Want better transport? Pay for it

In sg during peak hour, when you take train you shouldn't worry of falling, because there are people around you, just need to say sorry when you accidentally fall onto someone.

(26-05-2014, 02:51 PM)freedom Wrote: The government will never take over the operator ship of public transport system as it does not grant it any benefit but troubles. The government knows very well that it can't operate the public transport system either cheaper or better or both. If the government takes over the operator ship, it means either all the existing employees of the operators become civil servants or they continue to be employed by a private company wholly owned by the government. But neither will be cheaper. As a government company, the employment will lean more towards the locals, that is, the government will not have the liberty to hire as many foreigners as the private transport service providers. Higher cost, but not necessarily better service. Plus, every breakdown becomes the government's headache. SMRT has taken fair amount of public blames for the government. In a way, the private transport service providers give the government so called plausible deniability. When the Sh** hits the fan, the government can always come out and blame the private transport service providers. Removing that, every blame will go straight to the government. How would the government like it?

ok, so enough politickings, we just need a good, honest, efficient management team for singapore public transport!!

Or is that too difficult to ask??!!

(26-05-2014, 01:39 PM)Dividend Warrior Wrote: I am a civil servant and I take public transport to and fro work.

I am willing to pay more for quality transport.

I agreed.

Most of the people is willing to pay more for quality transport but unwilling to pay more BEFORE they see any improvement.

Anyway, our trains have bad design but our operator especially the SMRT ex-CEO refused to acknowledge it and instead blame the commuters for not moving in enough to pack at the centre of the train.

I used to be curious on how come the people in HK don't face this problem when the perception is that we are supposed to be more civic-minded...until I took their train.

The best part is that they have started operating the train system earlier from us but our operators never learn from them but instead blame it on the commuters.

Talking about design, for decades I've never understood why exit doors for buses cant be at the rear?

I take a bus to a MRT station. After I exit at another MRT station, I take another bus before a short walk to the office.

There are the trains retrofitted with more handles and the older trains with just 1 row of handles. I think it is comfortable to stand in 3 rows in the centre of the trains. I have tried 4 rows too. However on numerous occasions, I have seen trains with 2 rows. Anyone else had that experience? I am sure if you can read newspapers or take out tablets or smart phones during the train ride, there is space for a fellow commuter. More handrails please.

I do not know why people do not remove their haversacks when they board the train. It occupies space and people do not appreciate it when the owner turns.

I was at Tokyo from 13 - 20 May. The trains are packed and you can be standing chest-to-chest or front-to-back. =) Office lady haha

(26-05-2014, 01:39 PM)Dividend Warrior Wrote:

(26-05-2014, 01:14 PM)opmi Wrote:

(26-05-2014, 01:04 PM)funman168 Wrote: Ppl who do nt take public transport will nt understand. Leaders shld lead by example n take public transport at least once a week before they make their comments

Ya. Eat their own cooking. Ministers and senior civil servants and PTC members too.

Take public tpt to and fro work. Not just from Raffles Place go City Hall/Bugis for lunch makan. Which many people do..

I am a civil servant and I take public transport to and fro work.

I am willing to pay more for quality transport.

Yea agree. Perhaps we have been paying more becos we also pay for the profit of these transport companies.

Ok, so like it or not, we are caught in a situation where buses and trains are too crowded during peak hours. Besides giving feedback and asking for improvement, what we could do now is to ask ourselves what we can do in the meantime to improve the situation in our own personal life.

One of my friend decided to wake up much earlier and take the train.
Also the gap can be used to exercise and have breakfast.
Of course, bedtime needs to be adjusted as well.

Many people I know decided to cycle or ride a motorbike as it is seldom caught in a jam
and is more affordable.(rainy days is a problem though)

The company I work for decided to adjust working hours, while we are slightly
out of sync with rest of Singapore, we pretty much still get all the work done.

So, while the public transport tries to improve itself, it does not help to be unhappy and grumble about it.
Take active steps to adapt to the situation and make it better for you.

I don't see how more competitors will be able to make it better for us.
They are in it to make a profit. Operating cost in Singapore is high. The more stringent the government enforces the minimum standard, the higher the cost of running it. Also if many players are in it, there wont be economies of scale(which is important to keep costs in check), which will further up prices.

I still believe that whenever possible, firms should be more flexible with working hours, operate in shifts.
Work that can be done at home, should be done at home, travelling is unproductive.

(26-05-2014, 10:11 PM)brattzz Wrote: ok, so enough politickings, we just need a good, honest, efficient management team for singapore public transport!!

Or is that too difficult to ask??!!

Good, honest and efficient? I thought we have them. The lacking is the effectiveness, IMO

Good: By comparison, our system should be among the good ones in the region
Honest: Well, so far I didn't find any dishonest
Efficient: well, our system is economically efficient

Agree?

agree especially the part on "We demand profits" and "Economic efficiency".

unless shareholder like ourselves decided to run a not-for-profit organisation, then there will be a need to pack more and more to generate more effective use of limited assets in the company.

P.S. Last time, I was also very peck-chek about the MRT, until I decided to become their shareholder. Then, like what Gerald Ee says,
my mindset changed completely.
Don't belief me? Just buy tons of transport company shares and you'll hope that they become hyper-active.

P.P.S Just to clarify, I'm definitely against the train breakdown and a few buses (same number) arrived at the bus stop at the same time.
This is different from economic efficiency.
This is outright incompetence and not acceptable at all!