Buses...Transport on Penang
Ben van Wijnen
"If you are visiting Penang for a short period of time, you do well to get the Rapid Passport. The Rapid Passport is a smartcards that allow you unlimited travel on the Rapid Penang buses for a period of one week. These "Passports" can be purchased at RM30 per passenger at locations:a) All Rapid Penang kiosks
b) Komtar Bus Terminal
c)Weld Quay Bus Terminal
d)Bukit Jambul Bus Hub."
Seats on the bus (Jos Alblas)
Express Buses
When you're coming from Kuala Lumpur by
bus, they will drop you at Sungai Nibong Bus Terminal. It's a new bus
terminal. Have a look <click>. That's near
the bridge on the island of Penang. From there you have to go to the Komtar
bus station in George Town, before you can travel to Batu
Ferringhi, but you can also take a taxi.
In Butterworth is also a bus terminal. It's old and there's a small ticketing office. From there you walk
right into the boat, which brings you to George town. You're arriving atthe Pekalang Weld. Taxi's and local buses are waiting for you to bring youto your destination on Penang. Only the Nice-buses (Plusliner organization)
will bring you on the island of Penang and drop you at the Garden Inn.That's near the university.
The most famous companies are: Transnasional, Plus Liner, Budaya Ekspres,Edaran Express, Executive Coach, but there are more reliable companies.
When you're leaving the island you have to take the ferry back to the mainland. Just outside the terminal is the bus station which brings you to
North (Alor Setar, Kangar), East (Kota Bharu, Kuala Terengganu) or South (Kuala Lumpur, Singapore). Here's an example of the fares and driving hours.
|
Destinations |
Airco Bus |
Hours |
|
Ipoh |
RM9
|
3h
|
|
Tapah |
RM11-16
|
4-6h
|
|
Cameron
Highlands |
RM19
|
5-8h
|
|
Kuala
Lumpur |
RM20.30 |
6h
|
|
Melaka |
RM28.30
|
9-11h
|
|
Johor
Bahru |
RM40.60
|
11h
|
|
Singapore |
RM40.60
|
11-13h
|
|
Kota
Bharu |
RM19.50
|
7,5h
|
|
Mersing |
RM30
|
|
|
Kuala
Terengganu |
RM35
|
|
|
Kuantan |
RM35
|
|
Taxi fare from Penang (island)
to Taiping is RM 110.00 - RM 150.00 per car for one way trip. Why not you take
bus? The bus fare is RM 7.80 from Penang Island (Komtar Bus Station). Bus from
Penang will reach Kamunting Bus Station.
A bus of the
SuperCoach
Express company
- Konsortium Bas Ekspress.
City Buses
Penang is served by many buses which ply various routes between the city
and other destinations within the island. Fares are charged based on the
distance. The main pick-up points are Jeti (Pengkalan Weld/ ferry
terminal) and Komtar
Transit Link (White and Red Buses)
1 -Air Itam; 3-Jelutong; 4-Jalan Yeap Chor Ee - Via jallan Perak;
5-Jalan Masjid Negeri via Dhoby Ghaut; 7-Kebun Bunga (Botanical Garden);
8 Penang Hill (From Air Itam via Town); 1O-Kampung Melayu; 11 -Bukit
Gelugor via Jalan Masjid Negeri; 12-Jelutong/ Air Itam Village; 91 &
92-Jeti to Air Itam.
Sri Negara (Blue and Yellow Buses)
136-Jeti to Pepper Estate; 137-Jeti to Tanjung Tokong
Hin Bus (Dark Blue Buses)
93-Jeti to Batu Ferringhi/Teluk Bahang
Penaing Yellow Bus
66-Jeti to Batik Pulau; 67-Jeti to Gertak Sanggul; 68 & 69- Jeti to Gatu Maung; 77-Jeti to Minden Heights; 78-Jeti to Sungai Ara; 79-Jeti to
Air Itam via Paya Terubong; 83-Jeti to Airport; 84-Jeti to Bayan Baru; 87-Jeti to Mayang Pasir
The Transit Link bus no. 18 and 28 and Hin Bus (Penang to Bukit Mertajam) ply between the island and mainland to Seberang Jaya via Penang Bridge. The no. 28 and Hin route starts from Komtar.
Bus Terminal Komtar
|
Red and white buses
of Transit Link
| Busnumber |
Destination |
What do you visit? |
|
| 1 |
Air Itam |
Kek Lok Si/ |
| 7 |
Botanical Gardens |
Monkeys/
orchids/ |
| 8 |
Air Itam |
Penang Hill
/ Canopy walk/ Cable Car |
| 18 |
Seberang Jaya |
Mainland |
Hin Bus (dark blue
buses)
| Busnumber |
Destination |
What do you visit? |
|
| 93 |
Batu Ferringhi/
Teluk
Bahang |
That's where
your hotel is..... |
Penang Yellow buses
| Busnumber |
Destination |
|
|
| 66 |
Balik Pulau |
in the middle of the
island |
|
| 67 |
Gertak Sanggul |
fishing village |
|
| 83 |
the airport |
|
|
|
City Taxi's
Most city taxis do not use the meter. First agree about the fare, before you get into the taxi. The government
wants, that the drivers use taxi meters, but unfortunately most taxi's don't have a meter. Taxis normally charge between RM3.00 - RM6.00 for short distances within the city.
George Town - Batu Ferringhi will cost you about RM 20,-
Trishaws
A trishaw ride is one of the best ways of seeing Penang. First agree about the price, before you get into the a trishaw.
Besides the novelty of travelling in this open-fronted three-wheeled vehicle, trishaws allow visitors the
opportunity of doing the sights at a more leisurely pace-stopping at any point to snap pictures or buy souvenirs. For extended sightseeing, it is advisable to hire the trishaw by the hour.
Car Rental
If you wish to venture further a field at your own leisure, it might be
a good idea to drive around yourself. Most major international and local car rental companies
offer a good choice of vehicles and packages. So, arm yourself with a valid international driving
license and a reliable road map and set forth for the adventure of your life. Remember that traffic travels on the left side of the road and that the speed limit varies on all roads.
Rent-A-Motorbike/Bicycle
Motorcycles and bicycles also offer inexpensive and fun ways of exploring the island. Stores along the hotel stretch of Batu Ferringhi and in the city offer them for hire.
