After waiting for so long, finally yesterday, Monday (29/12), free school buses and tourist buses were...launching and introduced to the public by the Mayor of Malang, H. Moch. Anton. There are six school buses and two tour buses. The Mayor of Malang along with the Head of SKPD (Regional Work Unit) boarded the tour bus and toured Malang City.
This school bus, according to the number one person in the Malang City Government, will stop to pick up passengers (students, ed.) at the bus stops that have been prepared and will reach five sub-districts in Malang City. "This school bus will not enter small roads or alleys, and will not harm city transportation (angkot) because it only stops at bus stops," said the man who is familiarly called Abah Anton.
"The school buses and tour buses will be operated for the first time in January 2015. And in the future, students will not be allowed to use motorbikes, especially those who do not have a Class C driving license. The Malang City Government will cooperate with the police to control motorbike riders from among students," continued the PKB politician.
He added that later the Malang City Government will also coordinate with the Education Office to ensure data on students from poor families and the total number of students in Malang City. "Likewise, supporting facilities such as bus stops will be built as soon as possible. In short, everything will be ready in January," explained Abah Anton.
All of these buses, he explained, will standby at Malang City Hall, and for tourist buses when going around Malang City must wait for full passengers. If only one or two people will board, then it cannot be run. "Later there will be one more bus from CSR funds (Corporate Social Responsibility, ed.) Bank Mandiri. But we don't know exactly when, but we can be sure there will be an addition," explained Abah Anton.
Meanwhile, the Head of the Malang City Culture and Tourism Office (Disbudpar), Dra. Sri Wahyuningtyas, M.Si said that the operation of this tour bus will also coordinate with the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) of Malang City. "Thus, hotel guests can utilize this bus. Later they will be taken around to places that contain history and are interesting," he said.
Separately, the Head of the Malang City Education Office, Dra. Zubaidah, MM said that her office will trial this school bus on January 1, 2015. We will see what the response is from students and residents of Malang City. "The route has been prepared and will follow several stops. Hopefully this bus will be more useful," hoped the woman in the hijab. (say/yon)
