Want better transport? Pay for it

[CY09]

thought public transport is "essential services" and can crippled singapore if it's not efficient?

If SMRT/SBS cannot operate public transport efficiently, then we should allow foreign competitors to come and try.
Let see what they can do?!!

What happen if foreigner charge more. Will we be able to accept market driven cost structure ?

Hi Cory,

Our rates here are determined by the govt. Which was one of the negative points of the soon to be removed model.

Operators then had to contend with cost but yet revenue was controlled by regulators. It was totally similar to airline industry.

[GPD]

"If you treasure your time and treasure your comfort, you pay a premium - there are premium bus services. If you value your time and comfort even more, buy a car. And then ultimately, get a chauffeur. You have to decide for yourself what it is you want."

My decision is to have a car and chauffeur but cannot afford it. How? Maybe the underlying message is if you cannot afford it, just shut up and take it with stride.

Maybe you are putting words in his mouth?

A: I am happy to pay more for a better service but I don't think the capacity will increase overnight. However, the current situation is pretty bad. I really treasure my time and comfort. How?
B: Go buy a car.
A: OK but very expensive. How?
B: You cannot afford it? Not my problem.
A: Ok then what?
B: What do you mean?
A: How can I still have value in my time and comfort when travelling?
B: I already said go buy a car.
A: But I already said I cannot afford one.
B: And I already said not my problem.
A: What are you trying to tell me here then?
B: End of interview not further question will be entertained.
A: Ok I am taking a bus home then.
B: Chauffeur I am really to go home. You can pick me up now.

I had this dream 5 min ago. Funny.

[corydorus]

"If you treasure your time and treasure your comfort, you pay a premium - there are premium bus services. If you value your time and comfort even more, buy a car. And then ultimately, get a chauffeur. You have to decide for yourself what it is you want."

My decision is to have a car and chauffeur but cannot afford it. How? Maybe the underlying message is if you cannot afford it, just shut up and take it with stride.

Maybe you are putting words in his mouth?

A: I am happy to pay more for a better service but I don't think the capacity will increase overnight. However, the current situation is pretty bad. I really treasure my time and comfort. How?
B: Go buy a car.
A: OK but very expensive. How?
B: You cannot afford it? Not my problem.
A: Ok then what?
B: What do you mean?
A: How can I still have value in my time and comfort when travelling?
B: I already said go buy a car.
A: But I already said I cannot afford one.
B: And I already said not my problem.
A: What are you trying to tell me here then?
B: End of interview not further question will be entertained.
A: Ok I am taking a bus home then.
B: Chauffeur I am really to go home. You can pick me up now.

I had this dream 5 min ago. Funny.

No joke. I have a friend who works in construction line as project manager. No company car. Will be an issue once his current car expired but is too expensive for him to replace even though he need it for his job.

[CityFarmer]

The same logic for a man illegally park his motorbike in condo, and saying he was entitled for it, since he paid the management fee.

From public bus/train to private car, there are many choices in between, depending how much you are willing to pay.
- Premium bus if available and suitable
- Flag-down Taxi, or even pre-book taxi service, or private arrangement with taxi driver for regular service
- carpooling? I didn't try it before, may be a viable choice too.

Mr. Ee is right but a bit too blunt, IMO

^^ That's the same logic of a woman on TV saying that she paid her road tax so she don't understand why she cannot travel on bus lanes.

Some people grow up. Some people remain juvenile. My 3 kids all started as babies being self-centred. Hopefully I have incrementally taught them to look at the bigger picture: those that interact with them, then the family, then the society.

Mr Ee is also wrong on this: Sometimes there are no choices. That's one of the characteristics of public goods and hence why policies are important. Nonetheless high expectation is true; as we had such relatively high quality transport under the old guards.

Mr Ee revisited the issue of high expectations frequently during this interview, blaming it for the unhappiness Singaporeans have over public transport.

"At the end of the day, buses and trains are about transporting a lot of people from Point A to B as affordably as possible," he said. "So by that very nature, they are going to be crowded. They're not designed for comfort.

"If you treasure your time and treasure your comfort, you pay a premium - there are premium bus services. If you value your time and comfort even more, buy a car. And then ultimately, get a chauffeur. You have to decide for yourself what it is you want."

[Bibi]

I dont think money can solve the problem for common pp. For the rich of course possible. I still think the problem lies in the overpopulation here. The infrastructure simply cannot cope with the current population. U got money and flag a cab, u still have to wait a long queue outside shopping centers for it. U on call cab sometimes no cab available especially during rainy days. Back in the 80s, we waited quite long for a bus. But when it arrives, sometimes seats are available. If not, at least we are not packed like sardines in the bus. MRT in the 80s, i remember every 1-3 min a train arrives even during non peak hours. U can lie down on the seats and sleep if u want.

How about child care services in Jurong West, Seng Kang and Pungol area? U think money can solve problem? I tell u no, base on my experience. All child care centers high end to low end near the vicinity of those areas are full for 2 years till the last election result gave them a slap in the face then they started having more.

How about as a private patient who wanted a single bed in govt hospital? My experience also tell u no. Maybe u go private hospital u stand a chance of getting single bed. I dunno know but i think chances are also low judging from the wait my wife have to undergo for a heart checkup at Mount E. Guess how many new hospital they building after they got a slap in the face?

Housing? Too tired to continue..

So the govt created the over population problem and expect common pp to pay more for services. Fair? Maybe yes, if according to their argument, at least u get to keep your job created by MNCs due to easy availability of workers.

[touzi]

Back in the 80s, we waited quite long for a bus. But when it arrives, sometimes seats are available. If not, at least we are not packed like sardines in the bus. MRT in the 80s, i remember every 1-3 min a train arrives even during non peak hours. U can lie down on the seats and sleep if u want.

I commuted by bus in the 80's but I have a slightly different experience from you. Yes, we had to wait a long time for the next bus (20-30 mins was not uncommon ), and when it arrived it was usually crowded. Perhaps it depends on where you board the bus.

As for MRT, please note that the same signaling has been used since day one. This is the signaling system that is being upgraded now so that train interval can be shortened. If your perception is that trains used to arrive at shorter interval, it might be that your pace of life has increased.

[Bibi]

Back in the 80s, we waited quite long for a bus. But when it arrives, sometimes seats are available. If not, at least we are not packed like sardines in the bus. MRT in the 80s, i remember every 1-3 min a train arrives even during non peak hours. U can lie down on the seats and sleep if u want.

I commuted by bus in the 80's but I have a slightly different experience from you. Yes, we had to wait a long time for the next bus (20-30 mins was not uncommon ), and when it arrived it was usually crowded. Perhaps it depends on where you board the bus.

As for MRT, please note that the same signaling has been used since day one. This is the signaling system that is being upgraded now so that train interval can be shortened. If your perception is that trains used to arrive at shorter interval, it might be that your pace of life has increased.

Crowded and packed like sardines maybe to u its the same.
Currently, our MRT system allows every min a train arrives if they want to. Non peak takes 5 to 7 mins. Back in 80s, non peak it takes at most 3 mins. Not 5-7 mins. My believe is difference is not due to signaling system. Difference is MRT is not a listed co in the 80s. I agree non peak takes 3 mins and a person can lie down on the seats and sleep is a waste of resource. Hence listing the co eliminated such wasteful of resources.

[liphuang]

I think here is a investment forum that with a group of people who has a sense of capitalism.

If you can lie down on the MRT seat, the business model doesn't make sense economically. If a service provider try to satisfy your standard, it will soon being punished by the market, regardless of if it is listed company or not.

Actually doing only things make sense economically is the key factor behind the victory of capitalism against communist.

Fully believe on capitalism is the basic behind Singapore's success but today there are many people are trying to deviate from it to delight the demanding voters. It is a risky path to go.

[Life is a game]

There is another group who believe in creditism so they left the public transport system to buy private cars using credit which is freely accessible in today's market. This drives the Singapore economy too hehe. And the story goes on... liquidity driving asset prices kind of economy.

😇天堂与地狱😈就在当下

[Freenasi]

Most things are run with capitalism in mind here. Bus operators, MRT, health. If u got money, better service u get and shorter waiting time. A polyclinic appointment w takes about 6 mths waiting. And each time, u only can get one sort of treatment., and u wait another 6mth to fill another tooth. This is for the average people. The rich ones will visit the private dentist. As a whole, this is becoming more like a corporate-Sin.