5.38
5.39
5.40
5.41
The dilemma posed by PLBs has been described in Interim Report 8; they are very attractive to the user, providing a guaranteed seat and almost door-to-door service and yet they cause traffic disruption when loading and unloading and manoeuvreing to do so on major roads.
However it has been observed that the restrictions on boarding and alighting in King's Road and other roads are generally observed, and effective in maintaining traffic flow. Therefore there appears to be merit in extending this policy to other major roads where unrestricted stopping of PLBS would impede other road users. The benefits which PLBs provide to the public could also be preserved to some extent if more designated PLB stops were created in areas where the demand is high and where the congregation of both passengers and vehicles would be acceptable. It is recommended that further information be obtained on the service provided by PLBs so that both the route restrictions and the designated stops can be developed further.
It is inevitable however that one outcome of this policy will be a reduction in the demand for PLBs as they become less demand responsive and begin to provide a more express point to point service. Consideration should then be given to means of reducing the size of the PLB fleet operating in the corridor, especially as the improvements in the LRT and bus system begin to materialise.
Franchised maxicab services presently operated between the Peak, Aberdeen, Baguio Villas and Central are seen to result in few of the problems associated with PLBs. It is therefore recommended that the largely fragmented PLB trade be encouraged to form groups to whom exclusive route franchises could be granted. The Transport Department has begun developing potential routes and it is recommended that, in particular, these should concentrate on residential areas which are remote from the corridor, providing feeder routes to the improved transport facilities.
69