RAPID Bus Sdn Bhd, the operator of Rapid Penang bus services, is currently promoting its services at Gurney Plaza (Ground Floor, New Wing), Penang, from today until Sunday (April 27), between 10am and 10pm.
Visitors can learn more about the expansion of the Rapid Penang On-Demand service, which was launched on March 15, featuring the addition of three new routes and two additional vans for an existing route.
According to Ku Jamil Zakaria, acting chief executive officer of Rapid Bus Sdn Bhd, the company plans to gradually deploy a total of 50 vans throughout this year in Penang due to the encouraging response from the public.
In a media statement, he said the Rapid Penang On-Demand service operates daily from 6am to 11pm and can be booked through the Kummute application. Passengers can continue to enjoy a promotional fare of RM1 per trip, with cashless payment options available through:
- Pas Mutiara My50
- OKU Smile Pass
- Debit/credit card
- DuitNow QR
- e-Wallet
Cashless payment was implemented on March 13 this year for the existing route (T210B – Farlim and Air Itam), and subsequently on March 15 for the three new routes.
The three new routes introduced are:
- T110B – Gurney and Tanjung Bungah (6 vans)
- T710B – Sunway and Butterworth (6 vans)
- T211B – Paya Terubong (1 van)
The existing route, T210B (Farlim and Air Itam), launched on August 1, 2024, will also be enhanced with two additional vans, bringing the total to four vans.
“This improvement is aimed at meeting high passenger demand and reducing waiting times from 17 minutes to 10 minutes.
“Since the launch of this route, the average daily ridership has reached 137 passengers, exceeding the initial target of 100 daily passengers. Cumulatively, the route has served more than 26,000 passengers over the past seven months,” the statement added.
The smaller vans enable access to areas where larger buses have difficulty navigating narrow roads.
One of the early birds to the promotional counter at Gurney Plaza was retiree Mil Tan, who recently celebrated his 60th birthday.
He signed up for the My50 Mutiara Pass, paying only RM10 – RM5 for the card processing fee and RM5 for the ‘purse value.’ Each user, entitled to unlimited rides for 30 days, can renew the pass free of charge at any Rapid Penang kiosk after it expires.
“This initiative is very beneficial for local users. I may not be a frequent rider, but I enjoy taking the bus around the island, just to relax and observe daily life.
“I had been waiting to turn 60, thinking that was a requirement, but I found out today that anyone with a blue IC (identity card) can apply for the pass,” Tan shared.
The Mutiara Pass initiative has been a resounding success since it was introduced by the Penang government in March 2021, with 100,000 passes (worth RM3 million) allocated that year.
The programme has been extended to this year, with state Infrastructure, Transport and Digital Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari recently announcing a RM7 million allocation for 280,000 passes.
Additionally, he said the state will continue to operate 15 free CAT Bridge buses in 2025. Ten of these will serve the CAT 13 route from Seberang Jaya to Bayan Lepas, while five will operate on the CAT 14 route from Bukit Mertajam to Komtar.
These free services aim to encourage more residents to use public transport and to help ease traffic congestion.
Rapid Bus also offers rapidMobility, an initiative to assist Penang residents with special needs by providing convenient and affordable travel options.
Passengers in wheelchairs can easily board the specially fitted vans, which are equipped with hydraulic lifts for safe boarding and disembarking.
The fare for the rapidMobility service in Penang has been set at RM7 per trip for two passengers (one passenger with special needs and one companion) since July 15, 2024.
For more information about the services offered by Rapid Bus, please visit Rapid Penang’s official social media platforms or the website at www.myrapid.com.my.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Alissala Thian