Re: Government Intervention in COE's again
Public transport system needs more innovation
Letter from Chia Hern Keng 04:46 AM Oct 04, 2011
ALTHOUGH Singapore's traffic management continues to be praised by observers as one of the best in the world, this efficiency can be attributed largely to our costly Vehicle Quota System and Electronic Road Pricing.
This way of regulating our transport system over two decades has been reflected in the rising cost of living and doing business here.
Is it any surprise that our current inflation rate stands at over 5 per cent, one that does not seem to be slowing down anytime soon? This despite the fact that the Singapore dollar had been appreciating against the greenback.
This inflation is, to a significant extent, the result of a policymaking tendency to solve problems through the use of monetary disincentives rather than through innovative thinking. We should think of alternative ways to traffic management.
For instance, although our public bus system was revamped during the '70s into an integrated one with the aim of achieving greater efficiency, there has been little innovation since.
Bus companies have not adequately offered the public other types of vehicles such as mini-buses especially during peak hours to improve frequency (with the exception of premium bus services).
Since mini-buses are used more widely in many other countries, bus companies should explore this idea.
Furthermore, the Government and bus companies should collaborate more closely such that the most efficient bus routes will result from road design, given that bottlenecks during peak hours continue to persist along certain roads used by public buses.
I am sure such daily congestion has jacked up the operating cost of bus operators, which is then passed down to commuters.
Another innovation that can be explored is the full use of our waters for mass transport.
Since Singapore is an island and numerous housing estates, industrial and commercial areas are close to the sea, ferries should be seriously considered as an alternative means of transport to reduce the load on public roads.
Our country needs to continue to innovate and improve by constantly studying what other nations are doing, and doing better than us, in order to maintain our competitiveness as well as to better keep inflation in check and ensure the quality of life here.
TODAYonline | Voices | Public transport system needs more innovation