Mixed response to cheaper alternative to taxis

SINGAPORE — The idea of a cheaper alternative to taxis appealed to commuters, but drivers appear less enthused by the idea of ferrying passengers around via GrabHitch, a new ride-sharing service launched by GrabTaxi today (Nov 11).

Transport experts TODAY interviewed also expressed reservations as to whether GrabHitch could jumpstart enthusiasm for carpooling in Singapore as Singaporeans are wary of strangers, while noting the service would need to attract a large pool of drivers to take off.

Singapore Management University Assistant Professor Terence Fan said: “Singaporeans don’t have the mentality of being so open to strangers … Some people are open, but not everyone is open.”

SIM University (UniSIM) adjunct professor Park Byung Joon said the option may appeal to those liv-ing in far-flung parts of Singapore, or for longer rides, but agreed that Singapore, unlike the United States or Scandinavian countries, does not have a widely-understood sharing culture or economy.

UniSIM senior lecturer Walter Theseira called it a “chicken-and-egg problem”. “If you can’t find enough people who want to share rides, then the service won’t work, or will provide very low quality — poorly matched rides that waste time and money,” he said. “For this kind of service to succeed, you need very deep pockets to throw money and advertising at users until you get enough user volume for matchmaking to work.”

Car owner Reuben Ang, 28, said his main concern is whether passengers may view the driver as “just another taxi driver”. “I think it is great primarily as a social tool and to defray costs … but I don’t know how familiar Singaporeans are with hitching. I will not want them to treat me as a chauffeur,” he said.

However, he felt the Facebook platform could help to reduce security concerns. “It would help with the accountability. Then once the passengers and drivers build credibility then I think it’s okay,” he said.

But public relations specialist Chua Ee Ghim, 28, would still think twice about opening his car to oth-ers because of inconvenience.

“It’s already hard to navigate traffic during rush hours, let alone deal with a couple of potential backseat drivers,” he said.

Carpooling site founder ShareTransport.sg Moh Hon Meng however felt GrabHitch could help make carpooling more accepted as a transport option.

“I think the more players there are offering carpooling services, the more carpooling will become an option that commuters in Singapore will consider … Of course, sharing a ride is a very social thing, so it would appeal to more sociable people. Those who want their privacy would not do it. It is a niche solu-tion for a group of people, it is not for everyone,” he said.

Carpooling, he said, has been slow to take off here because of a lack of awareness. “Not many peo-ple know that paid carpooling is actually legal,” he added.

But ShareTransport.sg has seen a “spike in interest” since the new carpooling regulations took effect in March. While it previously saw about 700 messages exchanged between users a month, it now sees about 1,200 messages, said Mr Moh.

Commuter Jasmin Lau, who works at Tuas, said the service is a viable option as she often faces dif-ficulty getting a cab to work. “I will be more willing if i know it’s a lady driver … It’s a great idea and if it’s cheaper than taxi I will definitely use it,” said Ms Lau, 30.

Meanwhile, cabbies, already under competition from private car booking services such as UberX and GrabCar, expressed some concern that GrabHitch would further eat into their market, but noted peak-hour demand for taxis exceeds supply anyway.

Mr Han Poh Guan, 57, felt safety concerns may deter passengers. “Taxi drivers are bound by a lot more regulations, which makes our service more legitimate,” said the cabby.