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In a hurry? New platform will soon tell you the fastest route by bus, MRT, taxi or bicycle

SINGAPORE — In the future, a tap of the finger or a click of the mouse could call up a number of transportation options for one to get around the island using different modes of transport such as buses, taxis, carpooling or rental bicycles.

More than 2,000 ComfortDelGro cabbies could jump ship and join rival taxi operators partnering Grab, or switch to become private car hires. Photo: TODAY

More than 2,000 ComfortDelGro cabbies could jump ship and join rival taxi operators partnering Grab, or switch to become private car hires. Photo: TODAY

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SINGAPORE — In the future, a tap of the finger or a click of the mouse could call up a number of transportation options for one to get around the island using different modes of transport such as buses, taxis, carpooling or rental bicycles.

More than just a tool to help commuters plan their journeys, this platform — which is being explored by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and the Government Technology Agency (GovTech) — may not only suggest the fastest or cheapest options for commuters to get to their destination but also show the estimated cost, time taken, carbon footprint, and even calories burnt with each choice. Commuters could make bookings directly and foot the fares via pay-as-you-go or subscription plans.

With the aim of moving towards a more efficient public transportation system and reduced reliance on cars, the LTA and GovTech are working to develop a prototype of the platform, modelled after the Mobility as a Service (MaaS) concept — currently being trialled in Helsinki and slated to be launched in Dubai.

In an interview with TODAY, Mr Liu Feng-Yuan, director of the Data Science Division at GovTech’s Government Digital Services, said: “The problem with transport services in most cities is that they can be siloed, so there’s Grab, there’s Uber, taxis on the road, maybe bike-share and then there’s public transportation. A lot of the times, you’re forced to decide between all these options without having the real chance to compare them simultaneously and in real time, and to make bookings on the spot.”

While stressing that the concept is still at a preliminary stage, Mr Liu said the potential is “very exciting”.

“A more seamless and integrated shared transport system means less reliance on cars. Of course, a lot more work has to go into developing and prototyping the idea to see how it can work in practice,” he said, noting that private-sector players who come on board can offer innovative options and packages.

GovTech said the platform would help ensure efficiency of the transportation system. For example, after a concert ends at 2am and 100 people are waiting for taxis, all the operators on the platform will be aware of the demand for their services but instead of having each taxi pick up just one commuter, pooling can be done more easily. Commuters could also be given suggestions for last-mile connections from an MRT station, for example, to their homes, such as bike-sharing.

In response to TODAY’s queries, an LTA spokesman said: “We hope to develop MaaS into a platform to help the public better utilise the various mobility options available. Through this platform, a commuter would be able to plan and book the best travel option to suit his or her needs even across different modes of transport such as cycling, bus, MRT and point-to-point mobility options, and transport operators.”

In Finland, a private service provider called MaaS Global started a public trial of such a platform this week. Transport authorities in Dubai are also set to launch a similar project in the middle of next year.

Speaking to TODAY, MaaS Global CEO Mr Sampo Hietanen said that in seeking to reduce car ownership, the company is targeting commuters who want freedom of mobility. “Why do people want to buy cars? Because they want that freedom of mobility. Individually, taxis, buses and car-sharing cannot do that. But use them in combination, (and people) would end up saving money as compared to owning a car.” The firm offers various monthly packages including an €89 (S$135) plan, which offers subscribers unlimited use of public transport and bike sharing, to a €1,000 plan, which allows commuters to use any mode of transport as many times as they want within a month. Under the priciest plan, commuters can earn extra “mobility points” by opting for public transport and use them on perks such as the use of a Tesla car for the weekend.

Mr Hietanen said a challenge was convincing transport providers to join the platform. “They fear that it would affect their margins, and as for commuters, how do you convince them that this is enough, that they don’t need a car? So to do that, we need to offer a very complete service.”

Analysts here agreed that it would be a tricky task to convince the major players to sign up, although they expect the public transport operators to be receptive.

Transport economist Walter Theseira, a senior lecturer at SIM University, said that players such as Uber and Grab have a vested interest in maintaining control over their own networks. “It’s what prevents newcomers from coming in and competing with them, because once you have a large network, it becomes easier to attract new customers and harder for customers to leave.” He added: “If everyone were to use this new transport platform, the barrier to entry for a new competitor to Uber or Grab becomes incredibly low, because they don’t have to invest in marketing to get people to install and use their app.”

National University of Singapore Professor Lee Der Horng added: “If you put everyone on the same platform, the big players lose their competitive edge. For public transport operators, there shouldn’t be an issue.”

Nevertheless, the benefits to commuters are clear, he said. “Our rail and bus networks have become very comprehensive. So if consumers are to access this platform, and if it is reliable, it could help them work out the best routes and shorten their travelling time, for example.”

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