Viable Alternative Transportation
Having your own set of wheels is what a lot of youngsters look forward to as a sign of one’s independence. But I’m not a youngster anymore, and having driven my own car for the last 17 yaers (I didn’t get my licence till quite late in life), I’m beginning to welcome not driving. Especially into town.
A couple of times when I had to go into town, I’d parked my car near the Taman Jaya LRT station (the one I call AmCorp Mall LRT). But it cost RM3/- in an open-air car park. Which often meant I would return to a hot car left a few hours in the sun.
A few days back, I had to go into town - lunch with a favourite cousin, followed by meeting with my (one and only) client, both at Suria KLCC. I knew I wouldn’t be driving in, and started thinking of an alternative to the Taman Jaya LRT station.
Now, I live near the IKANO Power Centre which offers a free shuttle service to and fro the Kelana Jaya LRT Station, and is across the road from the Tesco hypermarket where I can park my car indoors and for free, too, if I went in and bought something.
So this was what I decided to do - park at Tesco and take the free shuttle to Kelana Jaya LRT station. But it wasn’t as easy as it sounds. The shuttle service ran on a schedule, so I had to make sure, especially for the return journey, not to miss the bus. If I did, I would’ve had to get a taxi, which I didn’t want to (just call me “cheapskate”). Instead, I went online to check if there was a feeder bus service between Kelana Jaya LRT station and IKANO Power Centre. There is. I took note of the bus number; this would be my back-up plan in case I missed the free shuttle service.
The day of my little “adventure” came. I did as planned, parking my car at Tesco and going to IKEA for breakfast (yes, this was not only a part of the plan, but a “given”).
I’d decided to take the 11:00 a.m. shuttle, so there was plenty of time. At that hour of morning, there weren’t too many people waiting for it. It was an enjoyable ride, I had an elevated view of the surroundings and saw things I would never have seen if I’d been driving and concentrating on the road and the other cars.
It was a 15-minute ride to the LRT station, and maybe another 40 minutes to Suria KLCC. By car, it would’ve probably been more, what with the various traffic lights and traffic jams, too.
For the return journey, I decided I would aim for the 5:30 p.m. shuttle back to IKANO, and to leave Suria KLCC around 4:30 p.m. The timing was good; my client had to leave before then, so we wrapped up our meeting in time. When he heard I’d taken the LRT, he was anxious that I got the train back before the rush hour began. I have a considerate client.
“Maybe another 40 minutes” turned out to be less, as I arrived back at the Kelana Jaya LRT station around 5:00 p.m., in plenty of time for the 5:30 p.m. IKANO shuttle. I didn’t have to use the back-up plan after all.
Back at Tesco, I made a quick trip in and grabbed something off the shelves to qualify for free parking (yes, “cheapskate”).
That evening, I recounted my little adventure to my sister, adding that it would be easy to have a day out in town from now on. She laughed at me.
The IKANO free shuttle bus schedule and route map:
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