The Straits Times
: No city surcharge, No cabs
in sight
The $3 city surcharge, or lack
thereof, seems to be one reason why commuters on the fringes of
Orchard Road have to wait a long time for cabs.
Going by The Straits Times'
recent investigation, those at Far East Plaza wait as long as 40
minutes for a cab on a Friday night.
Taxi drivers seem to avoid
heading to the Scotts Road mall as it is just outside the Orchard
cordon, which means they do not get the surcharge.
But commuters who wait in
Orchard Road, where cabbies can charge the extra $3, take around 10
minutes to get a taxi.
Seven in 10 cabbies that The
Straits Times spoke to said the surcharge is why they preferred
waiting for passengers in the main Orchard belt.
"If you can get an extra $3 at
those places, why would you wait at the malls without it?" said
cabby Tay Kim Fatt, 50.
The city surcharge starts from
various Electronic Road Pricing gantries around Orchard, including
one before Lucky Plaza and another behind Wisma Atria. It applies
from 5pm to midnight daily.
Another cabby, Mr Lau Joo
Meng, said passengers waiting outside the Orchard cordon should
just call a cab. For example, it costs $3.30 to call a Comfort cab
during peak hours, which include 6pm to midnight daily.
