Today, I tried U88 and U89 this afternoon, began my trip from Ikano to KL Sentral with U88. Basically, U88 had similar route with Metrobus 99 and SJ 99. Except that, U88 pass through University Malaya, Kerinchi, Bangsar then KL sentral directly go to PASARAMAKOTA. However, this U88 must go to Kota Raya before reach to the PASARAMAKOTA the bus hub. And this U88 pass through many LRT station:Asia Jaya, University, Kerinchi, Bangsar, KL Sentral, and Pasar Seni (also the last station of this bus). This U88 link between Damansara, North PJ and KL city.
From KL Sentral, I then took LRT reached to Kelana Jaya station, and then took U89 go back to Ikano. U89 pass through Damansara Utama Uptown, and One Utama, and it is unnecessary to get down from the bus at One Utama although One Utama is the bus hub. For U89, is the only the LRT feeder-bus for Trunk Line (Utama) system.
Overall, I am very happy to see the RapidKL making this change bring a lot convenience. Especially, for people who want to go to One Utama, Ikano, The curve, ,Cineleisure has a lot of choices. If you want to go to One Utama, not only to take U82 or U43 from Kelana Jaya station, you can also take U89 go to One Utama, and U89 may better than U43 because it schedules about 10-15 minutes per bus where U43 schedules approximately 20 minutes. U88 also another option for this destinations.
And for Kota Damansara people, can also take U89 stop at Kelana Jaya Station then take T623 to Subang, Sunway Pyramid . Not like previously, people need to make a lot of change of the bus go to Subang area.
However, the RapidKL should do more improvement for their services. They need to input more number of the bus to carry more passenger. Still, Metrobus has a best profit
enough than RapidKL because Metrobus not only schedule in 5 minutes and also they cut down the bas fare. RapidKL not necessary cut down their bas fare, because RM2.00 for Utama daily ticket consider cheaper already. The only thing they need to do is to input more buses, shortest the frequency of the bus will attract more passenger.
And I hope they should decorate for the bus stop, because the outlook of the bus stop is very simple and ugly, without any bus information. This is more nice look bus stop from google image:
http://www.versalux.com.au/images/bus-stop--web_001.jpg
But I understand RapidKL afraid people will demage the bus stop, like break the glass.
Secondly, As I mentioned RapidKL bus should has audio message system to determine the bus stop name and where is the bus going before, for example, " Next stop, Bandar Utama" or in Malay " Bus perhentian berikutnya, Bandar Utama". And until last station " Thank you for traveling with Rapid KL". I know the new RapidKL bus has this audio message system, but the bus driver don't know how to utilize it. Hence, RapidKL should train the bus driver to utilize this audio message system.