Stomp Are we that bad? So many TD haters nowadays. Hahaha...

riskman SG

STOMPer Melissa is outraged by the behaviour of local cab drivers these days. She claims that they are becoming increasingly rude and choosy: preferring to pick up passengers only at certain locations and time. This is based on two separate incidents that she faced recently.

She writes to us:

"Not too long ago, cab drivers made their views known that they were afraid of their rice bowls being affected with increasing fares. Unfortunately, it seems to me that whilst our economy is doing well, cab drivers are getting cocky. I'm writing as feedback towards my unpleasant experiences on Sunday (Dec 5) and Saturday (December 11) at Marina Barrage and Jalan Sultan area respectively.

"On 5 Dec, I was at the Marina Barrrage for an event. When my friends and I were leaving the area at around 6pm, we noticed that the cabs dropping passengers off, did not pick up any new ones. We decided to walk out and flag for one along the way. Strangely, many cabs, without passengers, drove past us with the green 'TAXI' sign brightly lit! There were some who saw us waving and accelerated away.I strongly feel that these cab drivers wanted to pick passengers from Marina Bay Sands,in order to charge the surcharge and maybe earn some tips from casino patrons.

"On 11 Dec, my family and I waited for an hour for a cab at night, walking from Ophir Road to Jalan Sultan. At least 10 cabs drove past us, without any passengers inside. However, a cab driver driving a 'Comfort' cab along Victoria Road really takes the cake. At the traffic light junction, he had 'TAMPINES' flashed on his sign. We flagged the cab and asked him to bring us to Bedok Road. We even told him the shortcuts. Without muttering a word, he stepped on the accelerator and stopped 25m down the road to pick up two ladies. That was extremely rude of him. Of course, I need to add that the taxi hotlines are always busy! Are they under-staffed?

"When I grumbled to my friend about the local cab situation, he highlighted the exact same thing he experienced on the night of ZoukOut.

"Are cab drivers openly displaying their arrogance by choosing their passengers? How is it that rude cab drivers are allowed on our roads? Will I continuously be disadvantaged because I don't hail cabs in the city and don't have blonde hair?"

"I hope that Comfort cab will provide us with a satisfactory answer. I believe that I'm not the only frustrated passenger around."

Aquatic Crystal SG

That's very subjective.I have come across both good and atrocious taxi-drivers .But I try to understand that they drive all the time on the road and it is inevitable that some may experience nasty customers or other drivers thus affecting their mood the whole day.

Acekang SG

I hope the taxi companies introduced higher booking fees for those who are willing to pay more for a taxi outside CBD area.

ALN SG

me also confused…

Surcharge are imposed at some locations to attract taxi to go there mah… so of course many taxis rush there empty wor…

like that got wrong?

komade SG

Care bout ur own pockets n notin else…....

Rules set by LTA we juz play by the rules…...

riskman SG

I got a weird feeling about next year. LTA might change the fares structure.

Pax, please continue to complain. End of the day, the more you complain, the more it will hurt your pockets. This is how SG works. You complain not enough parking lots at night right? Okay lor. Lets increase overnight parking coupons. Hahahah....

Poolman SG

I got a weird feeling about next year. LTA might change the fares structure.

Yes MBS change the whole facelift of the whole taxi industry in town .

All thanks to CDG .

If LTA u are looking at this , let me tell you tis ....

MBS is going to be the top earner of the Sands Group .

If they insist close one eye on these issues , we cabby can afford it , not the commuters and tourist .

Poolman SG

$3 flag down must be history .

$2.50 booking also must be re-written .

$0.20 remains .

35% peak hour down to 20%

20% all the way til 12MN .

Poolman SG

LTA must make local give way to tourist and business people who need cab .

MRT and BUSES are meant for locals .

Taxis are not .

20% surcharge all the way , to push down local taking cabs , especally those people at Little India .

If 20% are apllicable , u'll see 80% of those people from Little India taking taxis gone .

U want to cure cancer , must cure from outside , then inside .

Tio Call Liao SG

I got a weird feeling about next year. LTA might change the fares structure.

Riskman u are right. The fare will be readjusted coz of many complains like this.

Tio Call Liao SG

$5 metre coming soon

allulu69 SG

I think because of the 2 IRs, the demand of taxi ridership had driven up and the supply is short just after the peak hours.

Perhaps, taxi companies should think of scrapping the CDB charges and raise the flag down fare in order to prevent eneven distribution of cabs.

Acekang SG

Small flies complain no use, big shot complain then they got more pressure....lol

Tio Call Liao SG

At the traffic light junction, he had 'TAMPINES' flashed on his sign. We flagged the cab and asked him to bring us to Bedok Road. We even told him the shortcuts.

"When I grumbled to my friend about the local cab situation, he highlighted the exact same thing he experienced on the night of ZoukOut.

oi Melissa , At jalan sultan , TD pick u already very good already. You wanna tell him to take short cut somemore?

You know why i never pick some folks like u? One experience is enough .

Bugger flag my cab from napier road to AMK , told me to take all the fucking short cuts , i could not rem how but i know i went through chancery lane , Chancery Hill, Dyson , Whitley & finally out to thomson. What kinda shit pax is this? How much can he save i wonder? End trip i told him hello uncle turn steering until hand pain liao la. Fella still can laugh sia knn. Never earn $3 CBD already very dulan liao haha

Eh , your friend go zouk ah? zouk until very late right? So u expect all TDs to stay up for u ah? wait until u party shiok shiok , walk out got cab to take u home? somemore in sentosa? aiyo aiyo..

Poolman SG

I think because of the 2 IRs, the demand of taxi ridership had driven up and the supply is short just after the peak hours.

Perhaps, taxi companies should think of scrapping the CDB charges and raise the flag down fare in order to prevent eneven distribution of cabs.

if all even , u tell me , why should i come in ?

outside MBS and Vivo city plenty to chose from , why should i service MBS and RWS for the same price ?

Gimme 10 good reasons .

Acekang SG

They seldom take taxi and dont understand how the fare system works......i think commuters need to be educated, perhaps the fare system can be pasted at taxi stands....

allulu69 SG

if all even , u tell me , why should i come in ?

outside MBS and Vivo city plenty to chose from , why should i service MBS and RWS for the same price ?

Gimme 10 good reasons .

I dun know.

This problem would never end, i guess.

Better than LTA ask taxi companies to put more taxis on the road to meet demand right?

komade SG

oi Melissa , At jalan sultan , TD pick u already very good already. You wanna tell him to take short cut somemore?

You know why i never pick some folks like u? One experience is enough .

Eh , your friend go zouk ah? zouk until very late right? So u expect all TDs to stay up for u ah? wait until u party shiok shiok , walk out got cab to take u home? somemore in sentosa? aiyo aiyo..

Yah lor bro knn wanna party till 6am in the morning expect ppl to be there take u hm meh?? no need change shift n sleep ah??