Will cabs vanish from city fringe?

STANDING IN LINE: Among the areas likely to be affected are taxi stands in high traffic zones such as Far East Plaza, Shaw House (above) and Tanglin Mall near Orchard Road. -- ST PHOTO: AZIZ HUSSIN
Dec 12, 2007

Some passengers concerned that $3 downtown peak hour surcharge may mean fewer cabs on outskirts of town

By Maria Almenoar & Jessica Jaganathan

IF YOU need to hail a cab on the fringe of downtown, be prepared to wait, a transport expert warned yesterday.

In the wake of a new pricing structure that gives some cabbies a bonus for picking up passengers in the heart of the city, many are likely to skip the outskirts and make a beeline for places like Orchard Road.

Among the areas likely to be affected are taxi stands in high traffic areas such as Far East Plaza, Shaw House and Tanglin Mall near Orchard Road and The Concourse in Beach Road.

National University of Singapore transport researcher and postgraduate student Han Songguang called the new surcharges 'very bad news' for people working or living in these areas just outside downtown.

'I am not sure how taxi companies or LTA will be able to enforce or discourage errant cabbies,' he said on Monday.

The same day, ComfortDelGro announced it will levy a $3 surcharge on passengers who hop into a cab in the downtown area during peak hours - up from $1.

Its fare revision includes higher flag-down rates and metered rates but lower call booking charges during prime hours.

Member of Parliament Ong Kian Min, who is deputy chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Transport, said he is concerned over the downtown surcharges.

Without a gradual scale, drivers will likely head to the city proper, he said.

'It's a choice between $3 or nothing for drivers, so this will definitely influence their driving behaviour. We may head to more problems and complaints, in the end, if taxi drivers do avoid taxi stands along the fringe.'

Comfort - the largest company here, with 65 per cent of the cabs on the road - said the new city surcharge is designed to encourage taxis to pick up passengers in the city centre. Cabbies leave downtown for the suburbs and find little incentive to drive all the way back to pick up new passengers, it said.

While the surcharge may address the problem of too few cabs in the city during peak hours, Comfort acknowledged it may create a shortfall on the outskirts of downtown.

Comfort said it will 'keep a close eye' on cabbies to make sure they do not zip by taxi stands there. But when asked specifically how it will monitor its drivers, the company declined to comment.

Yesterday, only one passenger in 10 who discussed the fare increase with The Straits Times was ready to walk in and pay the city surcharge if left stranded.

The rest, like frequent cab user Carol Lee, would opt to wait or call a cab at the cost of $3.50.

'There's not much difference when you compare a call charge and the new rates, so I would rather call one,' said the 33-year-old bank manager.

Marketing manager Gary Loh agreed.

'I will be prepared to wait 10 minutes tops and if there is still no sign of a cab, I'll call one. I'm too lazy to walk into town,' said the 31-year-old.

SMRT Taxis, Premier and Smart have confirmed they will also raise fares.

Prime Taxis will look to implement new surcharges but will not raise flag-down fares for at least the next three months.

Trans-Cab could not be reached for comment.

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