I was slightly amused to read the recent call for road pricing in Kuala Lumpur. The examples of London, and the ERP in Singapore, are examples of effective anti- congestion planning. However, Singapore and London also have effective public transport systems in place that make it easy for all commuters to get to and around the city centres.

Clearly, an effective public transport system is necessary before anti-congestion charges can be implemented. More work is necessary for Kuala Lumpur to reach this stage.

Despite what the average driver might think, the bus system is very effective solution to congestion. Sure, other traffic has become jammed. but the point is the busways are not congested and therefore, transit service is frequent and reliable.

Busways are a cost-effective, affordable, and fast way of introducing reliable rapid transit to a city. Busways are why cities like Jakarta, Bogata, and Currtaba havea rapid transit system that Kuala Lumpur can only dream about. In fact, the Trans Jakarta Busway system is being expanded from the original three lines to a future seven lines!

At the same time, many will claim that Malaysians will not turn to public transit no matter how convenient it might become. My own experience in Jakarta made it clear as crystal to me that public transit is usually the best way to go. Faced with the choice of paying 3,000 Rupiah for a 20- minute bus trip across the city, or sit in a traffic jam (paying 20,000 rupiah) for 45-minute to one hour to make that same trip, I know which choice I would make.

Spending less money on transportation means that I have more money to enjoy life.

Kuala Lumpur City Hall should seriously consider introducing busways in Kuala Lumpur and the Klang Valley, and reforming the bus system under a single Klang Valley Transport Authority, with all buses using the same fare system and the Touch 'N' Go system. Then, they can look at road pricing.