Driverless Buses Ply Haw Par Villa & Jurong Island In Pilot Programme Till 30 Apr
Some of us may remember the driverless shuttle buses in Sentosa that got us around the island in air-conditioned cosiness.
Sentosa’s Free Self-Driving Buses Will Bring You Around Tanjong Beach & Siloso Point From 26 Aug
If you’ve enjoyed this exciting convenience, you’d be happy to know that apart from Sentosa, these buses will be operating on the mainland for the first time, in Haw Par Villa and Jurong Island.
Currently plying 2 routes in pilot programme
According to a press release by the Emerging Stronger Taskforce (EST), the autonomous bus services were launched at Singapore Science Park 2 near Haw Par Villa and Jurong Island yesterday (25 Jan).
Image courtesy of MTI
For a small fee of $0.40 and $2 in the respective areas, you can hop onboard for a round trip, reports The Straits Times (ST).
The routes are currently limited, to assess whether the buses are viable for wider use in the future.
Here’s a map of the Science Park 2 route, which runs only on weekdays, from 10am – 5pm, shuttling to and from the nearby Haw Par Villa MRT station:
The Jurong Island route comprising 10 stops also operates on weekdays only, from 11.30am – 2pm:
Having this transportation available during lunch hours will ease workers’ commutes to Oasis @ SAKRA for their meals.
Both the above trial routes will last till 30 Apr.
Driverless buses may be integrated into mainstream public transport
Addressing the media at the official launch of the 2 routes on Monday (25 Jan), Minister for Transport Ong Ye Kung spoke about the practical technology. ST quotes him as saying:
It is a very exciting technology that could possibly be applied to Housing and Development Board towns in the future.
Image courtesy of MTI
According to ST, the autonomous buses, despite self-driving, have a bus captain at the wheel at all times. This is to ensure the safety of passengers onboard.
When the buses enter areas with higher traffic volume, such as the West Coast Highway, drivers will take over the wheel.
Image courtesy of MTI
Book a slot on your phone & hop on
Since the buses operate on demand, keen passengers will have to book rides and pay in advance.
The Science Park 2 route is available for booking via the Zipster app, with a one-way ride costing 20 cents, reports Channel NewsAsia (CNA).
You can book via the SWATRide app for the longer Jurong Island route, with a one-day trip costing $1.
Image courtesy of MTI
With this added convenience, workers in both areas will now have an alternative mode of transport to get around.
Towards a smarter & more efficient future of transportation
Singapore’s public transportation landscape is ever-evolving to meet the needs of a large consumer base.
Hopefully with more innovations like these, we’ll get to enjoy greater convenience and more efficient travel methods.
What are your thoughts on this new service? Let us know in the comments.
Have news you must share? Get in touch with us via email at hello@mustsharenews.com.
Featured images courtesy of the Ministry of Transport and Industry (MTI).
