5 Public Bus Services A Tutor Should Consider Traveling On

This guide was written with tutors (who scurry all over the island on a daily basis from student to student) in mind-many of them do not own cars and find frequent taxi rides rather unfriendly for the pocket; as such hopping onto the right public bus (not forgetting at the right moment) can reduce travelling time substantially. Here is the shortlist:


1. SMRT Bus Service No. 985

Those wanting to bypass the notoriously long stretches of Bukit Timah Road/Upper Bukit Timah Road to reach Jalan Jurong Kechil will find this service a godsend as it hurries along the PIE instead. Simply board the bus at the bus stop along the PIE opposite Trellis Towers (catch bus no. 139 or 145 from Toa Payoh Bus Interchange to get there). The return journey will similarly allow you to avoid the always busy Dunearn Road.


2. SMRT Bus Service No. 966

Those intending to travel from Bukit Panjang in the west to Marine Parade (in the east) or vice versa will adore this service. It mounts the BKE (subsequently switching to the PIE) soon after plying both Bukit Panjang Road and Pending Road (FYI there is a bus stop right before Pending LRT station where you can board the bus)- reaches Jalan Eunos, Still Road and finally Marine Parade Road before making a turnabout at Amber Road and looping back all the way to the west.


3. SMRT Bus Service No. 969

This service takes you from the east (Tampines) to north (Khatib/Yishun) in slightly more than a heartbeat. Departing from Tampines Bus Interchange, it makes a minimal number of stops at Tampines Concourse, Tampines Ave 9 and Tampines Ave 12 (five altogether in fact) before heading straight for the TPE. Just before Punggol Road, it does one final scheduled pick up, then journeys along the SLE without further interruption. In 30 minutes or less during non peak-hour periods, you can expect to alight directly outside either Khatib or Yishun MRT stations. Thereafter it crawls on to ply stretches of Sembawang and Woodlands - locations which could be accessed far more efficiently by train.

4. SBS Bus Service No. CT18 (Discontinued In 2022)

Those shuttling between Bedok Reservoir Road and Chinatown (in particular Eu Tong Sen Street and New Bridge Road) will not want to miss this darling of a service. Going all fast and furious on the PIE and CTE, you will approach one end from the other in double quick time. Do note though this service terminates in the early evening during weekdays.

5. SBS Bus Service No. 80

Is there a better way to travel to the Upper Serangoon/Hougang/Kovan areas from the east side without having to keep switching trains during your entire journey? Yes; flag down number 80 at bus stops located beside Lavender MRT, next to Bugis+ Shopping Mall or opposite Aljunied MRT. Sit back and recuperate for a bit while it runs along Paya Lebar and Upper Paya Lebar Road to bring you to your destination. Ditto the trip in opposite direction.

Do consider our recommendations when planning for your next trip to a student's residence; if they have benefited you in one way or another, be generous and share this page!