(Puchong) Resident have recently noticed their bus rides “slimming down.” That’s right! Since May, the Subang Jaya Municipal Council has replaced five Smart Bus routes with small buses. These mini buses can easily navigate narrow lanes and are more cost-effective and efficient! Other local authorities are following suit, switching to mini buses in low-traffic towns or areas with narrow roads, making travel smoother for everyone.
The five routes include:
- USJ7 Station to KTMB Subang Jaya Branch (SJ01)
- Puchong New Town LRT Station to SS18 Station (SJ02)
- Kinrara BK5 Station to Puchong New Town Secondary School (SJ03)
- Serdang Electric Train Station to Serdang Hospital (SJ04)
- Putra Permai to Bukit Serdang Garden (SJ05)
Councilor Lee Yan Yun happily said, “With the old buses, turns were often blocked by roadside vehicles. Now, small buses are more flexible and can meet passenger demand!” She revealed that by August, all routes will fully switch to small electric buses in support of a low-carbon lifestyle, prompting residents to exclaim, “Eco-friendly and convenient!”
Councilor Cheng Wen Jie added that SJ04 and SJ05 are particularly suited for mini buses because the roads in Serdang New Village are narrow and large buses often get stuck. “It’s not about low passenger numbers; the road conditions demand it!” he laughed, noting that contractors also promised improved accessibility for people with disabilities, making travel safer.
Shah Alam’s neighboring council has also switched to mini buses for low-traffic routes, as the small roads are easier to navigate. Selangor Councilor Lee Gan Min sighed that SPG3 and SPG4 routes were still underused despite the switch to small buses, so they were discontinued on March 31 this year. However, a new route from Putra Permai to Puchong is planned to serve the B40 group in new development areas. SPG1 and SPG2 routes still use large buses due to high demand, especially during peak hours for airport staff.
Kajang Councilor Chen Di Yuan said he applied to replace two buses with small buses for low-traffic routes, such as KJ04 from Kajang Station to Wangyi New Town Zone 9. “Empty large buses aren’t cost-effective. Small buses save fuel and are more flexible!” Shah Alam Councilor Xiao Huan Yan noted that some routes already use electric buses. In the city center, passenger numbers are high, while outer routes see fewer passengers, so those routes will remain unchanged until demand increases.
Resident joked, “The old buses were like giant monsters, getting stuck at turns, but now the mini buses zip around and I’m never late for work!” Councilors emphasized that routes passing schools or LRT stations have higher ridership, while small buses are ideal for rural routes. Puchong’s “Mini Bus Revolution” makes commuting more practical, and residents look forward to more green buses on the road, making life more convenient!
Source: Puchong jaya
2025-08-21T16:00:00Z