Taxis not major cause
of jams
THE Land Transport
Authority says taxis are subject to Electronic Road Pricing (ERP)
because they, like all other vehicles, occupy road space and
contribute to congestion ("Surcharge spurs cabs to enter CBD, says
LTA"; last Wednesday).
Taxis make up only a
small fraction of the total vehicle population. Furthermore, not
all taxis ply the road and the same locations at the same
time.
The LTA also says the
city area surcharge was implemented as an incentive for cabbies to
pick up passengers in the Central Business District. This money
does not go to the drivers if it is used to offset the ERP
charges.
Also, residents who
live in blocks next to bus lanes have difficulty hailing a taxi
during bus lane operation hours as cabbies are afraid of being
booked if they stop.
Can taxis be allowed to
share the bus lane, as is the case in some countries?
Poh Soon
Leong
