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http://www.todayonline.com/YOG/EDC100817-0000047/No-free-rides?-Thats-not-true
No free rides? That's not true
Letter from Hanafiah Ali 05:55 AM Aug 17, 2010
ON SUNDAY, my niece attempted to make her way to City Hall using the Youth Olympic Games complimentary travel card. She went to activate the card at the Choa Chu Kang MRT customer service counter. The staff told her that her card was spoilt, but nevertheless, she would still be entitled to free rides by showing the card to SMRT staff, who would open the gate for her.
She got to her destination without issue, but after the event, when she attempted to board SMRT bus service 190, the bus driver asked to pay cash for her fare as the card was invalid. She relayed the SMRT staff's message to the bus driver, but he kept insisting she pay. She eventually had to use her own ez-link card to pay for her fare.
While the SMRT train staff seemed to be equipped to deal with such situation, its bus drivers were not. I believe that others will face the same problem during the YOG. I hope public transport operators (SBS Transit included) will educate their staff and drivers so no visitor is left in a quandary.
No free rides? That's not true
Letter from Hanafiah Ali 05:55 AM Aug 17, 2010
ON SUNDAY, my niece attempted to make her way to City Hall using the Youth Olympic Games complimentary travel card. She went to activate the card at the Choa Chu Kang MRT customer service counter. The staff told her that her card was spoilt, but nevertheless, she would still be entitled to free rides by showing the card to SMRT staff, who would open the gate for her.
She got to her destination without issue, but after the event, when she attempted to board SMRT bus service 190, the bus driver asked to pay cash for her fare as the card was invalid. She relayed the SMRT staff's message to the bus driver, but he kept insisting she pay. She eventually had to use her own ez-link card to pay for her fare.
While the SMRT train staff seemed to be equipped to deal with such situation, its bus drivers were not. I believe that others will face the same problem during the YOG. I hope public transport operators (SBS Transit included) will educate their staff and drivers so no visitor is left in a quandary.
