Bus 5: 48 Marcus:1

I finally got an apology from SBS over service 5! I sent an SMS to Ask Iris about the bus 5. It told me 13 mins (shorter than normal though). 5 mins later, it sent a second message, telling me it had been delayed, the waiting time was now 12 mins, and apologised about making me wait. That must have been hard on them, having to take responsibility for their tardiness. Now, if they could take one step further and ensure the bus 5 actually arrives on schedule, then they won't have to say sorry any more.

However - on the way back, similar situation. 20 min wait. Note to SBS - a double decker bus arriving every 20 mins is NOT equal to a singe deck bus arriving every 10 mins, ok? Just because you sent a double deck 5 does not appease my frustration at having to wait that long.

Overcrowding

Lugging back my purchases from the Pc fair yesterday, I was at the bus stop outside Bedok MRT. There was a 28 already there as I got off the escalator - it was still there because of the huge queue waiting to get in, when there was obviously little space left. This was a double decker mind you. I joined the end and finally managed to get on - wedged between the drivers seat and the door. There might have been more space upstairs, but there was no way to get through the throng blocking me from the stairs. So me and my two huge bags settled for leaning against the front window. As the bus closed its doors and moved off, I saw the driver giving me an angry stare. At first I thought he was annoyed that I squeezed onto his already crammed bus, but a second later I realised it was because I was blocking the view of his side mirror. Whoops. At the next stop, the lady made a hand signal indicating she wanted to get off. I moved to one side, only to get smacked by the doors as the opened. Ouch. The guy next to me got his backpack stuck behind the door as well. By the time the bus had cleared (about 3 stops later) it was much better, but I did not have time to enjoy the breathing room as it was almost at my own stop already. As the bus turned onto Bedok Reservoir Road, I saw a 59 (single deck ... haha ... losers) with other commuters stuck in the same position as I was (next to the driver and the front door) looking miserable. After that I felt better. At least there were others suffering with me.

Circle Line

Last week I went to try out the new Circle Line, taking a trip from Marymount to Bartley. Here are some observations:

1) Marymount Station was really empty. I wasn't even sure it was open, standing at the entrance next to an HDB block. I mean, the escalator wasn't even running. Until this little girl went and stepped on it and it started working. 

2) In my carriage on the way to Bishan, there were about 5 people. 

3) Bishan was crowded. The transfer to the red line was weird though. How come you have different platforms for different directions?

4) At Serangoon, everyone got off. Except for me and like 2 other people, that's all.

5) Not only is Bartley really empty, it's like in the middle of nowhere. Seriously. 

I would have more comments, if I wasn't overwhelmed by all the loneliness.

Dumb Bus Luck

I always seem to be very unlucky when catching buses. Last week I was going to catch the 5 at the stop across the street from my house. Unfortunately, as I reached the pavement, the light turned red, stopping me from crossing. Anyways, while I was waiting, I looked up from my iPod and found a 5 zooming down the road. I was annoyed, of course. (This is obviously not the first time this has happened with the 5, as anyone who has read my earlier posts will know.) I was even more annoyed 20 minutes later, when I was still at the bus stop. Finally I caught it. Luckily I left my house early.

And at Bedok station the other day, when I was going down the escalators, I saw through the giant window of the station, a 28 pulling into the bus stop. By the time I went down the second escalator, walked through the underground passageway and up another escalator (this is why journeys involving Bedok MRT are so unavoidably tedious), it was long gone. Fortunately for me, the 67 is more reliable, and I was able to hop on that. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, since that was June 5th (woo hoo!), and I had my pink IC in my wallet, I also had like 3 bags of stuff to lug home. Being unable to find a seat on the bus (though I managed to snag a corner one on the train) seriously cramped my back. And I kept hitting people with my bag while staggering down the aisle.

And finally, the weird one last Saturday. I was going to Katong to eat at Astons. So I took a 67 with the intention to change to 32 along New Upper Changi Road. Well, as the bus was at the stop opposite Chai Chee, I looked out the window - to find that the 32 had just pulled out of the bus stop ahead of my bus and was going down the road. The 32 has like an interval of 15 mins or more, so I knew if I didn't catch this one it would mean a horribly long waiting time. And I was thinking, "Oh no, not again." Anyways, the two buses were chasing each other down the road. Another bus stop loomed. The 32 stopped. So did the 67, just as the 32 was pulling out. Dratz. How typical. I was looking at the passengers going out, hoping they would tap their cards faster. As the 67 continued its journey, this time up this hill towards Siglap Road, I saw a traffic light. The 32 passed through. Just when I thought the lights were going to change, the 67 went through as well. Phew. Then came another traffic light. Ditto. Then a miracle happened. There was a bit of congestion on the road in front and the 32 had slowed down. Now, the two buses were only separated by a taxi. At the next bus stop, I was able to quickly jump off the 67, run all the way (hitting my hand on those weird rock posts they always have at bus stops) and signal to the driver of the 32 who had already closed the door. And thankfully, I did it before the 32 separated from the 67 by turning left into Frankel Avenue. Phew. My luck had finally changed for once.