I have written to the Minister for Transport, Lui Tuck Yew, to consider developing local transport (to bring people from their home to MRT stations, bus interchanges and town centers) in an efficient and inexpensive manner. Details are set out in this paper.
These measures will encourage more car owners to use public transport and reduce the congestion on the roads. It will also provide employment opportunities for Singaporeans to operate local taxis and mini-buses.
The paper is reproduced below:
TKL Website, 15 May 2011
Local Transport
Local transport is an important component of an efficient transport system. It provides transport for short distances within a town and brings the residents from their homes to the town center, train station or bus interchange and back.
It should be inexpensive and convenient, with short waiting and travelling time. It will encourage car owners to opt for public transport, rather than use a car to commute to work.
Modes of transport
Local transport should use small vehicles, such as small buses or cars and should travel short distances of up to 3 km.
There can be many routes local bus services travelling to different parts of the town on fixed schedules. Most of the travels are likely to be to the town center for shopping or for transfers to long distance travel using buses or trains or back to the homes.
Local taxis can operate on flexible routes according to the needs of the commuters. They can be operated as a shared taxi to reduce the cost.
Regulatory requirements
The cost of local transport can be reduced through regulatory measures. The vehicle taxes can be reduced or
removed. Licenses can be issued liberally, so that market competition can reduce the cost and improve the quality of service provided of local transport. Insurance can be provided through central purchasing arranged by the local transport regulator. The regulator can also provide the central service of coordinating the services provided by the individual operators, matching supply and demand and communicating these services to the commuters.
The requirements to obtain a license as a local transport operator can be simplified compared to providing the
service over a entire city. The local operator needs only to know the road conditions and landmarks within the town.
Employment opportunities
Local transport can provide employment opportunities for older people who lose their jobs due to global competition. They can find alternative occupation and earn an income by providing service as a local transport operator.
Experience of other countries
Many large countries with towns in remote locations have developed practical systems of local transport. They provide a low cost service that meets the needs of the residents of the town.
Experience of Singapore
Singapore started as one town for the whole island. The concept of smaller towns in each part of Singapore was developed only during the past 20 years. To serve the expanding population, the strategy was to have a network of buses and trains that can bring people from any part of Singapore to another part. This strategy did not seem to work well, as many commuters find the transport system to be quite complicated. It is time to review the strategy and to develop the concept of local transport to serve each town and to have fast transport between the different towns.
Conclusion
An efficient feeder service to provide efficient and inexpensive transport within a town is an important
component of an efficient transport system that can serve all the towns in Singapore.
Tan Kin Lian
These measures will encourage more car owners to use public transport and reduce the congestion on the roads. It will also provide employment opportunities for Singaporeans to operate local taxis and mini-buses.
The paper is reproduced below:
TKL Website, 15 May 2011
Local Transport
Local transport is an important component of an efficient transport system. It provides transport for short distances within a town and brings the residents from their homes to the town center, train station or bus interchange and back.
It should be inexpensive and convenient, with short waiting and travelling time. It will encourage car owners to opt for public transport, rather than use a car to commute to work.
Modes of transport
Local transport should use small vehicles, such as small buses or cars and should travel short distances of up to 3 km.
There can be many routes local bus services travelling to different parts of the town on fixed schedules. Most of the travels are likely to be to the town center for shopping or for transfers to long distance travel using buses or trains or back to the homes.
Local taxis can operate on flexible routes according to the needs of the commuters. They can be operated as a shared taxi to reduce the cost.
Regulatory requirements
The cost of local transport can be reduced through regulatory measures. The vehicle taxes can be reduced or
removed. Licenses can be issued liberally, so that market competition can reduce the cost and improve the quality of service provided of local transport. Insurance can be provided through central purchasing arranged by the local transport regulator. The regulator can also provide the central service of coordinating the services provided by the individual operators, matching supply and demand and communicating these services to the commuters.
The requirements to obtain a license as a local transport operator can be simplified compared to providing the
service over a entire city. The local operator needs only to know the road conditions and landmarks within the town.
Employment opportunities
Local transport can provide employment opportunities for older people who lose their jobs due to global competition. They can find alternative occupation and earn an income by providing service as a local transport operator.
Experience of other countries
Many large countries with towns in remote locations have developed practical systems of local transport. They provide a low cost service that meets the needs of the residents of the town.
Experience of Singapore
Singapore started as one town for the whole island. The concept of smaller towns in each part of Singapore was developed only during the past 20 years. To serve the expanding population, the strategy was to have a network of buses and trains that can bring people from any part of Singapore to another part. This strategy did not seem to work well, as many commuters find the transport system to be quite complicated. It is time to review the strategy and to develop the concept of local transport to serve each town and to have fast transport between the different towns.
Conclusion
An efficient feeder service to provide efficient and inexpensive transport within a town is an important
component of an efficient transport system that can serve all the towns in Singapore.
Tan Kin Lian
Your proposed "mode of transport" is not a new idea.
ReplyDeleteIt has been existed in 1960s-1970s at most villages like Lim Chu Kang, Ngee Soon (Yishun) etc.
It was 霸王车 ! Drivers were either part-time or jobless.
To legalise 霸忘车Ba Wang Che, car owner is given "yellow top" taxi license. Car owener is actually a propretor - a BIG boss by himself.
ReplyDeleteSome of them behave agressively! Some of them highly critical in polity ! At one time, taxi drivers protest NOT to consume Yeo brand drinks. They link Yeo drinks to ex-Minsiter Yeo who was a transport minister.
Confort buy back most yellow-top license at $10k. Now, hardly see them on the road.
Yes, Alien. It was a good solution in the old days. We need to bring it back. I have also seen many small towns in Indonesia with local transport. It is practical, low cost and gives employment opportunities. I hope that citizens can help to petition the Minister for Transport to implement this idea.
ReplyDeleteThailand has a population of 60+ million. Wheather Bangkok or small town, there is such "mode of transport" and highly efficient at affordable cost.
ReplyDeletePerhaps, our 1st world system has to review according to your view !
I just returned from a Nanjing/HK trip.
ReplyDeleteI find the HK "mini-bus" network convenient and effective despite that HK is intensely built-up.
I recalled I had written to the local press regarding liberlising the "feeder" routes in HDB and private estates to small private mini-bus operators.
The standard reply from LTA is that "small mini-buses do not conform to LTA safety requirements" and would caused jams at bus-stops built and managed by the two major operators.
I find these reasons "artificial". The LTA should take a re-look.
Miss the independent "Little buses"
ReplyDeleteof Hongkong. Just have to walk out of our flat or out to a bigger road, and get on a mini bus, and you are on the way.
Like the standard Octopus card, using it to purchase any product or service.
Compare to Singapore's various cards, that take up much space in the wallet. How very "primitive" we are, as compared to HK.
When can we catch up?
rex comments as follows,
ReplyDeleteI think this is a culture thing, not easy for the PAP to accept.
PAP is a control-freak. It wants to control everything. 霸王车 system wouldnt be allowed, well, as long as the old man and his son lives. 霸王车 gives control to the car owner and is adverse to the culture. The culture of controlling everything (and charging the controlled for the "privilege" of being controlled) is the culture of pap. It is impossible for PAP to adapt this kind of system, they will think of 200 ways against it.
Really there are many ways to make citizens life easier to earn a living. For example, why can't i set up a small corner sell kacang putih? Why must i go through a million departments to get "permits"? They say it is For health standards...what about geylang market food poisoning, and other recent cases - YOG food poisoning too? They have permits, yet, if you are sway, you are sway and the houseflies sabo you and people get poisoned once in a while. Take it easy!
So, All this permits matters are not valid, it just deprives citizens a lifeline, it deproves citizens from being innovative.
It is very tough to be poor in Singapore. It is easier to be poor in Thailand, where you can still find some small corner towns and live out your own little dreams, even like weaving in and out of vehicular traffic to sell newspapers, it is still an honest, permitted activity.
rex
Maybe the inbreeding of the same kind of politicians have to do with the antiquated system here. all the politicians come from the same mould, as civil servants, armymen and labour movements, no wonder our Govt has been regressing, no new blood, always rely on the same Book, that has been in service for decades, becoming more and inflexible.
ReplyDeleteThe taxi service is one of the worst in the world, so many hue coloured cabs, so many surchanges that are mindbogling, who has the time in the world to keep track of the various charges.
Rather keep our private cars. Bo Bian ah.
Since TKL is interested in the transport issue, why not discuss it with the formal CEO and founder of Trans Island. He is the Chairman of Fairprice now(?)
ReplyDelete