I didn't want to initially join the conversation, but the post
that mentioned lack of roads as the cause of congestion in
Singapore is not only untrue, but actually dangerous if the general
population has this mindset.
Research has shown that building more roads will
actually lead to more traffic if there is no limit on car growth.
Roads in Singapore already takes up 12% of our entire
island, vs 14% for residential. Exactly how much
more roads do you want?
I don't want to compare, even though HK is also a high density
city. The reason why we cannot compare is because of how geography
of the two cities is widely different, take a look at the map and
you will understand.
The highways in hk are also
very direct, with very few exits, whilst sg works mainly on a
grid system where main roads are criss crossing at
any other opportunity with expressways and other main roads.
HK has ~2000km of roads while SG has ~3400km as
per data from CIA.
The problem here (unfortunately) is the lack of control
on car entitlements. The positions of the previous
transport ministers was to allow people to own cars as they wish,
but force them to pay for usage into the city or for any congestion
caused using the ERP system. Obviously this stand has reversed with
the current minister as it is not sustainable causing road rage,
and frustrated drivers.
Once someone owns a car, and starts to reap the benefits
of driving, do you think they will care about 1. Express buses, 2.
Minibuses, 3. Taxi, 4. More bus lanes, 5. More DD, 6. More direct
connections ??? None of this concerns them anymore!
You have just sold them a 10 years permit to drive their
cars around the island, why would they turn
towards public transportation and park their cars at home to
collect dust? It costs just a bit more to drive,
especially since they paid for the car already, but the benefits
are so much more. Asking them to give up driving their cars and use
public transportation just because it's "better", will not
work.
This is why car ownership and growth will be capped in the
following years to come, even though people are unhappy.
But Improving public transport is still
important, because eventually the goal is to make
public transportation attractive enough so the people no longer
thinks of wanting a car anymore.
