Special lanes for 'driver only' cars at Singapore-M alaysia causeway

[Farheen Mukri]

Paul, what an excellent letter. Wish you could also send it to Singapore's
LTA... just to get a variance of opinion... :) I want to add that the
conditions at the Causeway are further marred by the dense humidity coupled
with full blown pollutive exhaust of vehicles that make it very difficult
for cyclists/pedestrians in many ways. Whilst the Nature Society (Singapore)
occasionally plans bike trips into parts of Johor, and time of departure is
usu early morning (w/ends), it almost always is a hassle struggling with the
bike-unfriendly motorists and narrow lanes on the way back. 

They must surely try to introduce bike lanes on the Causeway. About well
over time I reckon. Plus the walking conditions are not terribly safe,
altho' passable, but if the two traffic authorities cld look into resolving
some of these issues, it wd really be most beneficial.

Bests
Farheen 

> ----------
> From: 	SUSTRAN Network Secretariat[SMTP:sustran at po.jaring.my]
> 
> To the Editor
> The Star newspaper
> Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
> 
> 
> Dear Editor
> 
> I refer to the article in The Star, Thursday, March 2, 2000 "Special lanes
> for 'driver only' cars at causeway" which states that the Johor Customs
> and
> Excise Department will open special lanes for "driver only" cars beginning
> April 1 in a move to cut queuing time at the causeway. 
> 
	.................. (text docted) ........................

> SOME ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS
> I do not want to be just negative. So here are some alternative
> suggestions
> for improving the efficiency of the causeway and checkpoints.
> 
> a.  Have special lanes for HIGH-OCCUPANCY CARS (HOVs - cars with 4 or more
> people). This lane should have guaranteed extra staff to be able to clear
> people quickly. It should be much faster to cross in an HOV than in a
> 'driver-only' car. This would give everyone a big incentive to car-pool
> and
> reduce the total number of vehicles. 
> 
> b.  Do everything possible to minimise the delays for bus passengers and
> for
> buses at the checkpoints and on the causeway (there must be some things
> which have not been tried yet).
> 
> c.  Improve conditions for pedestrians and bicyclists crossing the
> causeway.
> A surprising number of people already cross by foot or bicycle but more
> would do so if the conditions were more attractive. This could include
> building shelter from the sun and rain over the walking (and cycling)
> ways.
> It could also include strict enforcement of anti-smoke-belching laws with
> a special focus of enforcement on the causeway approaches. 
> 
> d.  Improve the JB bus and taxi system. The problems with public transport
> in JB discourage people from using public transport to cross the causeway.
> 
> e.  How to pay for the improvements? Here is a money making suggestion.
> How
> about having an "EXPRESS PREMIUM" lane for which motorists must pay an
> extra fee. This lane would  tend to have a shorter queue because of the
> steep fee... but anyone rich enough and/or in a great hurry could choose
> this lane and get through very quickly. The money raised from the Express
> Lane could be used to pay for improvements for buses, walkers, bicylists
> or
> to offer EXTRA incentives for high occupancy vehicles (HOVs). 
> 
> I hope the authorities in JB will consider these alternative suggestions.
> 
> Yours sincerely,
> 
> A. Rahman Paul Barter
> Kuala Lumpur
>