Think twice before boarding that taxi

ST Dec 12, 2007

WITH the latest announcement of revised taxi charges, it is high time commuters rely on the more efficient train network.

If you do need a taxi, my advice is to take a train out of the city and then board a taxi at one of the housing estates.

That way, you do not have to pay a multi-tier taxi fare.

Everyone cites increasing operating costs, but do the authorities know that the salary of the man in the street is not increasing at the same pace?

Following the revised charges, if I were to take a cab to Yishun from Raffles Place, I would have to pay the new metered fare and a host of surcharges.

Let's say the fare is $12. I would have to pay an extra $4.20 (35 per cent more for the peak-period surcharge), and $3 for the city-area surcharge, making a total of $19.20.

Then there is the Electronic Road Pricing charge, depending on the number of gantries you pass through.

So for those who work in the city area and need to travel a long distance to get home, it is time to think twice before boarding that taxi.

Chua Kim Choo

Copyright © 2007 Singapore Press Holdings.