I hate driving. I really hate driving. I really, really hate driving.
Those who know me are fully aware of this fact. The above was part of a longer social media post where, as usual, I was complaining about the horrendous traffic jams in Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur.
I was on my way to Hospital Kuala Lumpur when traffic police closed off a roundabout I needed to take. It added half an hour to my journey, which was already 20 minutes longer than expected due to the usual Friday jam – made worse by the long weekend, as city folks headed back to their kampung (village) for Hari Raya Aidiladha.
Thankfully, I haven’t been driving much since May. I’ve opted to take public transport – trains, buses and even Rapid On-Demand (ROD) vans – to work.
Here’s what I’ve learned in that time.
Show me the money
Right off the bat, my wallet feels heavier. I now pay only RM50 a month for all my travel via the My50 travel pass.
This 30-day unlimited pass is valid for all Rapid KL services in the Klang Valley – Light Rail Transit, Mass Rapid Transit, Monorail, Bus Rapid Transit, Rapid KL buses and ROD.
Previously, I forked out RM150 for a monthly parking pass, between RM100 and RM128 for tolls, and RM350 to RM550 for petrol. Last month, my petrol bill came up to just RM130.01.
That’s a saving of RM650 to RM750. Big win!
Stress-free mornings and evenings
Without the need to drive, commuting to and from work has become a joy. No more watching out for errant drivers or motorcyclists who weave between cars even during slow traffic. No more potholes to avoid!
My car also gets a break – fewer kilometres mean longer intervals between services. After spending over RM5,000 recently on repairs to keep my 13-year-old vehicle roadworthy, this is a welcome relief.
Another bonus: I get to enjoy quick power naps during the ride.
Getting more done
I finally finished reading two books I had been struggling to complete. On a few occasions, I even used the commute to draft articles or jot down key points for work.
My smartwatch also recorded that my daily steps have increased by 1,000 to 2,000 steps.
Convenient
The LRT ride takes between 62 and 75 minutes. I’m not sure why the duration varies, despite the number of stops remaining the same. Perhaps the trains linger longer during rush hour.
The bus journey is a consistent nine minutes in the mornings (give or take a minute), and between 20 and 30 minutes in the evenings, when everyone’s rushing home.
To plan your trip better, use the Moovit app, which tracks buses, trains, and vans with fairly good accuracy.
Why “fairly”? Because on Day One, I waited 34 minutes for a bus. Since then, however, delays have only been by a few minutes.
Food, glorious food
Now, the most important reason to take public transport – food!
If you get off at the right stop, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Not every station has food, though. Several along the Subang Jaya route lack even a convenience store. But the busier stations? Nasi lemak, kuih-muih, Nyonya cakes, doughnuts, sandwiches – the list goes on.
I’m lucky the stops I use in Ampang have many food options. Missed breakfast? No worries – just grab and go.
And now, the not-so-great news:
You spend more time on your journey
While the public transport commute from Subang Jaya to Ampang takes about the same time as driving (and is quicker during heavy rain), waiting for connections or walking between stops can add 30 to 45 minutes.
Sometimes, you may even skip a train because it’s too packed – though this isn’t a big deal, as trains run frequently.
Bus delays can happen too, but these are minor inconveniences compared to the benefits.
Seating not guaranteed
This one ties in with the above. On some days, you simply won’t get a seat. If you’re not in a rush, leave after the 9-to-5 crowd or wait for a relatively empty train. Otherwise, it’s a game of chance.
The Rapid On-Demand app is not user-friendly
My biggest gripe is with the mobile apps – they’re not easy to navigate, especially for first-time users. Worse, there’s more than one app!
In Ampang, we use the Trek app. If you’re in Subang Jaya, you need the Mobi app. They don’t work interchangeably.
I’ve only used the Trek app, and the main issue is that it doesn’t auto-detect your location. If you don’t know which ‘zone’ you’re in, you can’t book a ride.
But once you get the hang of it, it’s smooth sailing.
Thank goodness for public transport.
