About time. Well, free bus rides is a great idea but you know it means public transport operators would pass the cost, and increase the fares for peak hours to compensate for the free rides in non-peak hours. That is interesting but as public transport companies are private companies based on profit, that idea would not sit well with shareholders. Monthly travel passes are finally here again so that is good. Why not weekly as well - as commuters want choices.
Nothing was said about old folks, those aunties and uncles who helped build our Singapore from dirt up to this modern international city. What should have been said is free rides for these oldies, or if not free rides in the government's co-pay mentality to beat back abuse, heavily subsidised fares then for the oldies. Ahem. I don't care about the poly kids whining about their lack of concessions compared to JC kids. Poly is tertiary education, so that means they can keep long hair, wear jeans to school and can smoke outside the school gates besides getting higher pay compared to JC kids when they enter the workforce with their diploma. So don't whine about JC kids getting concessions. It's apples and oranges.
The talking centres around fares and discounts rather than about true competition in public transport. Like more bus operators to compete with SMRT and SBS. If true competition is allowed, not this geographical divide and profit plot between SMRT and SBS, then fares would really drop. Minibuses running up and down Eastern, Northern and Western Singapore into CBD during peak hours would really bring ooomph into the public transport system. Who needs overpriced depreciating value cars when one has the Tiong minibus driver downstairs doing a non-stop from Simei or Clementi or Yishun to town? Lui is a retard as transport minister still.
Nothing was said about old folks, those aunties and uncles who helped build our Singapore from dirt up to this modern international city. What should have been said is free rides for these oldies, or if not free rides in the government's co-pay mentality to beat back abuse, heavily subsidised fares then for the oldies. Ahem. I don't care about the poly kids whining about their lack of concessions compared to JC kids. Poly is tertiary education, so that means they can keep long hair, wear jeans to school and can smoke outside the school gates besides getting higher pay compared to JC kids when they enter the workforce with their diploma. So don't whine about JC kids getting concessions. It's apples and oranges.
The talking centres around fares and discounts rather than about true competition in public transport. Like more bus operators to compete with SMRT and SBS. If true competition is allowed, not this geographical divide and profit plot between SMRT and SBS, then fares would really drop. Minibuses running up and down Eastern, Northern and Western Singapore into CBD during peak hours would really bring ooomph into the public transport system. Who needs overpriced depreciating value cars when one has the Tiong minibus driver downstairs doing a non-stop from Simei or Clementi or Yishun to town? Lui is a retard as transport minister still.
Monthly adult travel pass being considered
By Jermyn Chow
THE high-level committee that is reviewing public transport fares is considering introducing a monthly adult travel pass.
Such a pass will help to cap monthly public transport expenses for average-income individuals or households, said Mr Richard Magnus, chairman of the Fare Review Mechanism Committee.
In a blog post yesterday, he also said that something ought to be done for children not yet in primary school who are taller than 0.9m - the limit currently set for free bus and train travel.
Polytechnic students and the disabled are also being considered for improved concessions, as are low-income earners.
MP proposes free travel on public transport before peak hours
By Saifulbahri Ismail | Posted: 05 March 2013 2001 hrs
SINGAPORE: Member of Parliament for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC Janil Puthucheary has raised the idea of free travel on public transport before peak hours to change their travel patterns.
Speaking during the Budget debate in Parliament on Tuesday, Dr Puthucheary urged public transport operators to consider providing commuters free travel within a certain time period outside rush hour. This could reduce the crush during peak hour travel.
Dr Puthucheary noted that currently train operators give discounts to encourage commuters to travel early.
He said: "If we can afford it, have all travel on public transport until the start of peak hour, free? If that's too great a leap, then maybe for example, every weekday morning for 30 minutes or an hour, ending at 7.45am, commuters can travel for free.
"Will this distort behaviour? Yes, that's the whole point. This will attract more people to change their travel patterns, compared to any discount."
You missed out private taxis. Bring those original yellow tops back too.
ReplyDeleteJanil Puthucheary is a retard lah. once again proved to me that in our leader's minds, everything is about money. got a problem, throw money at it. need to change social patterns? money. everything money.
ReplyDeletelike u said, not only will operators pass on the extra cost to peak hour, i suspect the take up rate for non-peak hour travel will be limited. i mean, who in their right frame of mind will come into office at 7am when work starts at 9am? just to save a few dollars i get less sleep, spend less time with my family, longer hours at work. what happened to work-life balance?? and how is this going to help productivity?? money is just a tool and a means to an end. our leaders shld stop worshipping it!