So I am sure, a lot of you guys have heard about the new and "simpler" fare structure for taxis in Singapore.
According to http://www.straitstimes.com/news/singapore/transport/story/changes-cab-f...
and
http://www.taxisingapore.com/taxi-fare/
Current Flag Down Rate (anything from Comfort to Chryslert): $3 to $5
New "Simpler" Standardised Flag Down Rate (for all cabs): $3.80
Current Distance and/or Time Based Interval Jumps: $0.22 (Comfort and most other cabs), $0.33 (Chrysler)
New "Simpler" Standardised Distance and/or Time Based Interval Jumps: $0.30
Current Peak Hour Surcharge: 25%
New Peak Hour Surcharge: Nil
So I assume from the Straits Times report that this new structure is to "simplify" the different structures being adopted by different taxi companies and balance everything out since there will be no more Peak Period Surcharge. But wait, it's actually half truths.
I, for one, do not understand the reasoning behind the calculations for the new "simpler" taxi fare. So let's say you take the taxi during peak period, you will pay an additional 25% on top of your fare. So since they are taking out the peak period surcharge, people would assume, "Oh they are balancing out the distance and time based increments, so it should be cheaper". But NO. They actually increased it. So even if you board the taxi outside of the peak period, you end up paying more than the peak period surcharge.
Let's do a simple count.
Current distance and time based increments are $0.22 (which Comfort and most cabs fall under)
Current surcharge for peak hour is additional 25%. ($0.22 x 25% = ~$0.27)
New standard distance and time based increments will be $0.30. (which in actual fact is an increment of ~36%)
Wait, what?! So much for "simpler" fare. It is actually cheaper to take a cab during the current peak period than to take the cab during outside the peak period window with the new "simpler" rates.
So what, you're telling me, we're paying 36% extra for no peak period? No way! I wouldn't think Straits Times would be capable of false advertisements. When will we ever get real news instead of being sold half truths to blind us. Let's end this with a quote of a quote from our glorious public media.
Commuters feel differently. Financial consultant Lynn Chua, 42, finds the myriad of fares and surcharges "too confusing".
"It'll be good to have a standardised flagdown fare," the regular cab commuter said. "All cabs are the same, whether it's a (Hyundai) Sonata or Renault.
"Comfort level is the same, and they still take us to our destinations."
Look Through
TRS Contributor