By taxi
Travelling by taxi is a fairly cheap alternative, although the drivers sometimes refuse to use the meter so you must be firm with them and insist that they use it. Since January 2010, taxi drivers have been required by law to use their meters and issue a receipt upon request. If the driver has a meter and does not switch it on, remind them to do so. If you get into one of the of taxis allegedly not fitted with a meter, it is best to get out of that taxi immediately to avoid being ripped off or later becoming engaged in arguments about the fare. Drivers will often claim there is no meter fitted to a taxi, but they have just hidden it, often with a rudimentary device such as a piece of cloth or cardboard in front of the faceplate of the meter. Travelers need to be vigilant when dealing with such taxi drivers, especially if the driver blatantly refuses to use his meter and negotiates a fare with you. A local person or someone more familiar with these tricks will not be fooled by this, as the driver is seeking to deceive the unwary with dishonestly and deception. Look for another taxi or insist that the driver use the meter and stop playing games. Taxi drivers will also often attempt to raise their fares after agreeing with the passengers on the amount to be paid during the initial negotiation. They will tend to get belligerent and aggressive and may even threaten passengers when passengers try to reason with them. Ride at your own risk. Some drivers demand extra money as a 'bonus' or for some fictitious 'extra' charge on top of the metered fare. Do not pay more than the amount shown on the meter or for any extra charges other than those detailed below. Do not travel in a taxi when the meter is not used.
Taxi fares were recently revised upwards by a substantial rate, on Aug 1, 2009. The starting fare is now RM3 previously RM2 for the first 2 km and the fare increases by 10 sen for every subsequent 115 m previously 150m. You will only be charged for waiting time in excess of 3 min during the journey - the rate is 10 sen for every 21 seconds previously 45 seconds. Additional charges include: actual road toll charges; RM2 for telephone bookings; a 50% surcharge is levied between midnight and 6AM. The additional RM1 charged on the 3rd adult passenger and RM1 charged for every piece of baggage kept in the trunk were both abolished effective Aug 1, 2009.
There is a taxi rank at Jalan Jim Quee - it is right next to the Johor Bahru CIQ. You can see it below as you cross the overhead bridge from the CIQ to JB Sentral. The taxis operate on a prepaid coupon system - buy your coupon from the booth on the edge of the road. Official fixed rates for prepaid taxi coupons from the CIQ to estimated metered fare in brackets with the taxi taking the shortest route, excluding charges for waiting time and other additional charges mentioned above: AEON Tebrau City Shopping Center RM21.50 RM12, Danga Bay RM14 RM8, Larkin bus station 10.90 RM 6 RM, Senai International Airport RM45. If you do your math starting meter fare - RM3 for the first 2 km and 10 sen for every subsequent 115 m, you will find that it is almost two times more expensive to go to any destination using the prepaid coupons compared to using the meter, excluding charges for waiting time and other additional charges mentioned above.
By bus
You can opt for a bus to move around the city. e.g. to Holiday Plaza or Plaza Pelangi shopping mall. However, sometimes there are no clear indications of the bus stops. Just follow the crowds and wait alongside the locals for the buses. Look at the destination boards on the bus and do not hesitate to ask the bus driver directly. There are major bus stops opposite City Square at Jalan Wong Ah Fook. This is where you can take buses to many parts of the city and its suburbs, and also as far as Kota Tinggi 41 km away and Kulai. Note that since May 1, 2011 all public buses no longer stop in front of JB Sentral at Jalan Tun Abdul Razak. Some buses stop at JB Sentral's bus bays newly opened in May 2011 facing Jalan Jim Quee. The last buses leave City Square or JB Sentral for their respective destinations at about 11 pm or earlier; the last buses returning to City Square or JB Sentral leave their starting points at about 10pm or earlier. Fares for the onward journey and return journey respectively for selected destinations from/to the bus stop opposite City Square at Jalan Wong Ah Fook: Kota Tinggi RM4.80, Kulai RM4.00, AEON Bukit Indah RM2.70, #JUSCO Permas Jaya Shopping Centre RM2.60, AEON Tebrau City RM2.40-2.50, Carrefour RM2.20-2.30, Danga Bay RM1.60-1.70/1.60-1.70, Larkin Bus Terminal RM1.70/1.70, Jalan Kebun Teh/Jalan Tebrau junction RM1.60-1.70/1.60-1.70, #ZON Mall and Department Store RM1.30/1.30, Plaza Pelangi or Taman Sentosa RM1.20-1.30/1.20-1.30, junction of Jalan Abu Bakar/Jalan Sungai Chat within 200m of both the Straits View Hotel and Tepian Tebrau hawker center RM1.00/1.00, Hospital Sultanah Aminah 5 minutes walk from or to Mawar Complex RM1.00/1.00, Johor Bahru Zoo RM1.00/1.00 Note: #The return bus does not return to City Square but terminates at JB Sentral - all passengers must disembark there.
However, if you are coming from Singapore and want to go to Larkin terminal straight away, you can board any of the numerous public buses bound for Larkin waiting downstairs in the Johor Bahru CIQ after clearing customs and immigration. The bus bays are about 50m beyond the tourist office. See 'By bus, From and to Singapore'.
The frequency of the buses is not consistent, especially for the buses that do not leave from the Bus Terminals. There are generally more buses in the morning and there are fewer buses as it gets later into the day. Keep a look out for suspicious persons who wait at the bus stop and pay more attention to the people waiting at the bus stop rather than the buses on the road. Walk into a nearby shop if you feel that something is amiss.