Singapore tests on-demand buses to ease congestion, as Asian cities watch

Singapore is launching a six-month trial of an on-demand public bus service, using technology to reduce congestion and costs in what could be a model for gridlocked cities in the region.

Commuters can request pickups and drop-offs at any bus stop within a designated area through a mobile app, the Singapore Land Transport Authority (LTA) said in a statement.

The service can “optimise limited resources while offering more seamless and convenient bus journeys for commuters in areas or during timings with low or unpredictable ridership”, it said.

From Los Angeles to Beijing, cities are struggling to curb traffic congestion that drains resources and productivity, and worsens pollution.

The popularity of ride-hailing services including Uber and Grab have only exacerbated the problem, even as authorities clamp down on cheaper options such as Manila’s jeepneys and motorbike taxis in Kuala Lumpur.

Autonomous vehicles, underground tunnels and flying taxis have all been offered up as possible – if fantastic – solutions.