to get to downtown KL? Plan ahead and use public transportation by using this free GoKL bus service. pic.twitter.com/2jgM1PyV5r

— thinkcity (@mythinkcity) February 19, 2018

Bangkok air turns deadly

Coconuts Bangkok: "Today, the department reported PM2.5 dust in Bangkok at 8am. It was measured at 47-70 micrograms per m3, higher than the level considered safe for Thailand, which is set at 50 micrograms per m3. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization suggested that the level of PM2.5 dust should be under 25 micrograms per m3."

Malaysian public transport hurt by ‘one man’s’ fixation with national car, says PM Najib

TODAYonline : "KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia’s public transport network languished for decades due to “one man’s” obsession with developing a national car, Prime Minister Najib Razak said on Tuesday (Jan 23) in veiled reference to his predecessor-turned-critic Mahathir Mohamad.

As a result, this obsession left the country with a public transportation system that was disjointed and disintegrated, said Mr Najib.

“One man’s obsession with the idea of a national car — which is now being turned round under international joint ownership — led to Malaysia lacking an efficient public transport system,” he was quoted as saying by national news agency Bernama."

Indonesian governor asks president to let timber firms drain peat in his province

mongabay : "Jokowi introduced the ban in the wake of the devastating 2015 forest and land fires, which burned an area the size of Vermont and sickened half a million people. The country’s vast peat swamp zones have been widely drained and dried for agriculture, rendering them highly flammable and prone to emitting huge amounts of greenhouse gases.

Reports of timber firm PT Mohairson Pawan Khatulistiwa (MPK)’s activities in Sungai Putri, one of the last best coastal peat swamp forests on the island of Borneo, began to emerge last year. In March, the environment ministry visited the area; on Apr. 21, it ordered the company to stop operating and close the canal, which then stretched 8.1 kilometers long."

Fare-free bus and rail program still in force in Bangkok

Bangkok Post: news: "Nevertheless, the free services will be available for commuters until they are reviewed or renewed."

Beauty of Islam

A beautiful recitation of Surah al-Rahman by a partially blind girl in #Indonesia. #Quran pic.twitter.com/HU0V6jQ2iW

— Zahid Akhtar / زاهد (@AHudhayfah) May 6, 2017

Indonesia Transportation Society calls for expansion of #freepublictransport

Republika Online: "REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The public transportation subsidy being offered in several areas to serve the communities free of charge should be emulated by other regions, Indonesian Transportation Society observer Djoko Setidjawarno remarked here on Tuesday."

Shah Alam City Council launches free electric bus service

Free Malaysia Today : "“This environment-friendly free bus service has been introduced as part of the MBSA’s green initiative aimed at reducing carbon emission by 45%, which comes up to 31,914.54 tonnes,” he told reporters after taking a ride on board the electric bus here.
The bus can accommodate 67 passengers and is disabled-friendly, featuring LED panels, closed-circuit television cameras and WiFi.
He said the council was also planning to add more electric buses in the future.
The bus service operates daily from 6am to 10pm."

泰国曼谷跨年期间 捷运公共交通全部免费

e南洋商报: "（曼谷22日讯）曼谷跨年期间，公共交通包括高架捷运BTS、快速公车BRT和渡轮，全提供免费搭乘。"

Kuala Lumpur, new MRT and feeder buses fare-free until Jan 16.

The Rakyat Post: "Planning ahead to avoid potential teething problems when the new Sungai Buloh-Kajang Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) takes on public passengers from 6am tomorrow, all rides will be free till Jan 16.
This is a smart strategy to nip in the bud all complaints from commuters while MRT operator Prasarana Negara Bhd addresses any challenges which may arise due to human behaviour patterns and unforeseeable pitfalls.
During the MRT service launch today, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak the MRT and feeder bus service will be free for one month until Jan 16. “This gives an opportunity to the people to try the new, modern and efficient public transport facility.”"

Road-building is political, while facts are against it

Free Malaysia Today : "If the DAP leaders had taken his concerns seriously and engaged in constructive discussions, I doubt Roger would have taken his ideas publicly. Nothing is more frustrating than having policymakers make decisions based on political expediency rather than data, evidence and scientific analysis and then claiming to do the latter. Chris’s “answers” to Roger’s articles – parroting party line – is a case in point. Recognising and lamenting over traffic congestion is one thing; prescribing failed policies of prioritising building more roads rather than a good public transportation system is like prescribing aspirin to a cancer patient. As Roger pointed out, empirical studies in many countries have shown the futility of the road building frenzy. The new mayor of Houston early this year publicly admitted that investments of over RM10 billion to build and expand the 26-lane Katy freeway did not solve traffic congestion. He said a new paradigm was needed. So why is Penang bent on repeating failure?"

Malaysia urban planner quits his party, challenges govt on road-building plans

Free Malaysia Today : "GEORGE TOWN: There will be no end to Penang’s traffic problems if the state government presses on with its current transport master plan (PTMP), transport scholar Roger Teoh said.
Teoh said the “building more roads approach” taken by the PTMP would be useless in the long run, as many studies, he claimed, had shown how bad it could be.
Teoh told FMT Penang officials were using weak arguments to counter his concerns, which were backed with numbers."

‘Penang people demand quick solutions to transport woes’

Free Malaysia Today : "GEORGE TOWN: The state government must take concrete action when the public demands immediate solutions to Penang’s traffic congestion, a DAP grassroots leader said today.
Penang island city councillor Chris Lee Chun Kit said the state government could not tell the people to wait for improvements to public transport infrastructure when Penang was already choked with traffic, especially during long weekends and school holidays.
“They don’t want to wait for public transport infrastructure improvements that may not even come,” he told FMT."

Reduced #publictransit fare for seniors in Singapore

The Straits Times: "Seniors will soon get to enjoy more perks with a new free card - which offers concession fares on public transport and discounts on items such as groceries and plane tickets.

The PAssion Silver Concession Card was launched yesterday to make it easier for seniors to stay active and be engaged in the community. It will be free for every Singaporean aged 60 and above. The new card merges the Senior Citizen Concession and PAssion cards."

Helicopter money -- big mistake -- make more buses #farefree instead

Thailand Is Giving Cash To Low-Income Families To Help Fix Their Economy: "In a bid to combat this and kickstart the weakening economy, the government has approved plans to give low-income families a one-time payout."

Capitalism is a trickle-up economy. That is why austerity makes things worse. But pushing money to the bottom is equally risky as it could lead to devaluation/inflation. Here is a chance to change the culture and reduce the wasteful private auto. Thailand already has many fare-free buses. This plan should be expanded instead of handing out money which might be spent on cars.

False promise of #ParisAgreement against the reality of demand for more cars

The Star Online : "Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia all rank in the top 10 countries globally in terms of intention to acquire a car within the next two years. Around four in five Indonesian and Thai consumers (81% and 79% respectively) intend to buy a car within the next two years, as do three-quarters of Filipinos (76%) and seven out of 10 Malaysians (71%), compared to just 65% globally.

“Historically automotive demand in South-East Asia has been relatively low, and for many households owning a car has been financially out of reach,” said Chang Park, Managing Director of Nielsen’s Automotive Industry Group in South-East Asia, North Asia and Pacific.

“We have seen those tables turn in a big way in recent years, however, largely due to rising income levels across the region as more and more households join the middle class and attain the financial means to make their first car purchase.”

Intention to upgrade among car owners here is also high, particularly in Indonesia (the highest globally), and the Philippines (seventh highest)."