One thing I absolutely love (well, one of many anyway) about travelling on buses in Japan is that I don't need to bang my head looking for exact change before boarding any bus, unlike using the RapidKL buses here in Kuala Lumpur.
Gotta love that blue machine that can change bills to coins.
Just be careful not to put the notes you want to change in the slot for paying the fare!
Of course, if one plans to ride the bus often, a bus card may be a better deal and less hassle than slotting coins every time you board or alight from a bus.
Of course, if one plans to ride the bus often, a bus card may be a better deal and less hassle than slotting coins every time you board or alight from a bus.
Yep, we sure have a long way to go to catch up with Japan - in more ways than one.
ReplyDeleteJapan is amazing and they try and make everything as easy as possible. We love the public transport system in Japan and it is much better than anything we have at the moment in Australia.
ReplyDeleteJapan Australia
That's a good idea. I also like the idea of paying by card like you do in London, but the problem then is that you can't buy the cards just anywhere. If you pay by coin you pay more, but you can still do that too. The main problem with London buses is that they are too expensive. In fact the same applies throughout most of England, they havent got to grips with making a cheap and comprehensive system
ReplyDelete@HappySurfer,
ReplyDeleteThere are many good that we can emulate from them. And a number of bad that we shouldn't. I for one am not crazy about their loooooooong working hours! @.@
@Japan Australia,
ReplyDeleteYeah, public transport in Japan is a painless way to travel.
I wish the same scenario can happen here in Malaysia. :(
@Jenny,
ReplyDeleteProviding a cheap and efficient public transportation is essential anywhere. It is good that Malaysia's public transport is still relatively cheap but unfortunately they are not reliable. Breakdowns, delays, non-arrival of buses, problematic bus drivers... the problems are numerous.
I'm not sure whether I'm correct but I learnt somewhere that we can buy the bus card direct from the driver. So easy!
Most bus cards were abandoned in Kanto area.
ReplyDeleteAlternatively you can use "Suica" or "Pasmo" which you can also ride trains.
It's very convenient.
Wow! They should introduce that here in Malaysia! I hate to search for loose change!
ReplyDelete@cocomino,
ReplyDeleteNow that you mention about the Suica card - for visitors coming from Narita, there's a great bargain to have the Suica card to use by buying the Suica N'Ex package at only 3,500yen for a one way trip on N'Ex or 5,500yen for a round-trip and a preloaded 1,500yen in the Suica card. It's a good deal. :)
It's a pity thought the bus card is no longer in use. Any reason why?
Looks like Malaysia have a long way to go before making public transport user friendly!
ReplyDeleteNo wonder I prefer to drive! Hehe
ReplyDelete@foong,
ReplyDeleteWe can't even make stations of different mode of public transport - bus, LRT, Monorail & Komuter integrated. Or be on time. Or work properly (non functioning air-cond among others). And there are people wondering why we are shunning our public transport :(
Thought our last Look East policy should have picked up one or two good points.
ReplyDelete@Bananaz,
ReplyDeleteI would have thought so too. At least the thousands of Malaysian grads there would have an effect towards how we do things here or something.
COme to think of it, even KTM send staff for training there. Has it been fruitful? Looks like not really, right? :(
I guess that the company wants to let people use Suica(or Pasmo) card. The company doesn't want to have both bus card and Suica.
ReplyDeleteLuckily we use a farecard for traveling on buses or MRT. I don't like to carry heavy load of coins in my purse. :)
ReplyDeleteThis is the first time I have heard of a bus fare machine which gives change. This saves people lot of time digging into their purses and pockets looking for change.
ReplyDelete@cocomino,
ReplyDeleteIt's easier to just use one system, I think. But it's a pity because then you don't have a free ride after your 10th ride using the bus card with Suica card, right?
@ECL,
ReplyDeleteWe do have Touch N Go and it's quite convenient I suppose...
@AVCr8teur,
ReplyDeleteThere is a separate machine to pay bus fares and changing notes. :)
The machine is great to break money for other use too even if we don't use it to pay our bus fares. And fellow commuters do actually wait patiently for anyone to finish their "transaction" - change notes, count coins to pay etc on the buses.
Yes, right.The discount rate of Suica is lower than bus card.
ReplyDelete:(((
@cocomino,
ReplyDeleteLess savings but more convenient to use the Suica.