The logic that PMD and cyclist do not pay road taxes goes like this:
https://www.senicaphotos.com/updates/stunning-old-photos-of-singapore/
The basic like water dispenser situated near the park rest area is free for all users, however, if u buy from vending machine, then have to pay $$$ for canned drinks.
Chingay parade if watch outside the stands or on TV is FOC, but if want premium seats need to pay $38-68 depending on seat type.
NDP fireworks is free for all to watch around Marina Bay but if u want to add fine wine and dinner at Michellin restaurant or watch from Singapore flyer, then of course must pay their fees.
All in camp meals for NSmen are cook house catered and paid for by MINDEF, but some fussy NSmen decided that the military food is of insufficient standard and ask grab food/ deliveroo to deliver their usual favorite: at ownself expense of course.
All along, roads in Singapore for use by traditional vehicles (horse carriage, trishaws, horse carriages and pedestrians (where there is no footpaths) etc) has always been free. But some want to upsize to motor vehicle for comfort or to publically show off their wealth, thus these upsize modes of transportation need to be charged a special usage fee. Gahmen also needs to add expressways, car-parks, pedestrian crossings over e-ways and big roads, operate more traffic lights at intersections, provide advanced road drainage and provide bright street lights to cope with faster speeds and heavier road usage than otherwise necessary, so motor vehicle fees help subsidise these services. Car pollution also adds to healthcare costs and global warming in the long run, thus some costs recovery from motor vehicles is due.
Lastly, the Singapore government is desperately trying to promote active lifestyles since that is the only real defense against type 2 diabetes which is quickly getting out of control https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/singapore-has-2nd-highest-proportion-of-diabetics and even becoming a social welfare issue since T2 diabetes is well associated with strokes, dementia, heart and kidney failure and most cancers which are expensive to treat and may result in patients requiring nursing care for decades on end.
Motorist should thus not be fussy about motor vehicle usage fees because it is a privilege. As an alternative, using a PMD and riding on public transportation are both very respectable, affordable and healthy options which combat an otherwise sedentary lifestyle.
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Roads are for all users
PUBLISHED: JAN 10, 2016, 6:37 PM SGT
A key issue that motorists always bring up in the war against cyclists is: Why are cyclists allowed on the roads when they do not pay road tax?
The term "road tax" should not be taken literally, as it does not mean that the tax dollars collected are being used to build and maintain roads, nor does it mean that only motorists who pay road tax are allowed to use the roads.
If this is the case, all pedestrians using the road crossings should be paying road tax too.
As the Land Transport Authority (LTA) clarified in 2013: "Public roads are intended to be used by all road users, including cyclists and pedestrians. They are built and maintained using public funds collected from general taxes, including those who do not use motorised vehicles."
Furthermore, it can be clearly seen on the LTA's website that road tax is calculated based on a vehicle's engine capacity or power rating. These values are directly or indirectly linked to the amount of emissions produced by each vehicle type.
A bicycle is human-powered, and does not emit any form of emissions. As such, cyclists are exempt from paying any road tax and are fully entitled to use the roads.
Motorists should understand the correct purpose of paying road tax instead of using it as an excuse to run cyclists off the roads.
Perhaps the LTA could consider changing the term "road tax" to something else, such as "emissions tax" or "environment tax" in order to correct the misconception.
Let us all be gracious road users and share the roads responsibly to make Singapore a better place for commuting for one and all.
Charles Tan Kim Seng
https://www.straitstimes.com/forum/letters-on-the-web/roads-are-for-all-users
The basic like water dispenser situated near the park rest area is free for all users, however, if u buy from vending machine, then have to pay $$$ for canned drinks.
Chingay parade if watch outside the stands or on TV is FOC, but if want premium seats need to pay $38-68 depending on seat type.
NDP fireworks is free for all to watch around Marina Bay but if u want to add fine wine and dinner at Michellin restaurant or watch from Singapore flyer, then of course must pay their fees.
All in camp meals for NSmen are cook house catered and paid for by MINDEF, but some fussy NSmen decided that the military food is of insufficient standard and ask grab food/ deliveroo to deliver their usual favorite: at ownself expense of course.
All along, roads in Singapore for use by traditional vehicles (horse carriage, trishaws, horse carriages and pedestrians (where there is no footpaths) etc) has always been free. But some want to upsize to motor vehicle for comfort or to publically show off their wealth, thus these upsize modes of transportation need to be charged a special usage fee. Gahmen also needs to add expressways, car-parks, pedestrian crossings over e-ways and big roads, operate more traffic lights at intersections, provide advanced road drainage and provide bright street lights to cope with faster speeds and heavier road usage than otherwise necessary, so motor vehicle fees help subsidise these services. Car pollution also adds to healthcare costs and global warming in the long run, thus some costs recovery from motor vehicles is due.
Lastly, the Singapore government is desperately trying to promote active lifestyles since that is the only real defense against type 2 diabetes which is quickly getting out of control https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/singapore-has-2nd-highest-proportion-of-diabetics and even becoming a social welfare issue since T2 diabetes is well associated with strokes, dementia, heart and kidney failure and most cancers which are expensive to treat and may result in patients requiring nursing care for decades on end.
Motorist should thus not be fussy about motor vehicle usage fees because it is a privilege. As an alternative, using a PMD and riding on public transportation are both very respectable, affordable and healthy options which combat an otherwise sedentary lifestyle.
=================
Roads are for all users
PUBLISHED: JAN 10, 2016, 6:37 PM SGT
A key issue that motorists always bring up in the war against cyclists is: Why are cyclists allowed on the roads when they do not pay road tax?
The term "road tax" should not be taken literally, as it does not mean that the tax dollars collected are being used to build and maintain roads, nor does it mean that only motorists who pay road tax are allowed to use the roads.
If this is the case, all pedestrians using the road crossings should be paying road tax too.
As the Land Transport Authority (LTA) clarified in 2013: "Public roads are intended to be used by all road users, including cyclists and pedestrians. They are built and maintained using public funds collected from general taxes, including those who do not use motorised vehicles."
Furthermore, it can be clearly seen on the LTA's website that road tax is calculated based on a vehicle's engine capacity or power rating. These values are directly or indirectly linked to the amount of emissions produced by each vehicle type.
A bicycle is human-powered, and does not emit any form of emissions. As such, cyclists are exempt from paying any road tax and are fully entitled to use the roads.
Motorists should understand the correct purpose of paying road tax instead of using it as an excuse to run cyclists off the roads.
Perhaps the LTA could consider changing the term "road tax" to something else, such as "emissions tax" or "environment tax" in order to correct the misconception.
Let us all be gracious road users and share the roads responsibly to make Singapore a better place for commuting for one and all.
Charles Tan Kim Seng
https://www.straitstimes.com/forum/letters-on-the-web/roads-are-for-all-users
