views on taxi surcharges

last SG · 2009-06-30T22:17:51+00:00

I suppose only the ground people (ie cabbies) know of the problems in the taxi industry.Maybe should form taxi association to work together with the authorit...

Poolman SG

My take is, why not stagger the 35% surcharge being set according to distance travelled?

I mean, if you really got no choice but travel to a far place, and can only go by taxi, you'll end up paying to exorbitantly if you are slapped with the 35% surcharge on top of meter fare and ERP and all that.

My suggestion is to stagger the surcharge by distance, and give surcharge limit to near, and lower the surcharge to further and further distance.

For example: for first 1 - 4 km, charge 35%, and for next 5 to 8km, its 30% and so on, and say 20km or more, its 10% or something.

Makes everyone happy. After all, the driver still earns a lot from metered fare for the long distance, but its not hefty on the passenger. But if you travel a short distance, its also not hefty on the passenger as compared to long distance.

Anyone agrees/disagrres?

staggered confusing ...

Poolman SG

What if raise the flag down fare to $4.80 or $5.20 and do away with the peak hour 35%. Keep the airport and expo surcharges. Push the midnight to 1am to encourage more late night activities.Can do away with the CBD surcharge also. Wouldn't it keep the fare structure simpler.

With more MRT lines and stations coming up, taxi drivers will most likely be doing 'feeder bus services'. Raising flag down fare will cover the loss in businesses. With the heavy traffic situations during peak hours, less trips can be made thereby lowering takings. With the higher flag down rate and without peak hour surcharges, taxi income still can 'make it'.

Will it work?

That will scare off commuters .... like i use to buy a tin of lucheon meat for $1 , now cost me something like $1.80 for a Malin one , i stop eating luncheon meat .

Poolman SG

taxi demand is down … no matter how we change fare, we should expect lower income…

so how?

those bastards taxi companies should reduce rental… why only cabbies suffer lower pay but taxi companies no change or more huat? why retail shop rental drop but taxi rental cant drop?... cos cabbies find it hard to exit and easy to enter…. cos no cabby union…. haiz

but then talk so much here also no use…. haha….

part timers are best…. biz good, drive more… biz bad, koon more…. haha

why taxi demand low ? Why isn't there a problem before they implement the new fare structure ?

Poolman SG

lta since few years back already let the taxi companies and PTC set the their own taxi fares liao…. so complain to lta also no use leh….

Like i said , from front door , it looked like LTA liberalised the market , but if u go thru the back door , they are the one making all decisions .

See ..... if one suka suka want to raise and down fare , why must go thru , PTC ?

Poolman SG

talk so much , those knnbccb people doing in the interest of their MRT and buses only .

sbst275 SG

Surcharges to me can be re-done as in integrated into the main fare system w/ technology today

As for taxi, to me it's part of the multi model nature of public tpt.. there'll always ppl who needs e taxi because MRT & buses aren't suitable and ppl can ditch driving for cabs

thelionsleepstonight SG

Surcharges to me can be re-done as in integrated into the main fare system w/ technology today

As for taxi, to me it's part of the multi model nature of public tpt.. there'll always ppl who needs e taxi because MRT & buses aren't suitable and ppl can ditch driving for cabs

Yes!!! Integrate into the fare system.

Yes, there will always be commuters who wants taxis over buses and mrts, but at what ratio. Encourage ppl to ditch cars for cabs, increase the service standards and balance the economics for owning a car and taking cabs. Taxi ride from west to east or vice versa per working day can costs more than instalment payments for a car. People will buy car.

Go back to the PARF system instead of COEs and have better control of car population? Lower taxi rentals so everyone can afford taxi rides. Man, we are retrogressing, we need something forward to solve this problem....................

thelionsleepstonight SG

why taxi demand low ? Why isn't there a problem before they implement the new fare structure ?

there was a problem, that's why the implementation of the new fare structure. taxi drivers had not have a pay raise for umpteen years. but the re-adjustment was okay until these crises. tweakings of timings and surcharges are needed to balance fares. peak hours, people siam, non peak hours taxi drivers make too little. BALANCE is needed.

AndrewPKYap SG

Surcharges are to help Temasek show a profit after losing tens of billions to foreigners.

thelionsleepstonight SG

Surcharges are to help Temasek show a profit after losing tens of billions to foreigners.

Er, Andrew say something to progress instead of hendak kaki or POINTING. Thanks.
Discuss and draw a solution if possible.

thelionsleepstonight SG

Somebody must have brains out there. He who has owns the world.

sbst275 SG

Yes!!! Integrate into the fare system.

well at e end of e day, it's control over price of ownership of cars as well. you make it expensive to own a car at e start, it'll help as well being a deter factor (Of course at e same time, possibly encourage OPC more since ppl would or might need a car for leisure i.e. going to M'sia)

kinwashi SG

day shift no diff , u try night shift .

if night shift from 5pm to 8pm , normally without 35% peak hour charge average collection is $90 - $110 , that night should be a ok night . Now if $65-$80 , then that whole evening consider gone case . Cos after 10.30pm is about how near are you from town .

Day shift every hdb area got chance , night shift only town , or near town .

How to compare ?

If the 35% peak hour surcharge is a problem , main problem , without it , taxi drivers are a happy lot .

Poolie...so with or without is better now?

35% surcharges if that is the probelm. so let say they withdraw th surcharges back to normal like as sat, sun and public holidays.

So which is which? Than.

KCTK SG

i think poolie's got a point. now if the 35% surcharge is reduced to 15%-20%, i think the impact on cabbies is not that great but is likely to draw more people to take taxis. and the increased number of trips should be able to make up for the reduction in surcharge. my own experience...working the same hours on a saturday as a weekday, collection is about the same (or sometimes slightly more), despite not having the 35% surcharge on saturday mornings.

sbst275 SG

I think LTA is not going to do anything since it's alrdy 'de-regulated' and e attitude seems taxis are needed when they're, while treated like private cars when not needed i.e. only needed during F1 or ad hoc events

Poolman SG

day shift no diff , u try night shift .

Day shift every hdb area got chance , night shift only town , or near town .

How to compare ?

If the 35% peak hour surcharge is a problem , main problem , without it , taxi drivers are a happy lot .

Poolie...so with or without is better now?

35% surcharges if that is the probelm. so let say they withdraw th surcharges back to normal like as sat, sun and public holidays.

So which is which? Than.

I did not said peak hour surcharge must be wirhdrawn , i suggested a balance , reduction , to bring in the crowd back . Some will come back , some will remain with MRT and buses ( those who used to it ) .

Earlier i said 20% is the win win situation .

If u are saying totally 0 peak hour like those of Sunday and PH , then i would not agree on it .

marcteng SG

Earlier i said 20% is the win win situation .

If u are saying totally 0 peak hour like those of Sunday and PH , then i would not agree on it .

get rid of all the surcharges lar, then a lot of people will start taking cabs le.

Poolman SG

Current flag down $2.80 - $3.20 , absolutely justifiable .

Peak hour surcharge , must be lowered , to match the demand & supply theory !!! There must be a break point , where everything is in a balance situation , not so much , not so little , MRT happy , taxi happy ..... commuters happy .

20% is the most ideal !!!!

$10 fare , peak hour $2 , fair !!!

This is what i mentioned earlier , i didn't suggested a total zero surcharge . Then i can dilly dally each morning or evening , since no rush . Who care about those rushing to airport ? I make sense here ?

This is what peak hour is for , to motivate drivers to work on time .

Poolman SG

get rid of all the surcharges lar, then a lot of people will start taking cabs le.

Then if no surcharge motivation , why should i rush to Airport from Tampines ?

Why should i reach the button for bookings ?

Why should i rush into IR resort ?

Why should i support the rush period from 9pm to 10.30pm ?

What will u do if you are a guest in Sentosa , any hotel , and u need to go home , but no buses available , but u got lot of cash ..... can afford take cab , so u ring for a cab , 6552-1111 , which cab driver would want to dash from say Harbourtfront into Sentosa , to serve you , FOR FREE ????

Especially Harbourfront Centre and Vivo City has got ready commuters at taxi stand ??? Pick and Go , not trouble ?

Go think about it .

Poolman SG

without airport surcharge , airport tourist are in deep trouble trying to get a cab .

Which driver would want to waste diesel to travel to Airport , for the same flag down of $2.80 fare where he can get at Tampines Mall or White Sand SC ????

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