The modern electric Love Bus launched this week, giving commuters traveling from Robinson’s Galleria to Arcovia, Bridgetowne, Opus Mall and Eastwood City a free shuttle option. Having experienced firsthand how expensive it is to get to some of these spots using ride-hailing services despite the short distance, I was excited to try the free-ride option myself. Any form of alternative transport that gives commuters an efficient and comfortable ride and reduces the number of private vehicles (and traffic) on the road is a positive development in my book.
For those who find regular PUV routes in the area confusing or commuters carrying heavy bags, this is especially helpful during the rainy season. While taking motorcycle taxis is always an option, it can leave you soaked when sudden downpours hit. The EV is clean, comfortable, air-conditioned, can seat 36 passengers, and is PWD-friendly.
The service will also be of interest to car owners, since the main stops are located near key commercial establishments in Ortigas and C5 with parking lots, making it a viable option for drivers to park in malls and take the shuttle to travel between the two points.
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After hearing about the newly launched service, I immediately tried it for myself on the second day of its operations. While the service is still ironing out the kinks and adjusting interval times, it’s a promising service that commuters should definitely take note of. Based on our initial ride, we do have some notes for the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority to improve the system, especially in terms of visibility.
Love Bus stop location at Robinson's Galleria
I rode from the pick-up point at Robinson’s Galleria in Ortigas, a mall near EDSA Shrine that sits at the corner of EDSA and Ortigas Avenue. To get here from the MRT, I alighted at the Ortigas Station, which seemed the nearest, but is still about an 8-10 minute walk away on not-so-ideal sidewalks.
Currently, there is no visible signage indicating that a Love Bus Stop exists in the area. I had to circle the vicinity of the mall entrance and ask security guards, who pointed me towards the direction of the Antipolo-Ortigas UV Express Terminal and a small parking bay where another shuttle bound for Okada was parked.
The stop is across from BPI, underneath a parking lot and near a restroom with one bench for those waiting. Maybe it’s still in the works, but it would greatly help to have the route map and bus stop logo more prominently displayed here to let people know of the service.
Based on MMDA’s launch details, shuttles are supposed to leave every 15-20 minutes. However, a security guard nearby said trip arrivals have been affected by traffic.
I got here at 12:50 pm, and the previous shuttle had already left at 12:29 pm according to his logbook. I was told that if another shuttle didn’t come in 30 minutes, the next one might be in an hour. I decided to wait a bit, and the next shuttle pulled up at 1:12 pm and promptly departed at 1:15 pm.
The EV is much smaller than the old Love Buses that were popular in the 1970s, but it sports the same iconic blue and white livery and distinct logo, so it’s immediately visible when you see it.
Since the service is new, ridership is still low as they roll out the service. In fact, I was the only passenger during the entire trip.
I had a chat with the driver and an MMDA official on board who was documenting the route regarding the various stops, operational hours, and travel time. They mentioned that traffic had been terrible on C5 in the morning for some reason, which affected the deployment of units.
On the Eastbound route, the first stop is along J. Vargas, right in front of the newly inaugurated MMDA building, which we got to at 1:25 pm. The pick-up and drop-off stops are pretty quick, so passengers need to be ready to hop on and off.
We encountered some traffic on C5 on the way to Arcovia and arrived at 1:40 pm. This is one of the better drop-off stations, with proper signage and a parking bay inside the Arcovia Transport Hub behind the Arco de Emperador landmark. For travelers, this small terminal will be of interest, as you can find sleeper buses bound for Bicol here at night from certain bus lines like Bicol Isarog and ALPS. This bus stop also puts you near dining destinations, recreational spaces, and the grocery store Landers.
The Love Bus exited on Carlo J. Caparas Street to get back to C5 and made a brief stop at J. Vargas at 1:57 pm. While I didn’t see any Love Bus stop sign here, it stopped in front of the Subaru Pasig dealership.
Love Bus stop location at Opus Mall
After passing The Grove by Rockwell and crossing Ortigas Avenue, the Love Bus turned right towards Opus Mall. Before reaching the bridge, Victor Statue, and road to Bridgetowne, it turned right at the West Drive entrance and dropped me off at 2:04 pm, for a total travel time of 49 minutes.
I didn’t ride to the end of the route, but the Love Bus makes a last stop at Eastwood City before turning back on C5.
From Opus, I entered the mall and exited near Rustan’s Marketplace to transfer to the free QCity Bus Route 7 bus bound for City Hall to get back to Quezon City.
Estimated savings
At the time of my departure, ride-hailing services quoted around P280 for one trip from Robinsons Galleria to Opus Mall. Combining the two free bus transport services (and a bit of walking), I probably saved P400 to P600 for a one-way ride from Robinsons Galleria going back to Quezon City.
While the route was more roundabout and involved some waiting time, I think it’s a great option if you’re not in a rush to get to your destination and need to access these areas in C5. It can save commuters a lot of cash and car owners the stress of driving through traffic or finding parking.
MMDA’s launch photos show designated bus stops, which are possibly on the Westbound route, as I didn’t see them on the Eastbound route. I do hope that stops in Robinson’s Galleria and Opus Mall get larger signages with a printout of the route map and info on the intervals and hours of operation so people are made aware of the service.
Love Bus App
According to their social media pages, there’s a Love Bus app where you can track rides, but I think that having better signage would be the best first step for ordinary commuters. At any rate, this is a promising service if they can keep the intervals short and the services well-maintained. If you do have errands in these areas or live or work here, I recommend you try out the new service, while it’s free to ride.
