Franz ElizKuching introduced its first electric bus in March 2019 as a testing period to determine how the service can benefit both locals and tourists. The bus covered 26 bus stops. In 2021, the Sarawak government officially launched its first electric bus, making it the first electric bus in Malaysia. As of Feb 2023, there are 2 running buses, covering 54 bus stops. People can ride these buses for free.
I’m not always in Sarawak, so when I found out about the new electric buses, I was happy.
I was so hyped about the service, so I asked my mom to take the bus with me. We took the bus to the 10th mile the first time. After that, we took the bus to town, and then from town to back home. Overall, I’ve had good experiences with Kuching’s electric buses. No complaints!
Download the Kuching Metro App
There are two routes:
- ‣ DUN–Semenggoh
- ‣ Semenggoh–DUN
Passengers can download the Kuching Metro mobile app to track each bus’ location in real time. This has to be one of my favourite local apps. It makes travelling more convenient. With this bus, tourists can visit the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre.
Previously, tourists would take the green bus (Kuching–Serian) to get to the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre. Sometimes, bus drivers would even drop tourists right at the wildlife centre. There’s no need for that now, thanks to the new electric buses.
You could take the green bus if you missed the electrics bus. However, it can be an inconvenience for the locals who are sometimes running late for work. You can opt for the green bus if you must. Stop at the 10th-mile bus stop (the second stop near the roundabout) and walk to the wildlife centre instead. The ticket only costs RM1.
Kuching’s electric buses stop by many of the city’s famous locations, including the Spring Kuching, Vivacity Megamall, Kuching waterfront, GalaCity, and more.
Are Kuching’s Electric Buses for Everyone?
Kuching’s electric buses are absolutely for everyone. However, some people prefer to use other buses as well to save time. While Kuching’s electric buses are heaven-sent, they take a much longer travel time, mainly due to the big loops they make. For that reason, the buses aren’t always full.
Kuching’s Electric Buses Offer Travel-Friendly Facilities
Kuching’s electric buses have travel-friendly facilities, which are good reasons for people to try the buses at least once when in Kuching.
The air-conditioned e-buses offer free WiFi, but I have yet to try it. These buses are wheelchair-friendly and offer priority seats. In addition, they also provide space for cyclists to park their foldable bicycles. However, note that each bus can only accommodate up to two foldable bicycles.
There are also 6 CCTVs installed on each bus for the safety of all passengers. It typically takes 6 hours for the bus to be fully charged.
If you haven’t tried Kuching’s electric buses, give them some love. The rides are free, after all.
Happy travels!
