Transport Options

Sabah, like the rest of Malaysia, is flush with affordable cars and often it seems as if all of them are on the road at the same time.

Even so, for the tourist and those not yet the proud owner of their own car, there is an abundance of alternative transport options.

Here’s a roundup of what’s on offer for those otherwise transportaly challenged.

Motorbike

Motorbike Rental

Motorbikes in other parts of Asia are popular modes of transportation. Kota Kinabalu, however, seems to not embrace the two wheel transport so readily as cars are cheap and road conditions sometimes treacherous. Up until recently, renting a bike in Kota Kinabalu or Sabah wasn’t an option.

One company is turning that perception on it’s head though as now you can rent a motorbike in Borneo, specifically in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

Renting a motorbike in Kota Kinabalu solves a lot of problems. There’s motorbike parking everywhere, you can slice through traffic and fuel costs are a tiny percentage vs. that of a car.

To get around quickly, cheaply and hassle free, you can’t go wrong with renting a motorbike in Kota Kinabalu.

Motorbike Rental Packages

Motorbike Happy Hour
Package: Rent a Motorbike for 5 hours
Includes: Motorbike, helment
Cost: RM20

Monthly Motorbike Rental
Package: Rent a Motorbike 1 month
Includes: Motorbike, 2 helmets, storage box with road bikes
Cost: From RM600 per month

Weekly Motorbike Rental
Package: Rent a Motorbike 1 week
Includes: Motorbike, 2 helmets, storage box with road bikes
Cost: From RM240 per week

2-or-more Days Motorbike Rental
Package: Rent a Motorbike for 2 or more days
Includes: Motorbike, 2 helmets, storage box with road bikes
Cost: From RM40 per day

1-Day Motorbike Rental
Package: Rent a Motorbike per day
Includes: Motorbike, 2 helmets, 2 Givi rain suits, storage box with road bikes
Cost: From RM45 per day

Accessory Rental
In addition to renting a motorbike, you can also rent accessories to compliment your bike. Givi rain suit, wind breaker, bungee rope and net, arm socks for sun protection, gloves and mobile phones are all for rent.

Motorbike Rental Enquiry

Taxis

Taxis

Taxis in Kota Kinabalu are plentiful, relatively cheap and the drivers are usually knowledgeable.

They can be found hanging about hotels, shopping centres, one or two actual taxi stands dotted around town or really anywhere where you can flag them down safely (and sometimes not so safely too).

Here’s a short list of fast facts you should keep in mind about Sabah’s taxis:

standard taxis are white-on-red, with a few yellow ones around. Look out for the “Teksi Bermeter” sign on the roof;
although teksi bermeter means metered taxi, Sabah’s taxis don’t use meters. Instead fares are based on a zoned distance chart;
because of the previous point, negotiate your fare before you set off;
the exception is from the airport – you buy a coupon for your destination based on the list posted at the taxi kiosk and hand it to the white airport limo at the taxi rank outside;
normal taxis are allowed, by law, to carry no more than 4 adults;
additional surcharges to and from airports and hotels apply;
a 50% surcharge applies to all fares from around midnight to 6am;

The prices below apply to and from the Airport’s Terminal 1 and Terminal 2:

Zone 1 @ RM25

Prince Philip’s Park, Tg. Aru Beach, KK Yacht Club, Tg. Aru Town, Sembulan Town

Zone 2 @ RM30

Kota Kinabalu Town, Winner Hotel, Jesselton Hotel, Sutera Harbour, Api Api Centre, Asia City, Centre Point, Karamunsing, Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal, HSBC Bank, Taman Fortuna, Sabah Muzium, Colonade Condo

Zone 3 @ RM35

Likas Sport Complex, Signal Hill, Putatan Town, Likas Square, Taman Hilltop, Damai Centre, Lintas Ssquare, Foh Sang

Zone 4 @ RM40

Beverly Hill Apartments, Pekan Donggongon, Bukit Padang, Sabah Golf & Country Club, Inanam Town, Yayasan Sabah, Sabah Medical Clinic, King Fisher Park, Kolombong

Zone 5 @ RM45

Menggatal, University Malaysia

Zone 6 @ RM50

Pekan Kinarut, Kinarut Beach Resort

Zone 7 @ RM55

Telipok, Putera Jaya, Bukit Setia

Zone 8 @ RM60

Sepanggar Bay, ILP, Telipok Jaya

City Bus

Kota Kinabalu’s City Bus is an exciting development for Kota Kinabalu as it’s new, it’s functional and it’s cheap.

For a mere RM0.50, you can hop on any of the 4 routes and get to anywhere in the central business district between the Wawasan bus terminal and Jessleton Point, Sabah Trade Centre or the Bejaya Palace Hotel.

With 15 buses on the route, the target time is a bus every 5 minutes. However, if you know Kota Kinabalu traffic you’ll realise that isn’t always possible, and practically the buses appear between 5 and 20 minutes.

For the price, however, and considering the air-conditioning of the brand new buses, the Kota Kinabalu City Bus just can’t be beat.

View Kota Kinabalu City Bus Routes in a larger map

4 Responses to “Transport Options”

ony
July 13th, 2010 at 12:59 pm

can you explain briefly to me how should i get (negotiate, pricing & all) from airport to 1borneo (courtyard hotel)?
Eow
July 13th, 2010 at 1:36 pm

@ony:
There’s no need for you to negotiate, simply go to the Taxi Coupon counter, buy a ticket and head out to the taxi rank to hand over your ticket and be on your way.

If you’re arriving at Terminal 1, the above is your only option.

If you’re arriving at Terminal 2, you can take your chances and walk out of the terminal towards the main road (about 500m) and flag a taxi from there – for your efforts you can possibly get a taxi fare that is about 1/2 the price compared to the airport “limousine”.

I’m not sure if Courtyard has a transfer service, but you should contact them directly to find out.
Hai-Toh Lim
July 14th, 2010 at 5:17 am

how much does it cost to take a taxi from KK airport to Kinabalu Park? Is there a problem getting one in the late afternoon or early evening? We are a party of 6, is there a mini-van taxi (how much is the one-way fare?) or we have to take 2 taxis?
Eow
July 14th, 2010 at 12:27 pm

@Hai-Toh Lim:
It will be very expensive to take a taxi from the airport, especially in the later afternoon as the drive is about 2 hours or more depending on the traffic, and then yes, you’ll need 2 because it’s up to 4 people per taxi.

You have two options:

- pre-arrange a minibus transfer with a tour company (should be about something like RM120 per person) to pick you up from the airport, or

- overnight at a backpackers or cheap accommodation in KK, then the next morning early take a public minibus taxi from behind the municipality / library building for RM15 per person one way.