ABSTRACT
The study examines the design and implementation of an online bus ticket reservation system. The system solves the problem of inconveniencing passengers who may not be physically present at the bus terminal to buy a bus ticket at a particular time. The system was achieved using the PHP and MYSQL technologies.Traditionally, bus ticket purchase has been over the counter in bus terminals, however, today it has evolved with the rapid expansion of e-commerce. Thus, prior to developing the system, a this research critically assess and study the reason behind the evolution and the current e-ticketing systems. This project also addresses the problems faced by customers and bus operators especially on illegal bus operators, long wait to purchase a bus ticket, unsafe environment and many more. The research studies some issues on implementation and also recommendations on how Online Bus Ticketing System web portal can take place effectively. This research recommends on a star ranking system based on monthly sales, bus operator popularity and law traffic offences. This research also recommends a Decision Support System to deal with the customer’s requirement whereby it provides reliable choices to a customer to make decision. This research includes the development of a prototype Online Bus Ticketing System web portal to support the research objective. This web portal will assist in future development that would support a fully integrated system thatlinks bus operators to customers, bus operators to bus operators, bus operators to other mode of transport providers, bus operator to businesses and bus operators to governmentagencies.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
The government of Malaysia has successfully capitalized its country’s topography to construct a road system, especially the national highway to its public to commute within the Peninsular Malaysia.
The North South highway with a total distance of 847.7 km was officially open on September 8 1994, which stretches from Bukit KayuHitam, Kedah to Johor Bahru (The North South Expressway, 2006). It has made possible for a person to travel from north to south of Peninsular Malaysia within 9 hours compared to longer hours prior to its existence.
Kompleks Perhentian Puduraya is the most significant public transport (bus) terminal in Malaysia (Wikipedia, 2006). Every year, the number of public using its services has been increasing as the government constantly urges commuters to use public transport instead of private vehicles (Ng Cheng Yee, 2006). So much so during the weekend or any given public holidays, the number of commuters’ increases by doubles. The main activity that is taking place in Puduraya Bus Terminal is over the counter bus ticketsales.
Since the highway has encouraged the public to commute easily, the development of public transport system (express bus) has grown rapidly since then. In 1976, there were only 26 bus operators operating in Puduraya, but in year 2003, there are 67 bus operators that are in operation and offering services to almost all destinations throughout the country. On the average, about 1,500 buses go in and out of Puduraya weekly picking and leaving passengers for their various destinations. The number of buses increases on public holidays and school holidays (UDA Holdings, 2006a). To meet the demand of increasing customers during this peak period, illegal bus operators will rise to the occasion to provide illegal bus services. These illegal bus operators are usually school and factory busses operating without permits or express busses with expired permits. There is a need to curb this phenomenon because, if any mishap would occur during the journey, the customers will not be subjected to any insurance coverage (The Star, 2006b). In short, by displaying all legitimate bus operators (either big or small) in the system, the customers will have wider range of choices of legal bus operators therefore reducing or eliminating the illegal ones out.
