<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=heading>comments</TD></TR><TR><TD id=messageDisplayRegion width="100%"><TABLE style="WIDTH: 100%" cellSpacing=2 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=left><TABLE style="WIDTH: 100%" cellSpacing=2 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=left><TABLE style="WIDTH: 100%" class=Post cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=left>It is amazing that we pride ourself with good governance and one of the best paid civil service in the world, how is it that our Transport Ministry can still tolerate the multiplicity of charges that confuse passengers no end and worse still the tourists who are one of the main group of users. Can the Ministry enlighten us why we have micromanaged the fares system to surely one of the most complex in the world.
Has the Ministry surveyed other cities and countries such as Hong Kong or Sydney. They both have very simple one-priced system except that you pay a fee for booking in advance. I am told that Sydney has only one price irrespective of time (except perhaps after midnight) or place of boarding. Has the Minstry ever surveyed other cities and come back with findings and give reasons why we must be different? Yet commuters and taxi drivers alike in Sydney live happily with their humble system.
Surely we can work out a one median price system to compensate for slack period against peak period even if this median price is higher than the current base price. The commuting public should learn to cope with or avoid the peak hours like in Sydney. The complexity is a deterence to ridership for many who fear the unknown and for tourists who doubt the honesty of the drivers. A fixed one price will eliminate bad hats who take advantage of time and place pricing. A marginally (not a big loading) higher booking fee will also deter behaviour of taxis who shy away from taxi stands and wait for booking calls.
All the above points are no brainers. Or just take a look at Sydney. Is there a patent right for fare structure?
</TD></TR><TR><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=left>Posted by: Dialoger at Tue Aug 11 19:27:42 SGT 2009
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=left><TABLE style="WIDTH: 100%" cellSpacing=2 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=left><TABLE style="WIDTH: 100%" class=AlternatePost cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=left>When the government announce the regulation it is so. There is nothing the Singaporean can do. In fact all are used to it already, they can complain here and there made petitions write to the press but at the end of the day nothing will happen. The government pretend they never heard of it the Straitstimes refuse to publish anymore related news. After a few days everyone will be taking taxi and pay as they are told. That is the PERFECT SINGAPOREAN.
</TD></TR><TR><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=left>Posted by: anlibeth2000 at Tue Aug 11 19:04:19 SGT 2009
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