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rans Sarbagita, Bali’s recently launched bus service currently serving Nusa Dua and Gianyar, has operated at less than 15 percent capacity since its launch on Aug. 18, according to reports.

“The number of passengers continues to increase, from an average of 140 to 900 a day,” Krisbianto, an official with the Bali Transportation Agency, said recently.

However, rider numbers were still low, at about 12 percent of capacity. The agency wants Trans Sarbagita to operate at 30 percent capacity by year end.

Rider numbers would increase after the agency and the administration of the four regencies served by Trans Sarbagita — Denpasar, Badung, Gianyar and Tabanan — improved connections with feeder transportation systems, such as minivans, he said.

“We will also move several bus stops to locations that are likely to see more passengers,” Krisbianto said.

Trans Sarbagita currently serves one route connecting Batubulan and Nusa Dua, passing through Sanur, Kuta Central Park and the BTDC area in Nusa Dua.

The agency said two routes serving Denpasar and Badung would be launched by December: one between Kuta, Sudirman, Pesanggaran, Udayana University and Garuda Wisnu Kencana and another serving Kuta Central Park and Nusa Dua.

Trans Sarbagita would offer 120 minivans for feeder routes and cover the regencies with 17 routes by 2016, including three routes serving Ngurah Rai airport, 11 routes serving commuters and three serving tourist sites, according to the agency.

Some passengers said they were happy with the bus and hoped that Bali would continue to improve its mass transportation system.

“Finally, Bali has comfortable public transportation! It’s a bit too late, though. But better late than never,” Marta, a rider, said.

Marta’s mother, who joined her daughter on the bus for a trip from Batubulan to Nusa Dua, seemed comfortable, thanks to priority seats provided for the elderly, the disabled and mothers with babies.

“I think the management should spread more information to tourists about what destinations they can reach by using this bus. That will be good,” Marta added, citing her experience on Yogyakarta’s Trans Jogja, public bus system.

It took 90 minutes for Marta and her mother to reach Nusa Dua, thanks to smooth traffic.

Luh Putu Ariani, a driver’s assistants was also impressed with the speed of the voyage. “If we got stuck in traffic around Jl Bypass it might have taken two hours or more.”

Another passenger, Temon, said he typically took taxis between Sanur to Kuta. “Now I can save my money because I take the bus.”

He agreed with Marta that Bali lagged behind other provinces in developing public transportation, especially when compared to East Java and Yogyakarta.

“It’s understandable if people choose to use their private vehicles, because Bali has no comfortable public transportation.”

More than 1,000 public minivans currently serve 13 routes in Bali.

Most of the vehicles have been operating for at least 13 years and were in poor condition, according to a 2006 report.

The minivans serve limited routes, covering only 38 percent of the total length of streets in Denpasar.