The system allows passengers to check real-time location of RapidKL buses for nearly 170 bus routes in the Klang Valley

by HARIZAH KAMEL/ pic by RAZAK GHAZALI

PRASARANA Malaysia Bhd’s subsidiary Rapid Bus Sdn Bhd has introduced a data-sharing project via Google Maps app which allows passengers to plan their journey more efficiently in the Klang Valley and Selangor.

Developed in collaboration with Google LLC, the app uses data provided by Rapid Bus — the operator of RapidKL, Go KL City Bus and Smart Selangor bus services — and Google’s open platform.

The system allows passengers to check the current or real-time location of RapidKL buses for nearly 170 routes in the Klang Valley including Light Rail Transit, Go KL intermediary buses and several Smart Selangor bus service routes.

Prasarana chairman Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman (picture), who attended the launch at South Cheras Rapid Bus Complex in Kuala Lumpur (KL) yesterday, said the company would continue to improve its services to passengers.

“From time to time, we will develop innovative and creative systems that are up to date and efficient,” he said.

Tajuddin said passengers who have had to spend hours on Rapid buses can save time using the Google Maps real-time bus data.

“They can now manage the time that they have saved on other important matters at home before travelling,” he added.

According to Rapid Bus, the initiative will be expanded to Mass Rapid Transit intermediary buses, Rapid Penang in Penang and Rapid Kuantan in Pahang.

In addition to bus travel, sharing data through Google Maps also offers other travel options such as bus and rail service combinations, providing bus stop information and estimated travel time.

Rapid Bus CEO Muhammad Yazurin Sallij said RapidKL currently receives a lot of inquiries about bus locations from passengers.

“Up to 4,865 inquiries from January to April 2020. In general, more than 60% of inquiries from passengers are on bus positions or frequencies from passengers who are waiting,” he said.

“With the new initiative, passengers no longer need to refer to a call centre, but can find out the exact location of our Rapid buses before planning their journey.

“As a user, you can now just go on Google Maps and get the real-time information of the buses yourself,” he said.

When asked if RapidKL is planning to start its own mobile app, Muhammad Yazurin said they are already developing it and is scheduled to launch sometime in the third quarter. Previously, passengers were only able to obtain bus schedules through travel plans or journey planners on the Prasarana website, but could not keep track of the actual bus position.

“Prasarana’s journey planner has been around since 2016 on our website. During the Movement Control Order (MCO), we received 450,000 hits for web journey planner alone. Before MCO, it was two million hits,” he added.