Taxis

If u're in Singapore, u'll probably hear the talk of the town now is..... Taxis!

Yes, ComfortDelgro the major cab provider is going to increase the cab fares. Though the spokesperson said that it's part of encouraging cab drivers to drive in to the orchard or ERP areas... blah blah blah.... BUT, I think it's all BS.

Pls. For goodness' sake, I think it's more so to punish us the commuters who always write in to some forum or feedback to them that cabs are so difficult to get during peak hours, at ERP areas, before midnight, so they decided to punish us by increasing the fares. At least this is my humble opinion.

Cuz, if u really think it carefully, if the feedback is more so like difficult to get cabs, then all the more, the provider/operator should review the rev share model, like to decrease their takings from the cab driver and that way, the cabbies will have more incentives to drive. With that, commuters will not need to pay extra.

AND I've got something else to say on cabbies.

Sometime back, our National Print journalists uncovered that there're a lot of cabbies doing touting and/or do not go by the meter. Now, don't you think that it's the job of the provider/operator that they should be more hardworking on doing their mystery shopping to increase the productivity as well as the standards of their cabbies?!?! Why do they need journalists to uncover such a worthy news?!

With the provider/operator not doing their job proper, they now still hv the cheek to increase the flag down fees etc... see more details below:

Current Rate New Rate

City Area Surcharge $1 peak hour $3.00 (5pm till midnight, Mon to Sat)

Late Night Charge staggered 10% to 50% 50% of metered fare (12am till 5:59am)

Peak Period Surcharge $2.00 35% of metered fare (7am-9:30am, 5pm-8pm)

Flagged Down Fare $2.50 for first km $2.80 for first km

Waiting time $0.10 every 25s $0.20 every 45s

Distance Rate (<=10km) $0.10 every 210 m $0.20 every 385m from 2nd km till 10km

Distance Rate (>10km) $0.10 every175 m $0.20 every 330m above 10km

Call Booking (prime time) $4.00 $3.50 (7am-9:30am, 5pm-11pm, weekdays)

Call Booking (other time) $2.50 $2.50

Which I really think, now the cabs are for the rich.

But then, if the rich is to take the cabs, in the 1st place, they can afford the cars.

Sigh. Expensive ride.