JustGrab: SMRT, Prime, Premier, Trans-Cab, HDT

last SG · 2017-03-10T13:35:29+00:00

Taxis will still do street and taxi Q job lah, surge price, if other taxis go for it, CBD will full of pax in Q for taxis, think of it, it is a good move for...

liewsc SG

I mean if during surge pricing income much better than street hail then driver will choose to take booking than street hail right?

Pandanchen SG

surge (fixed) pricing

if you are caught in a jam, you think this fixed price is better? some jam can be one hour long

bowah SG

I think as long as it is an option, just take it or leave it, nobody will force you to take the fix pricing if you dun want it,

we have been discussing and talking fix pricing and surge price base on peak period timing, what about non peak period, the fix price will go below meter pricing, and that will be a direct competition with UG…and as a TDs, your business might increase, but have to take the lower pricing….better than roaming around empty..tio bo.

Taxilim88 SG

I mean if during surge pricing income much better than street hail then driver will choose to take booking than street hail right?

Minimal impact on street hail.

Even now without surge pricing, drivers already choose to take bookings during peak rather than street hail since bookings earn more. So it is not as if drivers behaviour will suddenly change for the worse with surge pricing with respect to street hail.

The change is between normal bookings and surge bookings. Normal bookings will be harder to get cabs unless you want to pay more for surge bookings. That's all.

There will always be drivers who will take street jobs but these will get lesser and lesser.

FireIce SG

passengers have choice

drivers have choice

if drivers accept surge, the surge pricing will slowly do down as demand is met.......

really depends on the location and how desperate the passenger needs a ride

bowah SG

Well, it is dynamic, and I can say, the surge pricing in taxis will be in the mid of taxis fares and UG surge price, because the ultimatum is to compete, if taxis is to surge a fix price that matches UG surge price of x2 or x3 etc, then it will defeat the purposes when demand were not met, becos people like our lau char bor mods will still take UG.

And as I said, given the same rental as what you are paying now on a taxis, taxi drivers can always switch between taxis meter and fix price fare. So, you have the best of both world.

Let take an example, CBD at 7pm, peak period, UG surge X2 price at $40 from x to y
Fix price for taxi at 1.5 of UG surge price ie $30 from x to y
Taxi meter is the normal 1 x fare with all the surcharges at $25 from x to y

UG remain UG

Out of the usual 6 thousands taxi at CBD at that time of the day, 3 thousands may opt to go for fix fare pricing

That leaves another 3 thousands, who initially have to compete with the other 3 thousands base on meter fare before fix fare come into the picture, and these 3 thousands will gain from many calls and pick up.

Therefore, in my view, taxis will gain, if not the income, it will be the market or both.

FireIce SG

so it's up to the taxi companies to make the "surge" competitive.........

passengers will make their own choice depending on the fares shown in all apps at the point of booking

if TDs want this share of the pie, then they have to be less choosy

the risk will be unexpected traffic jams and road conditions

also, these taxi apps de backend system (in terms of matching and calculating the fares accurately, analysing data) can match up with uber/grab de or not is another qn.......
and whether they take how many % of the fare from the drivers.........

FireIce SG

The New Paper
9 March 2017

Most of those who spoke to The New Paper were apprehensive about the pricing system and the technology involved.

Mr Chia Chiong Soon, 70, a cabby of 20 years, said: "Why must we make things so complicated? Older people usually drive leisurely, and all we want is for things to remain convenient and easy for us."

Another cabby, who wanted to be known as Mr Tan, 60, said: "I want to rely on the meter, and I don't want to have to keep meddling with my phone when I drive.

"It's dangerous and troublesome for me. My phone is old and cannot handle so many applications."
Others found the dynamic pricing model, which fluctuates based on demand, confusing.

A Comfort taxi driver, Mr Chua, 59, felt that surge pricing would be unfavourable to taxis. He said: "If we have the same pricing model as Grab and Uber cars, then who will book our cabs? Commuters will stick with one platform because it's more convenient for them.

'PROMOTIONAL CODES'

"Moreover, Grab and Uber have promotional codes that could lower the price."

Another Comfort cabby, Mr Tan Tai Heng, 62, also prefers to stick to the meter.

He said: "I don't know how low-surge prices will go during non-peak periods. The meter pricing takes into account traffic jams and delays, so we may earn more."

However, Mr Mahmood Abdullah, 66, said surge pricing may help taxi drivers remain competitive.

"If we have the same pricing as Uber and Grab, then maybe we won't lose out on customers. They may also choose us because now we can all charge the same."

bowah SG

Lau gui all very hard to change one lah, knn, some wear one pant for weeks also never change, you want them to change??? You can’t even change a 40yo local guy, talk about changing 60+ yo guy.

The media, especially local newspapers are just making fun of taxi drivers…so many times want to interview me, take my photos, I ask them to fark off…of all thing in Singapore, never trust the media. It can make you famous, it can also make your life miserable.

And because of low reader rate in their newspaper, they will find taxis driver and make fun of us…so dun fall into their trap. Knnccb, got nothing better to report meh…keep talking about taxi driver…for fark

FireIce SG

took 2 x grabtaxi yday and chatted with both drivers

both talk about the "justgrab" tts gonna be rolled out next month (transcab)
they went for the training already

they seem happy about the new fare structure
say it will give them more opportunities...
take bookings got incentive.....
no bookings still got flag down...

just tt one of the unkers mentioned tt when u use the fixed fare option, the vehicle tt comes may be a taxi or a PHV..... depending on which one nearer
not sure whether rider can choose or not

FireIce SG

Taxi companies have been given the green light to implement a new "dynamic pricing" system, in which fares will vary according to passenger demand.

In a joint statement, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and the Public Transport Council (PTC) said on Friday (March 17) they have "no objections to the proposals" put forth by the cab operators on the new fare system, also known as surge pricing.

Dynamic pricing, however, will be an additional option for commuters booking a taxi, on top of the current metered rates.

Earlier this month, it was reported that several taxi operators had informed the PTC of their plans to implement the controversial pricing system, which is available in the Grab ride-hailing app.

Under it, customers will be quoted a flat fare when they book a taxi via the app, which they can choose to accept or reject.

On Friday, SMRT announced a partnership with Grab to introduce the dynamic pricing system.

The company, which has a fleet of more than 3,400 taxis, said: "Dynamic fixed fares are displayed upfront, and already accounts for travel time, distance, booking fees, and real-time demand and supply for taxis.

"SMRT taxi drivers who accept bookings via this new Grab service enjoy fixed, competitive fares for their service."

Surge pricing is used by apps Uber and Grab for its private-hire car services.

It has drawn flak from some commuters for being exorbitant, particularly during periods of high demand. There were instances when fares went up by 3.9 times during train breakdowns.

Second Minister for Transport Ng Chee Meng said in Parliament last week that the taxi industry should be allowed to " innovate and adapt to new market conditions and competition".

"Our taxi drivers have to make a living, and we should not restrict their ability to compete effectively." Mr Ng added.

liewsc SG

Before LTA/PTC give green light many taxi driver already using U/G already right? Seems now comfort will be the only one may be develping and using their own app.

bowah SG

Comfort till now have never openly proclaim that they are partnering with any apps, they have their own apps, jus that it lack publicity and marketing, which I think will be abit too late if they do it now. Anyway, keep depending on UG is also not the way, cdg will add more spread for the consumers at large.

FireIce SG

depends on rider willing to dl more apps for this or not

for now, shuffling between uber and grab already quite enough

but if the pricing is relli competitive and service level is there, i believe many wont mind

peterpan212 SG

https://www.google.com.sg/amp/news.asiaone.com/...

Taxi cost is higher. Car also better. Insurrance also no need to worry. Fares same as phv?
Siao bo. Grab is really take advantage on taxi

Pandanchen SG

https://www.google.com.sg/amp/news.asiaone.com/...

Taxi cost is higher. Car also better. Insurrance also no need to worry. Fares same as phv?
Siao bo. Grab is really take advantage on taxi

i agree, grab is not doing this for taxi drivers advantage

liewsc SG

Grab started as grab taxi then they tried to swing to grab car and now seems back to taxi pool again but with their fare/promo rate. duno will last how long

FireIce SG

grabtaxi driver say got incentives if they take booking from app

i think is 10 a day

no bookings then can just take flag down loh

still go by meter

win-win situation

bowah SG

But grabtaxi I did, always kenna chao aunty like the one above of me, or si gina who lazy to walk to market, smlj $5, $8, $10 promotion, ,

reach there $5.10, give me 10cts and laughed…feel like want to strangler all these cheapo..chao aunties and si gina..then limpek hv to key this and that into grab apps..knn…seibei cham

then Cdg call come in, ping, kin ka kin chiu, press 4 minutes, lanjiao cab got no auto bid booking…

wha, good trip men…go airport from teck whye…off grabtaxi apps

FireIce SG

So it looks like nothing is standing in the way of taxi companies imposing their version of "surge pricing" on customers.

Last Friday, the Public Transport Council (PTC) and the Land Transport Authority (LTA) issued a statement saying they had "no objections" to the proposals by taxi companies to impose what they termed "dynamic pricing".

Surge pricing, a system used by private car-sharing apps such as Uber and Grab, adjusts fares according to passenger demand in a particular area at a particular time.

Taxi companies had applied to the PTC to be allowed to introduce such fare pricing on bookings made on mobile apps.

Uber and GrabCar have, in recent years, provided real competition to cab companies, with media reports of many un-rented cabs sitting around.

There was hope that, if nothing else, this competition will finally drive cab companies to provide better service to customers and better welfare for their drivers too.

I find it rather ironic that of all the things to learn from the likes of Uber and Grab, the cab companies have chosen to copy their surge pricing.

After all, surge pricing is probably the one thing that commuters hate most about these apps.

Just think back to July 2015, when two of the main MRT lines - the North-South and East-West lines - had a major breakdown that lasted for 3½ hours.

Uber implemented surge pricing of up to five times the usual fare, prompting a huge outcry online among frustrated commuters.

Within an hour of the surge, Uber readjusted fares to remove the surge mechanism.

Strangely enough, the largest cab company here, ComfortDelgro, said after the PTC's and LTA's okay that it will not be introducing surge pricing. Instead, it will introduce a flat fare based on a metered-fare structure.

Uber and Grab say they use surge pricing to encourage more drivers to get out on the road when demand is high.

The reverse will also then be applicable - that when there is no surge pricing, fewer drivers are out picking up rides.

Uber and Grab can get away with this, fairly or unfairly, because they are not seen as the mainstays in the business like how cabs are viewed.

But if cab companies introduce surge pricing too, would taxis still ply the roads for a flag-down customer who will probably be paying a lower fare?

Would people in Orchard Road on a Friday night be able to get a ride back home without paying ridiculously high prices?

And would taxi companies be losing the very edge they currently hold over Uber and Grab by introducing dynamic pricing?

When I need a ride, what I usually do is check Uber and Grab to see how high their surge is.

If I feel the fare is unreasonable, I will either wait for it to go down or take a GrabTaxi instead.

But if all parties - Uber, Grab and taxis - are charging surged fares, which will I go for?

I'm pretty sure it's not the ones with the grumpy uncle behind the wheel.

TNP

love the last line

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