ST 071212
The complicated fare structure, unpopular with passengers and cabbies, appears to have become even harder to figure out. Why did ComfortDelGro say it had been simplified?
'Replacing the flat $2 surcharge for peak premiums with a tiered pricing is a fairer system. The $2 surcharge is imposed regardless of whether you are in the cab for one minute or for half an hour during peak periods.
'Under the new system, the more time you spend in our cab during peak hours, the more you pay.
'This is fair given the high demand for taxis during these periods. So, for example, if a commuter boards the taxi at 6.50am and alights at 7.05am, he pays extra only for the five minutes starting from 7am. This works out to just $1. If he boarded at 6.50am but alighted at 7.15am, then he pays for the 15 minutes worth of peak travel - during which time the taxi driver could have catered to another customer if it had been a shorter journey.'
But some would suggest that does not make it any easier to figure out how much you have to pay at the end of the trip. How do you respond to that?
'The breakdown will be clearly shown on the meters. So, for example, if a commuter is travelling during peak times, the 35 per cent premium will be shown clearly on the meter at the bottom right corner, like how the midnight surcharges are currently.
'Our meters are tamper-proof so there is little risk of miscalculation. All receipts will have detailed breakdowns and we strongly urge commuters to keep their receipts.'
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