Are you still queuing for the 170 bus to save a few dollars? You might be losing more than just money. Imagine standing at the Woodlands CIQ for an hour. Your legs are aching and the heat is unbearable. Is that $2.60 saving really worth your sanity? This week, HardwareZone users are sharing the raw truth about JB travel.
Current JB Shopping Fever
The festive season is officially here. Sutera Mall and Aeon Big are now in full blast for CNY. Many aunties are already spotted with huge luggage and bags. They are hunting for the best snacks and decorations. JB remains the top spot for Singaporeans to stretch their dollar.
Food deals are still the main highlight for many. One forum member found a pizza promo that is hard to beat. You can get 3 pizzas for RM60 right now. In Singapore, that amount barely buys you one gourmet pizza. The savings are real if you know where to look.
- Sutera Mall and Aeon Big have started CNY sales
“Sutera mall cny goodies full blast liao. Even Aeon Big also. Today many aunties w luggages & bags.”
- Food prices in JB remain much lower than Singapore
“3 pizza for rm60 shiok rm60 can only get one pizza at bottega”
The community agrees that the vibe is changing. People are willing to travel further for better deals. Whether it is Batam or JB, the search for value never ends. But getting there is becoming a massive hurdle for everyone.
The Real Travel Struggles
The biggest headache right now is the 170x bus route. This bus always goes through Woodlands roads filled with heavy trucks. One small accident or a greedy truck driver can stall everything. Last week, a truck blocked the entire bus lane for over 20 minutes. Passengers grew so frustrated that they alighted and walked to the station.
Queues at the CIQ are also reaching breaking point. Sometimes the line snakes all the way to the upper levels. Stress levels are high and tempers are short. One passenger was recently detained after using vulgarities at a bus usher. The ushers now strictly enforce queue discipline to prevent chaos.
- Heavy traffic and trucks block 170x bus routes
“idiot truck driver used bus/car lane and tried to cut lane… more than 20mins bus din move at all”
- Long CIQ queues lead to passenger conflicts
“The pax used some vulgarities towards the ushers. So he was detained while the ushers called/reported to Immigration/Police Officers.”
On top of travel woes, the HardwareZone community is facing digital hurdles. A new age verification system via SingPass has caused confusion. Many long-time users found themselves unable to view old posts. The system treated everyone as youth by default during a maintenance phase. This technical glitch has left many “chiongsters” feeling like 9-year-olds again.
Smart JB Action Steps
Stop following the crowd blindly. If the 170 queue is too long, cross over to the CW bus. It might cost a bit more in SGD. But saving an hour of your life is priceless. Many users now prefer the CW buses for their higher frequency and shorter queues.
Choosing the right destination also matters. Don’t just head to the most popular malls. The Bukit Indah queue is often the longest and most crowded. Try taking the Perling bus instead. You can alight nearby and take a short Grab ride to your hotel. This simple switch can save you a lot of sweat.
- Prioritize CW buses over 170 for faster travel
“Climb sown the stair at CIQ, see 160/170 Q, will faint, cross opposite to take CW bus… Time vs money, you decide!”
- Use alternative bus routes like Perling to avoid crowds
“CW Perling bus always come first, board and alight near to BI, grab to hotel/airbnb. Don’t have to wait so long.”
Lastly, keep an eye on official apps for bus timings. Even though SG bus apps are acting like JB apps lately, they are still useful. Be patient with the new forum verification tasks. The admins are working to restore access to all threads. Focus on your shopping and stay calm at the checkpoint. A little bit of planning goes a long way in JB.
Read the original discussions on HardwareZone:
