- Joined
- Jan 5, 2010
- Messages
- 2,097
- Points
- 83
Public transportation concession funding is very unfairly obtained in Singapore.
PHV users freeload on road transportation infrastructure so public transportation costs become unaffordable.
Otherwise, why don't more people use PMD or bicycle (on the roads but for excessive congestion by PHV with 9x normal car mileage), why do so many people need to depend on public transportation vouchers and so many PT concession schemes?
To keep public transportation affordable, public transportation concessions and vouchers for poor should be subsidised by RICH private transportation users like PHV, taxi etc users instead of other public transportation commuters.
This is in mind of the fact that actually, PHV (and perhaps taxi service users) are freeloading on the current road taxes system by 9x since PHV mileage is 9x that of average family sedan car (which means 8x COE, road tax, ARF, etc underpaid for each PHV on public streets). [8x higher milage according to: https://www.straitstimes.com/singap...p-petrol-consumption-in-singapore-say-experts ]
Given that the annual value depreciation of a 2nd hand sedan car in Singapore is approx $8000 p.a., each PHV has probably shortchanged the government of at least $64,000 p.a. in taxes collectable based on PHV mileage being 8x higher p.a..
There is also lesser space for cyclist to cycle with the crowded state of roads in Singapore, which adds to the public transportation crowd since bicycles remain a clean and healthy way to reduce costs, reliance and population demands on public transportation.
======================
From: AFFORDABLE FARES,
SUSTAINABLE PUBLIC TRANSPORT
The Fare Review Mechanism Committee Report
2013
FUNDING THE CONCESSION SCHEMES
Funding new concession schemes
The Committee recommends that the Government fund these new concessions as part of the Government’s overarching social policies.
Funding improvements to existing schemes
The Committee recommends maintaining the current principle of cross-subsidisation by commuters paying full adult fares.
This means that fares for adults may have to be higher so that more concessions can be granted for the benefit of other commuters.
Although the recommended enhancements should ideally be implemented at the earliest juncture possible, we should be mindful of the impact to full fare paying adults. Hence the Committee notes that the various concession enhancements might need to be implemented gradually, in tandem with fare review exercises. The PTC may decide which concession, when, and how much concession to implement at each fare review exercise.
The Committee feels that having the Government and commuters sharethe funding of concessions promotes the spirit of partnership. This is supported by the quantitative survey findings gathered by the Committee.
CONCLUSION
The overall goal is to ensure fare affordability. With the proposed improvements – the introduction of new concessions and enhancements to the existing concessions – fare affordability should not deteriorate for the 2nd quintile income group households. Fare affordability for the 2nd decile income group households should improve over time.
Generally, the three broad ways to define concession groups are by age, such as children and senior citizens; by education type, such as those in primary and secondary schools and tertiary institutions; and by special needs groups, such as LIW and PWD.
The Government should consider funding concessions for new commuter groups such as LIW and PWD. For enhancements to existing concessions, the principle of cross-subsidy by full fare paying adults could continue to apply.
http://mot.gov.sg/news/FRMC Report 1 Nov.pdf
Estimate of annual depreciation of car value in Singapore (mainly from COE, ARF amortization etc):
https://www.sgcarmart.com/tools_tips/depreciation.php
PHV users freeload on road transportation infrastructure so public transportation costs become unaffordable.
Otherwise, why don't more people use PMD or bicycle (on the roads but for excessive congestion by PHV with 9x normal car mileage), why do so many people need to depend on public transportation vouchers and so many PT concession schemes?
To keep public transportation affordable, public transportation concessions and vouchers for poor should be subsidised by RICH private transportation users like PHV, taxi etc users instead of other public transportation commuters.
This is in mind of the fact that actually, PHV (and perhaps taxi service users) are freeloading on the current road taxes system by 9x since PHV mileage is 9x that of average family sedan car (which means 8x COE, road tax, ARF, etc underpaid for each PHV on public streets). [8x higher milage according to: https://www.straitstimes.com/singap...p-petrol-consumption-in-singapore-say-experts ]
Given that the annual value depreciation of a 2nd hand sedan car in Singapore is approx $8000 p.a., each PHV has probably shortchanged the government of at least $64,000 p.a. in taxes collectable based on PHV mileage being 8x higher p.a..
There is also lesser space for cyclist to cycle with the crowded state of roads in Singapore, which adds to the public transportation crowd since bicycles remain a clean and healthy way to reduce costs, reliance and population demands on public transportation.
======================
From: AFFORDABLE FARES,
SUSTAINABLE PUBLIC TRANSPORT
The Fare Review Mechanism Committee Report
2013
FUNDING THE CONCESSION SCHEMES
Funding new concession schemes
The Committee recommends that the Government fund these new concessions as part of the Government’s overarching social policies.
Funding improvements to existing schemes
The Committee recommends maintaining the current principle of cross-subsidisation by commuters paying full adult fares.
This means that fares for adults may have to be higher so that more concessions can be granted for the benefit of other commuters.
Although the recommended enhancements should ideally be implemented at the earliest juncture possible, we should be mindful of the impact to full fare paying adults. Hence the Committee notes that the various concession enhancements might need to be implemented gradually, in tandem with fare review exercises. The PTC may decide which concession, when, and how much concession to implement at each fare review exercise.
The Committee feels that having the Government and commuters sharethe funding of concessions promotes the spirit of partnership. This is supported by the quantitative survey findings gathered by the Committee.
CONCLUSION
The overall goal is to ensure fare affordability. With the proposed improvements – the introduction of new concessions and enhancements to the existing concessions – fare affordability should not deteriorate for the 2nd quintile income group households. Fare affordability for the 2nd decile income group households should improve over time.
Generally, the three broad ways to define concession groups are by age, such as children and senior citizens; by education type, such as those in primary and secondary schools and tertiary institutions; and by special needs groups, such as LIW and PWD.
The Government should consider funding concessions for new commuter groups such as LIW and PWD. For enhancements to existing concessions, the principle of cross-subsidy by full fare paying adults could continue to apply.
http://mot.gov.sg/news/FRMC Report 1 Nov.pdf
Estimate of annual depreciation of car value in Singapore (mainly from COE, ARF amortization etc):
https://www.sgcarmart.com/tools_tips/depreciation.php
Last edited:
