By Deborah Choo | SingaporeScene – Tue, Dec 20,
2011
By Deborah Choo
"I just do the free rides just to put a smile on
people's faces and just say 'hey we're all in this together,"
said xxxxx,
23.
Xxxx and his
former fellow Temasek Polytechnic course mate xxxxx, 23,
took to the road first on
Tuesday last week after midnight to offer
free rides to any
Singaporeans in light of the recent cab fare hikes
by ComfortDelgro.
The pair pasted a big handwritten sign "FREE RIDES" on
the bottom left of the black Honda Civic
xxxx's father readily
lent him. They set out to pick up random people to extend their
little effort to anyone who wants a ride. On that night, they
picked up two passengers. Xxxx drove out again
yesterday picking up another two lucky passengers.
Xxxx admits that he
too is a frequent taxi customer because he rushes from meetings to
meetings.
However, he
recognises that their efforts are unable to change the
situation. "I
don't think we can do anything about it. I haven't
taken a taxi since the announcement of the fare hikes but
eventually I think I will succumb to it also. But I know it won't
be the last."
"Of course, if something can be done, that'll be
great," he added.
The news of the recent price increments by
ComfortDelgro, one of Singapore's largest market share holder in
the cab transport industry, annoyed most Singaporeans. The
flag-down is now 20 to 70 cents more. The online attacks came fast
and furious with one Facebook group called "Boycott
Comfort Delgro and its Fare Hikes" already set
up.
"I read from an article years back that once Comfort
increases its fares, the rest of the companies will follow suit
because they don't want to lose out when the taxi drivers want to
change companies to earn more. That's what I read, and I think it
makes sense," added Ruby, a freelance writer.
Indeed, SMRT reacted fast to its competitor's
increments, and also announced fare hikes.
On Monday night last week after the news broke of
ComfortDelgro's price increases, Xxxx and a group of
his friends were exchanging ideas when he suddenly thought of
giving people free rides. His friends and family were all
supportive of the idea.
By noon the next day, the idea was in motion. The duo
went about getting paper and pen to randomly draw up a sign last
minute and took to the roads approaching all who wanted a ride
after midnight. "I was just nominated by our friends who pushed me
to accompany him!" Ruby laughed.
The duo was clearly in high spirits when they filmed a
video during their first adventure in the car. His handsome boyish
looks and great sense of humor proved to be infectious as the
passengers happily interacted with the pair.
"Though the idea came out of the recent comfort fare
hike, the motivation to do this was more than anything else to
bless Singaporeans from my love for my people than a protest," he
said.
Xxxx revealed that
the response has been wonderful so far and thinks less of the costs
that he had been forking from his own pocket. "Sometimes when I
drive, I see people giving us thumbs up." ( yeah... 2 morons doing national
service ? 
)
