A survey conducted by SBS Transit indicates that buses spend up to 9 per cent of the time travelling time trying to get in and out of existing bus bays

A bus driver The Straits Times spoke to, said: "Cars and taxis always block my way when I am entering or leaving - they never follow the 'Give way to exiting buses' sign displayed on the back of the bus."

As such, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) will be testing out a new scheme where buses will stop at "bay-less" bus stops along one of Singapore's busiest roads, Jalan Eunos, later this year.

Up to 60 bus services that ply this main artery will be stopping by the side of the road at these "linear bus stops", instead of pulling into dedicated bus bays.

With this new arrangement, bus drivers will no longer need to weave in and out of traffic when entering or leaving bus bays.

Announcing the trial yesterday, LTA chief Yam Ah Mee, said: 'Today, average bus speeds during peak hours are around 17km per hour. We expect the new bus stops to increase average bus speeds by about 30 per cent, to about 25km per hour.'

And if the year-long trial along Jalan Eunos proves to be a success, bus bays around the island could be removed altogether.

But in the zero-sum game of traffic management, somebody ultimately has to give way, and in this case, more drivers might find themselves stuck behind buses while commuters board and alight.

In the Jalan Eunos trial, motorists could perhaps find some relief, as authorities will be widening the road on both sides with an additional lane each. The road widening exercise will be completed in 2009.

There will be no changes to the existing bus-lane scheme, which will also see five additional full-day bus-lanes implemented around the city come April. Full-day bus lanes are out-of-bounds to all motorists from 7.30am to 8pm on all days, except Sundays.

Also launched yesterday was the "Move to the rear" campaign, where onboard announcement systems installed aboard fifty-six buses will remind commuters to move to the back of the bus to allow others to board the bus.

The onboard announcement system will be installed on three bus services, 15, 27, and 36.