FIRST DAY OF CAB FARE HIKE - No shortage of taxis at city fringe stands

ST Dec 18, 2007
By Maria Almenoar & Liaw Wy-Cin

THE new city area surcharge of $3 - up from $1 - had cab operators worried that cabbies would avoid taxi stands in the city fringes and head to where the money was.

But this was not the case yesterday. A check by The Straits Times found a steady flow of cabs at two of the 10 city fringe taxi stands, located within 500m of the central business district (CBD).

At Far East Plaza, for example, there was even a queue of about 12 taxis at about 6.15pm, with no passenger in sight, although the drivers could have earned an extra $3 by heading down the road to the taxi stand at Lucky Plaza, within the CBD.

Between 5.30pm and 7.30pm, the average waiting time for a cab was about five minutes at Pacific Plaza and 10 minutes at Far East Plaza, both in Scotts Road - just outside the city area.

But as it was just Day 1 of higher fares,the Land Transport Authority said that it would monitor the city fringe for some time and then work with taxi companies if there is a problem.

ComfortDelGro started its new city surcharges yesterday, along with increased metered fares, flag-down rates and peak-period premiums.

Passengers will have to pay about 10 per cent more on their fares during non-peak hours, but 18 to 49 per cent more during peak hours.

Four other cab companies - SMRT Taxis, Trans-Cab, Premier and Smart - are following suit within the next two weeks.

Prime Taxis will be increasing only its city surcharge.

mariaa@sph.com.sg

wycin@sph.com.sg