Perception of public transport needs to change

I refer to the recent reports on the Singapore Airshow’s transport woes (“Tempers flare as cab issues mar first day of S’pore Airshow”; Feb 17).

It is interesting that people are prepared to wait for up to two hours for a taxi when they could have left the show venue within 15 minutes by boarding a bus. Occasionally, we also hear stories of long queues before people can board a taxi on Orchard Road, when an MRT ride is probably just a few minutes away.

I believe the reason for this behaviour is the mindset that public transport is inferior. But taking public transport does not necessarily mean a significantly longer travel time.

For example, in my case, driving from City Hall to Eunos takes about the same time as taking a train between the two. When I lived further from Bedok MRT Station, it was faster and cheaper for me to grab a taxi home from that station after a train ride from the central business district (CBD), compared with trying to flag or book a taxi in the CBD.

Similarly, those who waited for taxis at the Singapore Airshow last week or those who line up for cabs in the Orchard Road area could have saved time and money by combining two or more modes of transport to reach their destinations.

The Government has also been encouraging cycling as a mode of transport. But cycling is not attractive in Singapore’s warm and humid climate. Perhaps a more attractive option is to encourage the use of two-wheeled electric vehicles. The Government could build the necessary infrastructure for these vehicles, and perhaps provide subsidies for people to rent or purchase them.

A key issue that has discouraged people from using public transport is overcrowding. The only way to change this is to boost capacity and improve reliability.

For Singapore to become a car-lite society, the Government needs to change perceptions of public transport. This could be achieved by providing more information on alternative transport modes and routes, and investing in capacity.