Pricier short-term passes affect flexibility and may deter some users, they say
NEW prices for several Rapid KL travel passes taking effect Thursday are causing dismay among public transport users and advocates.
Critics worry the hikes may deter first-time and infrequent riders, potentially reversing efforts to boost public transport usage.
One of the affected users, Eugene Lai expressed concern over the one-day Rapid Kota pass going from RM6 to RM10.
Lai calculates that he pays an extra 60sen for Rapid Kota’s flexibility, which allows him to make impromptu stops on trips between Petaling Jaya in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur.
A non-stop journey on a normal ticket would cost him RM5.40.
On the price hike, he said, “I would more likely be travelling without the pass and avoid making unplanned stops.”
The price hike is also expected to impact visitors.
Ephrem Riyeng Anak Retan noted that his parents, who are from outside the Klang Valley, relied on Rapid Kota passes to commute during their visits.
“After learning about the upcoming price hike, they don’t feel like using it anymore,” he said.
Parti Sosialis Malaysia member Amir Iskandar said the adjustments could drive away those who might have tried public transport services through short-term passes like Rapid Kota, Rapid Kembara and Rapid Keluarga.
The price changes are set to take effect on Jan 1.
Aside from the one-day Rapid Kota rising to RM10, the three-day pass will rise from RM15 to RM25, while the two-day pass will be discontinued.
This is a whopping 66.6% increase.
Similarly, the Rapid Kembara unlimited daily travel pass for tourists will see significant adjustments.
The one-day pass will increase from RM15 to RM25 and the three-day pass will jump from RM25 to RM55 – a 120% increase.
The two-day pass option for Rapid Kembara will also be discontinued.
The Rapid Keluarga group pass (for groups of four Malaysians) will have a two-fold price increase, rising from RM15 to RM30.
Meanwhile, the Rapid Pelajar pass will only be for Malaysians next year.
However, the My50 pass (RM50 per month for Malaysians) will remain unchanged along with concession cards for seniors (Rapid Emas) and persons with disabilities (Rapid Mesra).
Publication executive Natalie Chan was relieved with the retention of the My50 pass price, saying: “I don’t need to revise my monthly expenditure plan.”
Intern Jonathan Lee, a regular My50 user, viewed the unchanged price as a signal that the Government and RapidKL were prioritising public transport affordability.
New on the cards is Rapid Bulanan, a 30-day pass priced at RM150 which can be purchased by Malaysians and non-citizens alike.
Prasarana Malaysia Bhd, RapidKL’s parent company, in a media statement on Dec 16 stated that the adjustments were in line with the development of the public transport network and the need to ensure more stable and sustainable services in the long term.
