POLL: Should the Airport have seperate Taxi Queues?

last SG · 2005-12-25T23:54:24+00:00

What about if use coupons system as like in JB Senai Airport?

105090 SG

In wake of the recent flurry of letters to local newspaper forums, many commuters and cabbies alike are complaining about one thing:

Commuters who are staying in the East such as Bedok, Changi, Simei, Pasir Ris often get black faces from complaining cabbies, who has been waiting for up to 2 hours in the Airport Queue.

A fare to these locations, usually does not cross the $10 mark, even after adding the Airport surcharge of $3-$5.

Commuters feel bad, and the cabbies who has customers going to the places mentioned also dosne tfel happy as he had wasted his time queuing for such a short fare.

There are replies to the newspaper, from most commuters saying in the East, and from some cabbies, to build a Airport Taxi Queue, dedicated for the Eastern part of Singapore's commuters. In this way, it may be a win-win situation for cabby and customer.

LTA disagreed and says the one-queue-for-all scheme presently has worked for many years, successfully. It also says that cabbies are not allowed to choose and reject customers for any reason. (such as destination, etc).

So should the Airport have 2 seperate Taxi Queues? one for the East, another for the rest of the island?

iveco SG

THe current system is all right. I do not see any reason for change. Confused

gorby107 SG

But you see the taxi queue have not many people(wrong??). I think will waste resources and money to build another taxi stand

SGEMP SG

What about if:

1) Set up a "eastern district short distance surcharge" of about $4 or until the total fare to the eastern destinations is over the $10 line?

2) CAAS/LTA to register any taxis/cabbies (with the "no grumbling" stipulation) that usually liked running between airport and eastern districts, and give them not only monthly subsidies (for a year) but also a specially marked waiting lot that must not be far from the PTB taxi stand?

3) Route taxi service: CGA PRS/BDK/TAM/SIM/EUN. fleet formed from cabbies who had registered with CAAS/LTA?

4) at the airport taxi stand, request passengers to give way to passengers towards city and the east?

105090 SG

maybe those going to the East should pay a higher surcharge?

Volvo Olympian SG

If we build seperate queues, then some cabbies may join the East Q, then the other queue will have more ppl waiting longer

the East Queue may be shorter, then cabbies can complete a fare, and rush off to the airport for another East fare, like that the main queue ppl will have to wait and wait

105090 SG

on the other hand, a cabby once told me that even if the taxi queue in Terminal 1 or 2 is full, or a 2 hour wait, he said that one big aeroplane comes in, then the arrival passengers takes taxi,s, then even the taxis in the queue also not enough for the plane passengers.

Changi is also a busy airport, there are planes arriving about once evry 5-10minutes at busier times.. cabbies can then get a fare faster Rolling Eyes

Poolman SG

I'm a cabby , if the customer scared drivers pulled a long face , at the end of the trip , pay him good tips la , like airport to Tampines , fare is $9.80 , give cabby $12.00 la , tell them keep the change lor , then the driver sure smile and even will help you take luggage somemore .

I for one , received $20 just from AP T1 to Tampines St.21 , you know what that "good customer" did ?

He smile at me as he walked towrads my taxi , in his right hand , 2 $10 notes , left hand carry luggage , i opened the boot for him , he put his stuff , and immediately , pass me that $20 , and steadily said : " Take me to Tampines St.21 !"

We even talked and jokes along the way ..... and guess what's his profession ? He's a taxi driver too !

Poolman SG

If those Eastlanders got this "black face "problem , trust me , money will makes the world go round .

Go think a way to make it work . Money sure works .

If dun want to part a bit of money , make sure you can endure "black face " for at least 15 minutes !

Trust me , LTA will never do such thing like re-adjusting taxi surcharge for those going to the east , they'll looking for trouble .

And one thing for sure , why should they it for the benefit of the driver ? It sure doesn't benefit anybody else .

Only invite complaints !

105090 SG

Poolman, i stays at Seletar Road area. So to go to Airport, cabby usually goes via Jln Kayu and to TPE, then Airport.

Seletar isnt in the "East" area, but the taxi fare is about $10 - $12 after adding up everything..

like that is it OK for the driver's standards?

SGEMP SG

What about if totally prohibiting people from taking taxis from airport to the esat, and make them use MRT/buses instead?

(I.e. taxi drivers has the right to request (once the customer had revealed that his/her destination is in the east) the easterners out of the cab, and make them to use trains/buses instead?)

Chelzea SG

WAd abt sengkang Razz Nort east rite?BNt east liao Mr. Green

Poolman SG

It's okay ma ! 10 minutes job , no need Q-ing , $10-$12 alright ma .

Poolman SG

What "prohibiting" ? Force them take MRT ? Cannot la , in Singapore like that make no sense .

What ? Taxi drivers has the right to request ? The answer is : Taxi drivers has no right to choose and request ! As long as the commuters has the money to pay for the trip to anywhere , we have to take , we can't say no .

Once the customer got on-board the taxi , from anywhere in Singapore , it's against the regulation to tell the customer "Get-out" , even with a valid reason , like changing shift and not putting up the board .

Once we stop for the customers , we have an obligation to take them where they wanna go .

Poolman SG

Maybe i should list out the east area taxi drivers hate to pick customer from the Airport !

1.Tampines
2.Pasir Ris
3.Loyang
4.Changi
5.Simei
6.Bedok South
7.Tanah Merah
8.Bedok North
9.Bedok Reservoir
10.Bayshore
11.East Coast Rd
12.Up east Coast rd
13.Siglap
14.Chai Chee

This area usually cost about maximum $11 including airport surcharge . $11 for a 45 minutes - 1 hour waiting , it's pathetic la for goodness sake .

If you happen to be staying around .... and worry ....

1.Sengkang
2.Hougang
3.Punggol
4.Seletar
5.Yoi Chu Kang
6.Marine Parade
7.Joo Chiat ........... generally it's okay , cabbies will show no faces to you . Laughing

Poolman SG

Time has changed , bro !

I used to go AP thrice every evening , if the timing is right , usually i wait only 20 minutes the most , now no longer got such luxury liao , minimum waiting time is 35 minutes . Even with a full house flight , reason is that taxis too many at the airport sharing the same piece of cake , compare to a few years back .

Poolman SG

Things could be better if Terminal 3 is completed !

Things could be much more rosier for cabbies if the Low Cost Terminal is in full flight on February next yr .

If the waiting time is short , cabby would not complaint to go anywhere .

105090 SG

Last friday, 23rd, at about 12+ am, i flagged down a Comfort at Jln Kayu, want to go to Seletar housing estate a shirt while ahead..

I told this Chinese national cabby the place, he say "oh! bu yao bu yao" then went off, and parked his vehicle ahead in a small street, and "slack"! m appalled! a $5.10 inclusive of midnite charge also dont want ah?

Volvo Olympian SG

Terminal 2 seems to has less taxis, and also less passengers… i always see more taxis at Terminal 1

SBS9889U SG

Question: Does cabbies do research on what time does most flights land in SG and @ which airport?