Better Taxi Rides

QX179R SG

Idea No. 1: Surcharge waiver ez-link card

I REFER to reports that commuters will soon be able to use their ez-link cards to pay taxi fares.

I suggest taxi companies consider waiving peak-hour and CBD surcharges for the sick and disabled who rely heavily on taxis to take them to places of treatment such as hospitals and dialysis centres. The Land Transport Authority and EZ-Link could incorporate in the ez-link card a feature to waive taxi surcharges automatically. The surcharge waiver ez-link card, which would be similar to the concession ez-link card for senior citizens and minors, would be issued specially to the sick and disabled. When they used it to pay taxi fares, no surcharges would be levied during peak hours, regardless of location. The Government would give the taxi companies rebates for the waived surcharges.

Take the case of my elderly mother who goes to the Kidney Dialysis Foundation in Chinatown three times a week for dialysis. Each time she completes her dialysis, the taxi peak hour is about to start. A trip home, which normally costs $4.20 to $4.80 during off-peak hours, easily sets us back another $5, making a total of about $10.

Taxi peak-hour surcharges have added another financial burden, on top of the medical and dialysis fees we pay each month. There is no bus or MRT service we can take between our home and Chinatown.

Another benefit of the surcharge waiver ez-link card is that it would cut down on illegal hailing of taxis in the street in Chinatown. This is because patients could take their time to walk slowly to the nearest taxi stand without having to beat the peak-hour and CBD surcharges.

The surcharge waiver ez-link fare card could also waive other surcharges imposed in the future, for example, a fuel surcharge.

I hope by sharing my mother's experience, the authorities will understand some of the constraints faced by chronically ill commuters and empathise with them when they have little choice but to flag down taxis illegally.

The surcharge waiver ez-link card would go a long way to help the sick and disabled with their expenses.

Priscilla Poh (Ms)

QX179R SG

Idea No. 2: Reward those who book early

A COLLEAGUE recently made a comment on the taxi booking system in Singapore. The current system charges passengers a fee when they book taxis, either promptly or in advance. While I see nothing wrong with paying to book taxis in advance, perhaps the taxi companies could consider scrapping fees charged for prompt bookings.

First, removing booking fees for prompt pick-ups will reduce the number of taxis that pick up passengers in inappropriate places. Most of the time, these taxis cause inconvenience to traffic behind, not because drivers choose to stop there but because passengers choose to flag down taxis there. If passengers are not penalised with a booking fee, they have an incentive to book a taxi and be picked up in a convenient and safe location. Doing away with this booking fee may also boost demand for taxis, as they will be more convenient and affordable.

Second, scrapping the prompt taxi booking fee will also tackle the problem of taxis taking advantage of the booking fee and not picking up passengers in long taxi queues. Vice versa, with more taxi bookings, taxis will no longer form long queues at taxi stands, thereby forgoing the chance to pick up flag-down passengers.

From the viewpoint of the drivers, time spent driving without passengers will be reduced significantly, leading to savings in fuel as they will be able to pick up passengers via their satellite booking system. As the taxi booking process is already in place, there will be no significant cost to deter taxi companies from implementing this.

With the Government trying to create a world-class public transport system, taxis should not be neglected as we look at ways to complement the MRT and bus system.

Scrapping the prompt taxi booking fee will make taxis more affordable and thereby generate demand for them.

Toh Gim Sin

zaxis SG

Idea No. 2: Reward those who book early

With the Government trying to create a world-class public transport system, taxis should not be neglected as we look at ways to complement the MRT and bus system.

Scrapping the prompt taxi booking fee will make taxis more affordable and thereby generate demand for them.

Toh Gim Sin

china taxi do not charge advance or immediate booking charges

ALN SG

actually i think esp in town, calling is not efficient at all… in fact it wastes time searching and detouring to call pick up location… during peak hours, just to move 2 junction may take u 5 or 10 mins….

street pick up is definitely the most efficient in town….just my experience….

calling is only for those ulu areas without enough cabs….

Meaning, if booking in town got no fee, I confirm wont take… currently even with fee, I already see the pick up location first then decide….

for advance booking even worst… u have to forgo many trips 30 mins before the pick up time… that’s why without the higher booking fee, me forget it totally… currently even with the higher booking fee, me also usually not take… unless it coincide nicely with my location, rest time etc i.e. the best type is b4 6am to airport type of advance booking…

Poolman SG

To go back to $1 peak hour , and $2 city charges is still the best .

Poolman SG

But the meter jump remain this way is good .

Booking remains , $4 , not important .

lianamaster SG

street pick up is definitely the most efficient in town….just my experience….

calling is only for those ulu areas without enough cabs….

Meaning, if booking in town got no fee, I confirm wont take… currently even with fee, I already see the pick up location first then decide….

Oh I see.... ok....