Taxis in Singapore: Pray, is paying the only way?

[MarrickG]

IMPOSING a surcharge may be an easy way out for taxi companies, say experts.

And there may be better solutions to the problem of long queues of taxis waiting for passengers at one location while long queues of passengers wait for taxis at another location nearby.

From today, cab companies will charge an extra $3 for trips from Marina Bay Sands (MBS) to give taxi drivers an incentive to pick up passengers from there.

Taxi companies also started imposing a $3 surcharge for trips from Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) on Jan 18.

Associate Professor Lee Der-Horng, a transport researcher at the National University of Singapore, said: "I'm not saying you cannot impose the surcharge, but you must give us the basis."

He felt it was not right for these companies to have the mentality that 'if you want taxi, then pay more'.

While he can understand the rationale for imposing the midnight and airport surcharge - to compensate for the inconvenience, waiting time and driving distance - he cannot say the same for the surcharges at the two resorts.

He said: "Location wise, I don't think they are far away from anywhere. What kind of basis is there to impose a surcharge?"

Prof Lee believes that imposing a surcharge would only help to alleviate the problem in the short term.

He felt that there needs to be a concerted effort, especially from the integrated resorts and taxi companies to improve accessibility.

In Macau, said Prof Lee, free shuttle buses are provided from casinos to the ferry terminal, airport and border crossing.

Frequent and high-quality shuttle buses to MRT stations or shopping malls for a small fee, comparable to the bus system, is something the integrated resorts can look into, said Prof Lee, adding that there is room for improvement in the RWS shuttle service.

 

[halsey02]

The report doesn't address the issue that, they money collected by the taxi drivers goes to increasing their income by that much. The $3 surcharge or whatever surcharges in the CBD area goes to LTA in terms of ERP fees.

I am sure that YOUR SINGAPORE has the most number of taxi surcharges on this planet earth..

 

[Baroko]

The ONLY way to make taxis ply the all the streets is to remove the surcharges completely.
The oh-so-clever Seng Hung Tong tries to be smarter by getting NTUC to implement the surcharges and to raise fares, typical way of PAP thinking they can solve the problem by throwing money at every problem.

 

[krafty]

Frankly, it may not be SHT's fault. I give you a take on a typical tuesday nite, if you end up sending passenger to places like Yew Tee,you will probably end up driving back to city area to pick up new passengers again.

LTA set this $3 rule cos they know without this incentive,very unlikely, taxis will go back to city area to pick up. They will end up queuing at nearest taxi stand or crusing ard the housing estate.
What will happen to others who are waiting for cabs in city area?

whether you are minister or any tom,dick and harry,if you want to comment on taxi issues, you better go drive for at least 6 months,then you will know.

The ONLY way to make taxis ply the all the streets is to remove the surcharges completely.
The oh-so-clever Seng Hung Tong tries to be smarter by getting NTUC to implement the surcharges and to raise fares, typical way of PAP thinking they can solve the problem by throwing money at every problem.

 

[manokie]

Frankly, it may not be SHT's fault. I give you a take on a typical tuesday nite, if you end up sending passenger to places like Yew Tee,you will probably end up driving back to city area to pick up new passengers again.

LTA set this $3 rule cos they know without this incentive,very unlikely, taxis will go back to city area to pick up. They will end up queuing at nearest taxi stand or crusing ard the housing estate.
What will happen to others who are waiting for cabs in city area?

whether you are minister or any tom,dick and harry,if you want to comment on taxi issues, you better go drive for at least 6 months,then you will know.

how much can you earn per month? u drive 10hrs a day?

 

[krafty]

3k shld not be a problem for this kind of driving hours,.

how much can you earn per month? u drive 10hrs a day?

 

[Brightkid]

Not only just Taxis that we need pay to get things done.

Everything problem in singapore can be solved by paying, ie.:
- road congestion =pay ERP
- Better bus service =pay more
- more frequent MRT intervals=pay more
- use more utlilities = pay more
- want bid COE = pay more
- want 'incorruptable' politicians = pay more
- etc etc etc

We paying top salaries to world top 30 politicians to solve our problems by making us pay more. that is why the party is named Pay And Pay.

Appropriate party name !!

 

[po2wq]

... IMPOSING a surcharge may be an easy way out for taxi companies, say experts. ...

all dese xperts r absolutely correct! ...

fr now on, scrape all ... erps, fares increases, tariff increases, coe's ...

sack all politicians who feed on high pay ...


sg has been taking ez ways out 4 far 2 long n far 2 many ...

 

[Received_by_Kings]

The report doesn't address the issue that, they money collected by the taxi drivers goes to increasing their income by that much. The $3 surcharge or whatever surcharges in the CBD area goes to LTA in terms of ERP fees.

I am sure that YOUR SINGAPORE has the most number of taxi surcharges on this planet earth..

But not after 10 pm and after midnight.:p:p

 

[elephanto]

TS Thread title veri cute:-

Taxis in SIngapore: Pray, is paying the only way?
No, praying also can .......... just ask St TeeKee, pray & it shalt be answered ... BUT sorry, still must pay surcharge,okie?

 

[lianbeng]

.

avoid taxi during the above-mentioned time n place lah.
got mrt trains mah.

 

[halsey02]

TS Thread title veri cute:-

Taxis in SIngapore: Pray, is paying the only way?
No, praying also can .......... just ask St TeeKee, pray & it shalt be answered ... BUT sorry, still must pay surcharge,okie?

So the taxi queue at M.B.S., must kneel down & pray, " Lord, we have err in our ways, forgive us, & remove this burden of $3 surcharge from us " Amen

 

[lianbeng]

So the taxi queue at M.B.S., must kneel down & pray, " Lord, we have err in our ways, forgive us, & remove this burden of $3 surcharge from us " Amen

God so free to answer this type of prayer meh?

 

[krafty]

as a driver for 2 years plus, I will like to propose a solution for all.

1. Keep the $3 charges in city area,airport and casinos

2. drop the peak hour surcharges,

3. Exempt the ERP charges for Taxis.

from the above 3 points, you will find taxis cruising ard and picking up passengers round the island.

Tell me if there are any cons regarding the above?

 

[Ramseth]

as a driver for 2 years plus, I will like to propose a solution for all.

1. Keep the $3 charges in city area,airport and casinos

2. drop the peak hour surcharges,

3. Exempt the ERP charges for Taxis.

from the above 3 points, you will find taxis cruising ard and picking up passengers round the island.

Tell me if there are any cons regarding the above?

I agree. Now you talk sense my friend.

 

[krafty]

Arrgh...it's you again,naughty dog,go away...

I agree. Now you talk sense my friend.

 

[STUCK_HERE]

Arrgh...it's you again,naughty dog,go away...

Krafty, can u tell me what your driving hours are like? I got to take up taxi maybe.

 

[krafty]

I am driving nite shift,part time now.

Krafty, can u tell me what your driving hours are like? I got to take up taxi maybe.

 

[Spock]

Frankly, it may not be SHT's fault. I give you a take on a typical tuesday nite, if you end up sending passenger to places like Yew Tee,you will probably end up driving back to city area to pick up new passengers again.

LTA set this $3 rule cos they know without this incentive,very unlikely, taxis will go back to city area to pick up. They will end up queuing at nearest taxi stand or crusing ard the housing estate.
What will happen to others who are waiting for cabs in city area?

But if most of the passengers are waiting for taxis in the city, wouldn't it make more sense for the taxis to go back to the city to pick up fares rather than wait at taxi stands or cruise around the housing estates where there are no passengers? Unless you are saying that there are sufficient passengers outside the city at this time for it to be worthwhile to do so.

 

[halsey02]

that is why i say Sinkaporlians neber think big...

instead of this prayer why not pray for a well paying job so that you can buy your own car?

Ok! now all in the taxi queue in SINkingpore, kneel and pray " Lord, forgive us for we have err in our ways, in words, thoughts & deeds, please bless us with good paying jobs to buy a car, a good government that will ensure us that we have a good paying job, so that, we can afford to pay the good government COE, ERP and so forth, and bless these people Lord." " Have mercy on us, for we need that car, in Your Time, Lord, bless us, Amen"