aJica says the roads have since changed and traffic has increased significantly. "The time is ripe for public buses due to a change of mindset of citizens. [Many] are now concerned about safety and comfort," a spokesman, Masahiko Egami, adds.
It remains to be seen how popular the service will be in a city where the moto-dup is king, with drivers waiting in their droves on street corners and outside markets to whisk passengers to their destination.
The information minister, Khieu Kanharith, recently wrote on Facebook that the previous trial was not successful because "most of the people wanted to be dropped right in front of their home, did not want to walk far and would not take a bus if they have belongings".
But travelling by moto-dup – which tend to carry two or more passengers – has become increasingly dangerous as the city becomes more developed and its streets fill with large luxury cars and SUVs.
However, the drivers who rely on motorbike taxis for a living say public buses do not pose a threat to their livelihood. "The buses [are slow], so people who are in a rush will still take moto-dup," says Socheat, a long-time taxi driver.