Get to know more about the new bus-pooling app launched as an alternative to Beeline

Monthly or daily bus passes will soon be available.

Given the increasing demand for bus-pooling and changing behavioral trends of commuters in Singapore who prefer to access real-time traffic and transportation data, the sharetransport mobile app was launched by transport service provider Commute Solutions early this year. It serves as an upgrade to the existing sharetransport.sg website that has more than 35,000 subscribers. The app allows users to perform the same functions available on the sharetransport.sg website, but from an even more handy and intuitive interface. Users can also use the app to track the live location of their pre-booked bus service, helping them to gain a few more minutes with their loved ones in the morning, or make a dash to the bus stop if they are running late.

Leveraging the power of crowdsourcing and data analytics to run bus services that are in demand for the most popular routes from various origins to destinations island-wide, the sharetransport mobile app integrates inputs and feedback from commuters. It offers a practical, more convenient end-to-end transportation alternative to crowded peak period public buses or trains and the more expensive taxi or private car options.

Beeline, developed by Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA), currently exists as a matching service where it works with partner operators to deliver the routes. sharetransport is an alternative to this, and it goes a step further by seamlessly integrating commuter requests with the end-to-end execution of routes managed in-house. Users then benefit from dealing with one party throughout, and getting increased service quality assurance, instead of liaising with multiple parties for service failures or general customer feedback.

According to MD of Commute Solutions, Pang Kok Leong, the next phase of app development will see further upgrades such as the ability to choose between monthly or daily bus passes, and usage of discount or referral codes.

“We also wanted to eliminate the problem of commuters having to take various feeders or change various modes of transit, before they reach their final destination. This could save up to 7 hours per week for commuters – and this is more than 1 free day per month where our users have ‘earned’ as extra leisure or family time,” said Kok Leong.

Routes for the bus-pooling are catered specially for the professionals, managers, executives (PMEs) and working crowd who live in the heartlands and need to travel to downtown office locations, business parks, and more.

“Most of the PMEs are very busy having to juggle work with family so we really wanted to provide a solution for them to increase personal productivity and look forward to reaching/departing their workplace in the most optimum combination of comfort and speed,” he explained.

Lastly, Kok Leong said that through the sharetransport mobile app, they envisage everyone who use public transport to be able to plan and book their trips in advance. As such, public transport providers can better cater to demand and there will be less wastage of resources. He cited buses carrying half its capacity of passengers going from Point A to Point B as an example. Passengers, he added, also enjoy better comfort as they are guaranteed a seat by pre-booking their trips before boarding so that they do not have to experience overcrowding in buses or missing their buses due to a fully packed bus, especially for express services or long haul services.

Who is Pang Kok Leong?

Kok Leong, the MD of Commute Solutions. is 32 years old and is the one who directed the development of the mobile app with his internal team and vendors comprising IT, marketing and design. Kok Leong has extensive knowledge of the bus transport industry, accumulating experience through work stints in the Land Transport Authority, SMRT and Singapore School Transport Association before setting up Commute Solutions in 2011 to provide one-stop bus service solutions.

According to Kok Leong, while sharetransport is targeted at individuals, they are also working hard to benefit corporates, especially during HR/Compensation and Benefits departments through their ShareExpress service as they strongly believe corporate bus pooling can be a employee welfare benefit or attraction or retention strategy.