There is no denying tyres are an important element of a bus, but how many individuals know and practice proper tyre care? A well-maintained tyre not only helps prolong tyre lifetime but also decreases the risk of a safety hazard. We asked Bridgestone on some tips on tyre care and maintenance.

The Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) is stepping up its enforcement activities in conjunction with the school holiday season, Christmas festivities and the 2018 New Year's celebration.

Accordingly, 24-hour integrated enforcement activities with the cooperation of the police, Road Transport Department, the National Anti-Drug Agency and the Highway Enforcement Authority were carried out from November 23 to 26 while the Christmas and New Year's operations will be implemented from December 22, 2017 until January 2, 2018.

Through the 10-day operation during the Deepavali 2017 season from October 12 to 22, 313 offenses were identified and further action has been taken on the operators involved.

Among the ongoing efforts that have taken place in collaboration with other enforcement agencies to address the issue of drivers and operators in violation of laws or regulations include: enforcement audits on vehicle GPS records, masking operations for high-risk operators, patrolling at high-risk locations and speed traps as well as CCTV monitoring at the Highway Operations Centre.

SPAD chief operating officer Qamar Wan Noor said enforcement officers will also patrol in the city centre, near shopping malls and terminals to monitor and take action on illegal ticketing activities. This also includes inspection of ticket counters and documents at bus terminals.

The Commission had also met with express bus operators to remind them to always prioritise the safety of passengers and road users through the emphasis on compliance with the SPAD Industrial Code of Practice (ICOP) and safety rules at all times.

"The Commission will not hesitate to impose full legal action against neglecting operators. This includes the aspects of safety, drivers and vehicle maintenance. Depending on the severity of the offense, the operator of a bus company may be suspended or terminated. In serious cases, the entire fleet belonging to the company could be suspended pending a security audit and if there is any breach of the terms, legal or administrative action will be taken," Qamar said at a press conference recently.

The public can also play a role by reporting any breach of law or regulation by operators to SPAD via SPAD's 24-hour hotline at 1-800-88-SPAD (7723), via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or via Twitter to @aduanSPAD. Express bus passengers can also download the MeterOn app for iOS and Android smartphones that lets them check the status of express bus companies or report any errors.

In its pursuit of excellence and efforts to champion innovation and technology to match its fleet offering with the latest market trends, MAN Truck & Bus strives continuously to enhance not only the design element but also economic efficiency and safety features of its new line-up. The recently launched MAN Lion’s Coach, which is already available for pre-orders in the Middle East, is a best-in-class coach and long-distance bus, and the embodiment of the company’s endeavour to offer consumers a whole new experience.

It’s beyond doubt that Asia’s automobile industry has been developing at a rapid pace in recent years. From 2009 to 2016, China alone was the world's largest car manufacturer and benefitted greatly from having the biggest sales market. As a result, the country rose to become the world’s top producer and exporter of tyres, with production volume climbing to 947 million units in 2016. Not only that, but the global tyre demand is still rising, with the market projected to reach 2.5 billion units by 2022.

Hong Kong leads the world for sustainable transport, according to the 2017 Sustainable Cities Mobility Index from Arcadis, the leading global Design & Consultancy for natural and built assets. The Index was compiled for Arcadis by the Centre for Economic and Business Research (Cebr) and explores mobility through three pillars of sustainability - social (People), environmental (Planet) and economic (Profit) - to develop an indicative ranking of 100 of the world’s cities.

With its new, purely electric plug-and-drive solution, automotive supplier ZF is driving the development of locally emission-free public transport. The latest evidence comes in the form of ZF's innovative city bus test vehicle. It is propelled by the new CeTrax electric central drive, which is suitable for both low-floor and high-floor applications. The drive was unveiled for the first time in 2016. Now, just one year later, the development team in Friedrichshafen has implemented a CeTrax application on the road. Other ZF solutions for electric buses include the AVE 130 electric portal axle and TraXon Hybrid. The portfolio is on show at the Busworld 2017, the key trade show for city buses and coaches.