Thanks, but sorry, it just doesn't work...

Thanks, but sorry, it just doesn't work...
The Straits Times - Tue, Mar 11, 2008

I HAVE tried the new taxi scheme for a week - but, sorry, it doesn't work for me. For years, the Government has worked relentlessly, and so successfully, to make it 'easier to do business here'.
I HAVE tried the new taxi scheme for a week - but, sorry, it doesn't work for me. For years, the Government has worked relentlessly, and so successfully, to make it 'easier to do business here'.

But, in one single act, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has made it more difficult, particularly for the foreign businessman.

Imagine, the newly arrived businessman leaves his hotel, gets into taxi and says: 'Hitachi Tower, please.'

'Cannot.'

'Why?'

'Must alight at taxi stand.'

'But I don't know where it is!'

'Sorry, must ask.'

Safer? I find long queues of taxis now, causing road jams, confusion and increased pollution. 'On-call' taxis have no idea where to stop - in the queue, at the front, at the back? And their fares do not know where to go.

Quicker? Never. Twenty taxis used to pick up at the same time at 20 different locations. Now they have a single queue and it takes 15 minutes to pick up 20 passengers, assuming they've bothered to wait.

Other major cities like London and Paris have taxis safely picking up fares in the street. Why is Singapore different?

And it's even worse for the businessman leaving the office to go to Changi Airport, with suitcase. Where is the nearest taxi stand? Well, even I don't know and I've been in Singapore for the past eight years. And I simply can't find any of the new taxi stands in the Central Business District.

Singapore used to have one of the best taxi services in the world. Now, it is too expensive and too inconvenient. But perhaps that was the real objective. I have certainly given up and use the train now - but it takes me three times as long.

Duncan Edwards

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I agree that Singapore's transport system is very inefficient. I used to live in Singapore, but now living in Hong Kong. The Singapore transport system cannot be compared to Hong Kong's at all. On a level of 1 to 10, Singapore's transport system is probably 4, whereas Hong Kong would be around 10. In Feb, I returned to Singapore for Chinese New Year, but was so disappointed with the taxi service, and I swear not to go back unless I really have to. It's just really bad. It seems impossible to find a taxi just before 5pm because I think all the taxis are hiding somewhere and re-appearing after peak-hour so they can charge extra. Not to mention that the on-call charges are RIDICULOUS! I think Singapore is pretty sad.... the transport system was already bad, and now they are just making things worse. MRT was just too slow, and I think they need to integrate the different types of transport better to increase efficiency in the entire city's transport.
Emerald

There's a taxi stand at Ocean Towers. Its barely 5min walk. If a businessman is unable to afford the increase, I wonder what kind of business you have that takes you to Hitachi Tower.,,
Lee Li

thank you for writing this article..i share the same sentiments and i'm a Singaporean. It always seems that when i'm needing to rush to another location urgently and all the green-lit (available) cabs simply ignore my frantic waving. Sometimes i don't see taxi stands, and in some places, the taxi stands aren't visible (e.g. China Square) as it's hidden from the main road and there's roadworks along Upp. Cross Strt.I think it is legit to allow taxis to pick or drop fares along the road as long as it's not on zig-zag lined areas, bus stops or no stopping areas. EsC

I totally agree. My reading of this "policy" is that it is made by someone that owns a car and does not take taxi. Show us the statistics as to how many accidents is caused by taxi picking passenger "anyhow and everywhere in the CBD". The purpose seems to be a "quick fix" to the compliant that there seems a lack of cab in CBD, hence they concentrate all the cab at the taxi stand, take a photo put them in the papers and "see I told you there is a lot of taxi but you were just at the wrong place". In my humble view they should consider (1) remove the call charge (Shanghai dont impose such charge), (2) remove the ERP charge to level it to bus (3) remove CBD charge for taxi. This will enable the maket forces to determine whether it is better for taxi to hide while waiting for call or does the merry go round. The call system can then perfect the system by bring the supply to where demand is heavy (Eyes in the Sky).
Leslie Ying

Taxi and Trains (MRT) are not the only services doesn't work...All those managed by so call brain drains from neighbouring countries especially those unethicals upbringings individuals became Executives/Management/Ministers portfolios and obtaining Singapore Citizenships (dual passport) which include their countries of origin.Many of them are theoretical clever, unscrupulous. Without much initiatives, commonsenses, intelligents thinking, think thank and passions at human in generals??
hoon

Unless and until those desk-bound traffic regulators go outside to brave the crowds and rain and sunshine, and even walk the 50 or more metres, lugging their 5-kg or heavier bags will they appreciate what public transport is all about.The no-U-turn mindset as highlighted by our Mr Sim Wong Hoo still abounds.There should be a rule for such LTA staff - regardless or title or rank - to "clock" minimum time and distance spent in public transport to keep their perspective over what they oversee.Walk the talk and then talk about your walk convincingly.
Chen Sen Lenn

I knew this would happen, and was waiting for someone to write in. Imagine making a call for a taxi, coming out of a building that is 150m left & right of 2 taxi stands, which one would be the correct one.There is some truth about safety, I'm not sure what LTA understands about service. The problem wasn't about the number of taxi stands, it was simply about getting taxis within the city, the fact is that taxi are not getting in the city unless it's placed thru a call.It's funny how LTA views and resolved this, it's so comical and the decision makers, they are down right stubborn. And the Taxi service providers, they are "YES MEN", whatever LTA says it's correct, safety = service????
Alan

Solution - levy another subcharge for PICKUP & GET-DOWN WHEREVER YOU LIKE.LTA is good in finding solutions to taxi problems using similar formula.

The Way I See It:You want to be like New York or Chicago? Then build your Tram Lines not those stupid MRT extensions.

I am a Singaporean and I am sad to see that policies made by people who does not understand the operational issues, especially in the area of transportation. So much issue has been raised, the ERPs, taxi fares, and now taxi stand. I wonder what is next? I hope PM Lee can see how incompetence his minister is?

from what i see ,the ppl sitting on the top always got taxi stopping abruptly in front of his car.so he got fed up one day and use his mighty sword(pen) hahaha..so ...bo mi gai che ni gai zo ( got nothing to do find things to do) .anyway..beneficial to ppl who drive!!!

I cant agree more with you. I'm always wondering what are those people in LTA doing. To me, they are a bunch of morons who always try to implemenent this and tat but without thinking really hard if its going to help us - the commonfolks. They are only capable of saying.. LTA will impose this fine if you dont comply or have so and so demerit points deducted OR increasing this and that will smooth the traffic (but behind the real agenda is to generate income for the government, so that they are paid a good salary + hefty bonus). I hve since given up on LTA - to me they are quite a bunch of idoits, same goes for their top man.

Even if our minister is so 100% incompetence, it wont be seen by our PM Lee as these so-called 'elite' MINISTERS are selected directly or indirectly by him. Even if they are deemed as incompetence, he would probably not admit it as its as good as telling people that he has made a wrong choice.... confused:

i m a singaporean living in HK, and despite all the bad press about HK (pollution, etc), it has the BEST and most efficient public transport system, especially their taxi system. The SG gov should be humble, acknowledge our problems and just copy their entire taxi system (licensing, charges, processes,etc) for SG.

I can not imagine if we go with elderly/ ailing person who can not walk fast and far enough to the taxi-stand, then there is no other way rather than using on-call taxis?

I really empathize the agony many have to go through these days (including taxi drivers) on the idiotic ruling. What LTA hope to achieve is really beyond me and it only adds on to the 'myth' that Singapore is nothing but a country of regulations.... of which many are simply out of this world. And one thing I'm pretty sure of is that the people who made this policy don't take taxis as they are paid a fat salary that they drive (even with the absurd petrol price).

complain somemore.... later there will be reporters interviewing taxi drivers on the new ruling... and tv broadcast and newspaper will report taxi drivers GIVE THE THUMB UP for the good ruling....(somehow, the bad stuff gets deleted....u hear only the good things....sounds like Gold 90.5FM adver??)then u complain somomore.... next time they will implement such schemes ISLANDWIDE because it was so successful....and next time... we shall have TAXI INTERCHANGES, located just beside the MRT station and SBS bustops....see if you still want to take the 'premier' public transport (or semi-public??? hmm....i'm confused now)

First , they increase the taxi charges, and later they implement the inconvenience.Are the germent trying to steer us away from taxi.If i am a foreign traveller , i want to take a cab in the CBD area with all the luggage and stuff to go to the airport ,do you think how am i going to bring this stuff to the taxi stand.If i am able to do that , i might as well take the MRT.

Taxi fares have increased several times in the recent past, and each time, one of the main justification given was to improve the services. With this reason, people have accepted the increases, albeit grudgingly.However, after every increase in the fare, taxi services continue to remain unsatisfactory. Now the government has stepped in with the noble idea to improve the traffic flow by insisting that taxi must drop and pick up passengers at taxi-stands in town. This has caused double misery to the passengers - long wait for taxis; higher fare; dropping passengers at taxi-stands rather than at destinations... Passengers pay higher fare taking taxis need to arrive their destinations faster, in greater comfort and with the least hassle.Obviously this present rule has caused more frustrations than help to the passengers. Am sure this mess was never anticipated by the law makers. Now that this has happened, I urge the law makers to quickly get back to the drawing board, and take the corrective actions needed. Yes, they need to eat the humble pie to make the changes. But instead of being criticized, the Government who dares to make a u-turn at this juncture will be praised and respected instead.
sahbengkor