Free city bus service is the way to GO

On the go: The GO-KL free city buses picking up and dropping off passengers near Suria KLCC.

THE newly-launched GO-KL free city bus service is meant to serve the Kuala Lumpur Central Business District (CBD), as envisioned by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

The latest addition to the integrated bus network in Greater Kuala Lumpur is part of the second phase of the Government Transformation Programme (GTP) under the Improving Urban Public Transport National Key Results Area (NKRA).

The idea of this new bus service is to help improve public mobility into the CBD by improving access to public transportation.

It is also to encourage tourists to enter the Kuala Lumpur city centre conveniently for its shopping attractions and points of interest.

Ultimately, it is hoped that it will reduce the number of cars entering the CBD during peak hours.

Having been in operation since Aug 31 this year, the GO-KL city bus serves two routes, namely the Green Line and the Purple Line.

These two routes have been identified as “high catchment areas” and are designed to connect seamlessly with other modes of transport such as the stage bus services, the Monorail and the LRT.

The Green Line plies the route between KLCC and Bukit Bintang, an area which is known as the “Golden Triangle” of Kuala Lumpur, covering a distance of 7.4km.

It is the city's premier shopping destination for local and foreign tourists alike.

Popular stops along the route include the Suria KLCC shopping mall, Starhill, Pavillion, Concorde Hotel and the Malaysian Tourism Centre (MATIC) located on Jalan Ampang.

Users can easily get off at the Raja Chulan Monorail station and the KLCC LRT station for connectivity to other places.

The Purple Line, meanwhile, serves a distance of 6.5km between Bukit Bintang and the Pasar Seni Hub.

It is a gateway to other modes of transport such as the LRT and stage bus services.

Along the Purple Line route are popular tourists destinations such as Petaling Street, Central Market and the iconic KL Tower.

Both the Purple Line and the Green Line meet at Bukit Bintang, enabling commuters to switch lines seamlessly.

At present, there are a total of 15 buses on the GO-KL service and each can accommodate up to 60 people per bus.

Each bus will provide easy accessibility for the disabled, such as wheelchair ramps.

A free Wi-Fi connection is also provided for the convenience of tech savvy commuters.

The GO-KL service also boasts a frequency of five minutes and dedicated bus lanes have been introduced to help achieve this.

Key to the success of an efficient bus lane system is strict enforcement.

A joint enforcement team comprising the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD), Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM), Road Transport Department (JPJ) and the KL City Hall (DBKL) will conduct checks and issue summons on those who abuse the bus lanes.

CCTVs will also be installed on-board all city buses and enforcement cameras will be placed at strategic locations.

Images of violators will be sent to the police, JPJ and DBKL for further action.