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Channel NewsAsia - Friday, February 20
SINGAPORE: Come April, public transport fares may be lower, but commuters have mixed reactions to the changes.
For a group of polytechnic students, they were not expecting any revisions. Hence, the S$2 to S$4 reduction in concession—pass fares was a pleasant surprise.
But they said the changes do not address the issue of polytechnic students paying higher concession pass fares than their counterparts in junior colleges and institutes of technical education (ITEs).
Still, they agreed that the reduction is a good move towards reforming the fare structure system.
Ong Kian Min, the vice—chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Transport, said the fare changes are a good gesture by the transport operators and he is satisfied with the results of the review.
With the revised fares, commuters can save a minimum of 2 cents per trip. But as small as the savings may be, commuters said they will have a maximum impact.
Some commuters said the changes will help to ease the financial burden brought on by the recession. "At least better than nothing," said a commuter.
"Maybe can save more, can do something else. Can buy some books and then can eat better," said another.
But most said the changes are too insignificant to make much of a difference.
"Two cents savings, might as well don’t save. Really rather not save," said a commuter.
"Even if you talk about 50 cents, (when) you want to buy something, I think you can hardly get anything for 50 cents. So two cents is really nothing to me," said another.
"I think, adjust (the fares) up to three cents or five cents (will be) better," said a third commuter.
"If profit margins aren’t so affected, why not reduce more to help more of the public," said a fourth.
Others said they hope to see more reductions at the next fare revision exercise.
— CNA/ir
SINGAPORE: Come April, public transport fares may be lower, but commuters have mixed reactions to the changes.
For a group of polytechnic students, they were not expecting any revisions. Hence, the S$2 to S$4 reduction in concession—pass fares was a pleasant surprise.
But they said the changes do not address the issue of polytechnic students paying higher concession pass fares than their counterparts in junior colleges and institutes of technical education (ITEs).
Still, they agreed that the reduction is a good move towards reforming the fare structure system.
Ong Kian Min, the vice—chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Transport, said the fare changes are a good gesture by the transport operators and he is satisfied with the results of the review.
With the revised fares, commuters can save a minimum of 2 cents per trip. But as small as the savings may be, commuters said they will have a maximum impact.
Some commuters said the changes will help to ease the financial burden brought on by the recession. "At least better than nothing," said a commuter.
"Maybe can save more, can do something else. Can buy some books and then can eat better," said another.
But most said the changes are too insignificant to make much of a difference.
"Two cents savings, might as well don’t save. Really rather not save," said a commuter.
"Even if you talk about 50 cents, (when) you want to buy something, I think you can hardly get anything for 50 cents. So two cents is really nothing to me," said another.
"I think, adjust (the fares) up to three cents or five cents (will be) better," said a third commuter.
"If profit margins aren’t so affected, why not reduce more to help more of the public," said a fourth.
Others said they hope to see more reductions at the next fare revision exercise.
— CNA/ir
