Cab companies, Government should embrace competition

Uber has been a boon for us car-less families. Thus, I was concerned to read about Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan’s plans to look into levelling the playing field for car-booking applications such as GrabCar and Uber (“Khaw eyes fairer deal as cabbies air woes over apps”, Oct 3).

Prior to the introduction of Uber, I had to either wait by the road or work my way through the various booking channels (through apps or make a voice call) of the taxi companies — a process that can be difficult when I am also handling a rambunctious two-year-old. At times, I forgo taxis and take the bus, at the cost of being late for work. Uber is easy and fast, there are no surcharges and its price surge does not happen often.

In my experience, drivers make an effort to call you to confirm the pick-up point, and they can be rated on their performance. Taxi companies, especially ComfortDelgro, should embrace the competition and examine the methods of Uber or GrabCar to improve their services. I applaud Comfort for taking a leaf out of Uber’s book by offering cashless and cardless payments through its app (“Cardless, cashless mode of payment now accepted on ComfortDelGro taxis”, TODAYonline, Oct 9). This move also addresses the problem of fare evaders.

It seems unfair that taxi drivers need a vocational licence before they can embark on their profession, while Uber drivers just have to wait around four hours at most to sort out administrative matters before they can start making trips. But I hope the Government, in levelling the playing field, does not eradicate Uber completely, as some countries have. Doing so would make us look like backward people needlessly protecting a sacred cow.