DSAT to adjust public buses to meet Elderly Residence demands

M51 bus stop

The Transport Bureau (DSAT) has announced that it will soon adjust the public bus routes to meet the needs of senior citizens moving into the new government Elderly Resident facility at Areia Preta.

In response to an inquiry from the Times, the DSAT noted it “attaches great importance to the public transport needs in the area surrounding the Elderly Residence, [and is] continuing to monitor travel demand in the area and maintaining close contact with the relevant services.”

Recognizing the growing transportation demand in this area due to more residents and visitors, the DSAT noted that it has “begun to evaluate existing bus routes.”

“Following the occupancy rate of the Elderly Residence and the opening schedule of the surrounding road network, priority will be given to optimizing the public transport network through phased adjustments. Updates will be announced in due course,” the bureau remarked.

Meanwhile, the DSAT mentioned that residents and visitors to the new government building can use the bus stops near the Elderly Residence, specifically, “Av. Nordeste/Edf. Poly Tex, Av. 1.º de Maio/Kwong Wa, Av. Nordeste/Kwong Wa, Av. 1.º de Maio, and the Oriental Pearl Terminal, for travel between the area and other parts of Macau.”

In the original inquiry from the Times, authorities were asked about the plan to adjust bus routes or bus frequency in this area due to increasing demand, as well as the need expressed by residents and their families for a dedicated bus stop closer to the building, considering that most of the people living at the facility have limited mobility and/or require assistance for basic travel needs.

Distance and convenience

According to an inspection and investigation made by the Times on site, there are a total of five bus stops in the surrounding area of the Elderly Residence.

The closest bus stop is M50 – Av. 1º de Maio/Kwong Wa, located approximately 170 meters from the main entrance of the building.

M50 bus stop

Although this stop is located quite near, it is served mainly by routes that do not operate all day and have a very limited schedule, such as routes 2AS, 3AX, 17S, and 25AX.

Also stopping at M50 are the routes 73, AP1, and the night route N1A.

The most convenient stop serving the residence at the moment is the M51- Av. Nordeste/Kwong Wa.

This is the second closest stop, located 190 meters from the building’s main entrance, but it is served by significantly more bus routes and provides more convenient destinations.

M51 is served by routes 2A, 3A, 10B, 18, 18A, 18B, 34, and 102X.

All routes that stop at M51, except 102X, pass just in front of the Elderly Residence, located on the same street as the building entrance. They stop about 200 meters ahead of it, after crossing Av. 1º de Maio. 

If an extra stop were added in front of the residence, all these routes would serve it.

The third option in terms of distance and convenience would be the M235/1 – Av. Nordeste/Edf. Poly Tex. Closest to the building in line of sight (just across the street), the M235/1 is served by bus routes 30, 34, 51A, 102X, and MT3.

M235/1 bus stop

Although visually very close, this bus stop is not very convenient because there is no direct way to cross the Av. do Nordeste (for now), and ongoing roadworks have also blocked the nearby crossing (the zebra crossing at the building corner). This forces pedestrians to walk to the traffic light at the crossroad with Av. 1º de Maio and then walk back the same distance to reach the stop, making it about 210 meters away from the residence and requiring pedestrians to cross at least three streets.

The other two stops located around the residence present some complications, which are not only related to their location but also due to ongoing roadworks for the construction of the footbridge along Av. do Nordeste. These roadworks have caused several traffic disruptions for both vehicles and pedestrians in the area.

One of the options noted by the DSAT in their response as an alternative was the M2 – Oriental Pearl/Terminal.

This stop is served by bus routes 2A, 7, 18A, and 27. However, it is located 560 or 650 meters from the residence (depending on the chosen walking route), making it the furthest and most difficult to reach, as pedestrians have to cross several streets and sections under construction with temporary pathways.

Located nearer to the residence than the M2 (380 meters), the M219 – Av. 1º de Maio is situated on the side of Areia Preta Urban Park.

Although this bus stop is served by a good number of routes, such as 2A, 2AS, 3A, 10B, 17S, 18, 18A, 18B, 27, 51A, 73, AP1, and N1A, its distance from the residence is almost 400 m, combined with the fact that some of these routes (as in line with M50) only operate in specific schedules such as peak hours of the morning and afternoon.

IAS calls on senior citizens to seek assistance from their relatives

In response to the Times’ inquiry on this matter, the governmental entity responsible for the Elderly Residence, the Social Welfare Bureau (IAS), chose not to address any of the questions.

Instead, the bureau noted that, “Elderly people moving into government-provided Elderly Residence can seek assistance from relatives and friends or hire a moving company to help them with the move, depending on their particular circumstances.”

The IAS also added, “Alternatively, they can seek assistance from social service organizations or facilities to make arrangements for moving in.”

The Times inquired whether the bureaus had any communication prior to the facility’s opening regarding public transportation and daily commuting needs, especially for those with limited mobility, and what options were available for residents and their families to access the building regularly.