政壇：睇社論學英文：路線重組惹混亂 變相加價招民怨？

路線重組惹混亂 變相加價招民怨？

北區第二階段巴士路線重組，由於第一階段路線重組宣傳不足，不少市民「搭錯車」，以致亂象叢生，怨聲四起，九巴吸取了教訓，連日來加強宣傳。然而，一波未平一波又起，隨着部分路線取消及改動，長者未能繼續享有全程兩元乘車優惠，變相加價多達七成。巴士路線重組本已帶來不便，還要乘客多付車資，長者未見其利，先見其害，難怪市民反感。

近年受到港鐵擴展影響，九巴乘客量持續流失，導致七成營運路線處於虧損狀態，其中逾半路線屬不必要及過時。雖然九巴多番建議重組路線，可是一直受制於區議會，始終無法落實。如今好不容易獲北區區議會支持，願意充當巴士路線重組計劃試點，如果九巴部署恰當，宣傳充足，把對市民的影響減至最低，應有助說服其他區議會接受重組計劃。可惜九巴對計劃掉以輕心，出了亂子才急急增派人手補鑊，北區重組計劃開壞先例，未來要擴展至其他地區將會阻力重重。

遺憾的是，首階段重組路線混亂不堪，運輸署袖手旁觀，好像事不關己，連半句要求九巴改善的言論也沒有。現屆政府多番強調民生無小事，難道在他們眼中，交通問題只是小事一樁，不值得關注？不值得改善？

Disorderly Bus Route Restructuring

Brings Public Uproar

North District （Phase II） Bus Route Restructuring is underway.Insufficient promotion of Phase I made people “hop on the wrong bus” and grumble over the messy arrangement. Learning from the mistake, Kowloon Motor Bus Co. （KMB） made notable effort in promoting Phase II in the past few days. As trouble always comes in two’s, however, due to the affected and cancelled bus routes, the elderly were unable to enjoy the $2 fare promotion they are entitled to and ended up paying an extra 70%. The restructuring has in itself caused much inconvenience, what’s even worse is that some passengers are being ripped off. The elderly has fallen victims to the change before there are benefits to be reaped. The resentful anger doesn’t come from nowhere.

Followed by the expansion of MTR in recent years, the number of people choosing KMB has gradually reduced. In addition, 70% of the operating routes are in the red, in which almost half are viewed unnecessary and made out-of-date. KMB has, in numerous occasions, proposed a route restructuring plan. Unfortunately, with some resistance from the District Council, it has never been approved. Not easily has the North District Council given the green light to the plan and agreed to put it into experimental practice in the North. If KMB could get their act together, do sufficient promotion, and keep the public impact to minimal, this should surely win them some nods from other District Councils for the restructuring program. It is a pity that KMB failed to take the program seriously, and only hurried extra staff to where there is a problem. KMB has set a bad impression for the restructuring, making it harder for it to be approved and adopted in other areas in the future.

It is regrettable that Transport Department gave a cold shoulder to the messy scene as if it had nothing to do with them. They remained reticent and did not say a word about expecting improvement from KMB. The government of the current term has constantly reiterated the importance of people’s livelihood. Is this transportation issue so trivial that is worth no attention and needs no improvement?

重要生字

green light 准許

in the red 虧損

get one’s act together 組織起來