World class transport system?

Taxi fare scheduled to be increase from coming Thursday onwards. Passengers will have to pay for the 30% surcharge per journey. Public transport fare, in particular the bus fare will also be increased soon. It was reported in the press that the Government Parliamentary Committee or the GPC has decide that distance based fare is the way to go.
Each time when the government decides to implements a policy; it will cite examples from other countries for instance in this case Korea to justify its decision and case put forth. It is funny though those countries that do not implement distance based bus fares are not discussed with regards to the bus fare increased due to oil price hike

All in all, it seems the underlying decision is based on profitability. Public transport is meant to be a public service but it seems that since it is run by private entity, the shareholders interest comes first before anything else. To make matter worst, GPC recommend or I should say states that commuters who take direct bus services should pay more. The reason given is preposterous, that direct bus services plying fix direct routes will lead to a loss of revenue for public transport operators. Yes, you read it correctly; public transport operators must operate in the profitable range. Instead GPC recommend rebates for those who transfers or switches between buses or trains for the same distance as oppose to those taking direct routes. There is one fundamental big problem that those in the GPC seems to have forgotten or perhaps not even aware of, that switching between busses or trains to reach the same destination would involve longer time to reach destination. So now it seems that the bus operator profit or loss is more important than commuters time.

Well, the press also states that eventually direct routes and those taking the hub and spoke transport system, a term referring to transfer between bus and train to reach destination will pay the same fare. Pending the finalization and implementation of such system, those who take direct routes will have to pay more. There are also plans to re-route or redirect existing direct routes. I am the kind of guy who has no interest to dwell into any policies or anything that’s go to do with how the nation is run, but this so called reasons for increase in bus fare really put me off. GPC is really out of touch with reality. Here are some of the problems that the hub and spoke system will cause for public commuters.

1)The bus service frequency has been deteriorating. Some times it takes over 30 minutes to wait for the bus. For instance occasionally waiting time for fiddle bus service 911 plying between Woodlands Interchange to Woodlands Street 82 can take as long as 30 minutes or more. Does GPC realize that and with this kind of poor service, do we deserve to call our public transport system a world-class transport system? Does this justify bus fare increase?
Speaking of the long wait or queue for especially buses, may I suggest public commuters bring their PSP, IPOD or whatever gadgets to kill time otherwise they might go crazy over the ridiculous waiting time.

2) Bus or train is usually crowded and there are no seats in sight for you to enjoy what you pay for. Why should we pay more to get our-self sandwich like sardine in a full pack cabin?
3) Have GPC spare thoughts for the elderly and the disabled who are less mobile and would pose much difficulty to switch between trains for buses?
4) Where is the comfort if we have to constantly to switch bus or train to get to our destination?

Lastly what have I to say? I rest my case



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