Can we have cheaper bus fare ?
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how much are the bus fares now?
didnt take bus for so long already.... -
then how u go to sch?Originally posted by BaByBoY:how much are the bus fares now?
didnt take bus for so long already....
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i`ve my pte transport lahOriginally posted by laurence82:then how u go to sch? 
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I think over-all cheap to buy a house nearer to school or work. save on transport. after that u property still got value coz of location...Originally posted by laurence82:then how u go to sch? 
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say!Originally posted by BaByBoY:i`ve my pte transport lah -
True unless everyone has the cash to spare, as u can "READ" he's already saying the bus fare is high so dun give STUPID answers for goodness sake.Originally posted by FireIce:u have a choice
take cab! -
Obviously you don't know anything about Chatterbox's chicken rice.Originally posted by ShutterBug:Logically, everything will simply just keep going upwards in cost.
It is ILLOGICAL, to even dream that prices/costs will go down.
In history, has anything ever gone down in cost and stay down?
NONE!
One day, I plate of Chicken Rice may cost you $10.
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I think over-all cheaper to migrate to Australia, buy a FREE-HOLD landed property that has a 2-car garage, buy one or 2 cars and drive your own car to school.Originally posted by euphratis:I think over-all cheap to buy a house nearer to school or work. save on transport. after that u property still got value coz of location... -
Originally posted by Cindyfeh:
But you are willing to give that 40% income tax to those unemployed that are feeding on it?
I think over-all cheaper to migrate to Australia, buy a FREE-HOLD landed property that has a [b]2-car garage, buy one or 2 cars and drive your own car to school.[/b] -
in my opinion, the public transport scene has evolved signficantly over the last decade or so because of the MRT. the bus is no longer the primary mode of transport for many people and its role will only diminish with time as MRT routes expand. thus, the economy of scale that the bus company once enjoyed will diminish and with it escalating costs.Originally posted by skyline63:Bus fare so high !
at the same time, bus companies have become mercenary, self-serving entities no longer devoted to public service. the double pressures of a shrinking pie and a greater need to squeeze the bottomline can only mean that they charge more for less ...
to fundamentally overcome this situation, i think there is a need to relook the role of buses in the future of singapore's transport system. it may be better that some other transport medium be used to complement the MRT as a means of bridging the short distance between home and MRT. we can have better amenities for bicycles or roller blades or that segweg thing provided it can be made inexpensive ... or even tut tuts that are so prevalent in Thailand.
in addition, rather than buy expensive buses from Europe and paying double for the exchange rate, why not collaborate with Thailand to have our own buses produced in Thailand? Thailand is now an automotive hub with a strong engineering base. it would be win win for both of us ... -
our transport fares are already dirt cheap..try taking an older train that costs more like the paris metro and you'll start to appreciate our low fares.
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yes, public transportation is by and large affordable here but not to the extent of being dirt cheap. it does add up to quite a sum at the end of the month especially for those travelling long distances. this is all the more pertinent when we consider that most new towns are located on the periphery of the island far away from offices or the industrial areas.Originally posted by vito_corleone:our transport fares are already dirt cheap..try taking an older train that costs more like the paris metro and you'll start to appreciate our low fares.
furthermore, what service do we get in return? long waits, crowded buses, no seats ... not at all a pleasant journey is it?
as a tourist i did feel that Paris's 3-day or 5-day pass were indeed expensive. but i was in germany too where the yearly pass was very affordable ... even more so than here ... and german buses are squeaky clean and new like ours ... i won't be surprised if Parisians enjoy some form of concession in public transportation as well.
also, we cannot be one sided in our comparison ... what good is it comparing ourselves with the worst? why benchmark ourselves against the worst? are we striving to be like them?
personally i have no serious complains about our buses, just the money making mindset that a monopolist is so adept at and which goes against consumer benefits. what i've pointed out are areas that can be improved upon. rather than indulge ourselves in complacency, why not act on these public outcries and reverse the trend towards incessant increases? if private bus companies can charge lower than our state owned ones, surely the latter can do better? -
tell me which other country has our standard of public transport at the same price.Originally posted by snow leopard:yes, public transportation is by and large affordable here but not to the extent of being dirt cheap. it does add up to quite a sum at the end of the month especially for those travelling long distances. this is all the more pertinent when we consider that most new towns are located on the periphery of the island far away from offices or the industrial areas.
furthermore, what service do we get in return? long waits, crowded buses, no seats ... not at all a pleasant journey is it?
as a tourist i did feel that Paris's 3-day or 5-day pass were indeed expensive. but i was in germany too where the yearly pass was very affordable ... even more so than here ... and german buses are squeaky clean and new like ours ... i won't be surprised if Parisians enjoy some form of concession in public transportation as well.
also, we cannot be one sided in our comparison ... what good is it comparing ourselves with the worst? why benchmark ourselves against the worst? are we striving to be like them?
personally i have no serious complains about our buses, just the money making mindset that a monopolist is so adept at and which goes against consumer benefits. what i've pointed out are areas that can be improved upon. rather than indulge ourselves in complacency, why not act on these public outcries and reverse the trend towards incessant increases? if private bus companies can charge lower than our state owned ones, surely the latter can do better? -
how about germany?Originally posted by vito_corleone:tell me which other country has our standard of public transport at the same price. -
However, the pte bus operator still lags behind 'public' operatorsOriginally posted by snow leopard:yes, public transportation is by and large affordable here but not to the extent of being dirt cheap. it does add up to quite a sum at the end of the month especially for those travelling long distances. this is all the more pertinent when we consider that most new towns are located on the periphery of the island far away from offices or the industrial areas.
furthermore, what service do we get in return? long waits, crowded buses, no seats ... not at all a pleasant journey is it?
as a tourist i did feel that Paris's 3-day or 5-day pass were indeed expensive. but i was in germany too where the yearly pass was very affordable ... even more so than here ... and german buses are squeaky clean and new like ours ... i won't be surprised if Parisians enjoy some form of concession in public transportation as well.
also, we cannot be one sided in our comparison ... what good is it comparing ourselves with the worst? why benchmark ourselves against the worst? are we striving to be like them?
personally i have no serious complains about our buses, just the money making mindset that a monopolist is so adept at and which goes against consumer benefits. what i've pointed out are areas that can be improved upon. rather than indulge ourselves in complacency, why not act on these public outcries and reverse the trend towards incessant increases? if private bus companies can charge lower than our state owned ones, surely the latter can do better?
They are unwilling to take in many unprofitable bus routes and even so, unwilling to absorb concession fares -
liew u abit the cheapskate
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also, tell me which country has our level of car ownership costs?Originally posted by vito_corleone:tell me which other country has our standard of public transport at the same price. -
but why is it lagging behind? because it can't compete against a state endorsed monopoly? our bus services are monopolised by two GLCs and private operators are being forced into taking on minor roles. so rather than say they are unwilling to take on more bus routes, i would say they're being squeezed out of competition and if for the same routes they charge lower than the incumbents, i don't see why they aren't absorbing concession?Originally posted by sbst275:However, the pte bus operator still lags behind 'public' operators
They are unwilling to take in many unprofitable bus routes and even so, unwilling to absorb concession fares -
ultimately, would you feel one up against say our american counterparts for having a superior public transportation system when most of them zip around in their own cars? is there any reason to be exceptionally happy about our buses when given the choice we would rather have our own cars? or are we so used to the idea that cars are so unaffordable that we don't even think about them anymore and our logic for comparison becomes narrowly defined in terms of just how well our public transportations fare?Originally posted by vito_corleone:tell me which other country has our standard of public transport at the same price.
this is like some farmer who thinks he eats the best potatoes in the world when in actual fact he does not even get to taste meat that is the exclusive privilege of the nobilities and elites alike. -
my main contention is this. our bus services are monopolies. monopolies have a tendency to take consumers for granted and to request for fare hikes as they deem fit. there is no alternative for the consumer but to except these increases. if they truly believe they're doing a hell of a fantastic job better than anybody else then open up the competition and level the playing field. if we have a choice, we wouldn't have to debate here would we? we would simply walk away.
monopoly breeds complacency and the ignorance of various means for improvement like sourcing for cheaper buses.
ultimately, i feel that public transportation cannot compare with individual transportation. if one can help, would one stop at every bus stop? wait 15 minutes for a stupid bus that often bunch together so that missing one bus means missing two? would one be contented with the long bus journeys? how much precious time have we wasted? would a minister who doesn't take buses and who gets to have traffic stopped for him understand those inconveniences?
in my opinion, short distance travel between home and MRT ought to be better performed by ourselves, provided there are adequate amenities like bicycle ways and lockers ... -
The idea is this, when you are small, you cannot maximise cost savings as far as possible in terms of fleet maintenance and fuel purchase... Or the purchase of newer bus fleet to replace bus fleets that have reached the maximum 17 stat year lifespanOriginally posted by snow leopard:but why is it lagging behind? because it can't compete against a state endorsed monopoly? our bus services are monopolised by two GLCs and private operators are being forced into taking on minor roles. so rather than say they are unwilling to take on more bus routes, i would say they're being squeezed out of competition and if for the same routes they charge lower than the incumbents, i don't see why they aren't absorbing concession?
If there are more compeition, it means spilted up passenger revenue and the road gets more clogged up with buses
The only way is to let SBS and SMRT introduce more bus services like Express or Fast Forward services with totally new linkages. -
Originally posted by sbst275:
The idea is this, when you are small, you cannot maximise cost savings as far as possible in terms of fleet maintenance and fuel purchase... Or the purchase of newer bus fleet to replace bus fleets that have reached the maximum 17 stat year lifespan
despite being smaller and not enjoying economies of scale, the privately owned bus companies still charge less than our state owned monopolies. what does that mean? either the state owned monopolies are charging us more than we would like them to or they could be suffering from other inefficiencies like exhorbitant salaries of leg shaking executives.
If there are more compeition, it means spilted up passenger revenue and the road gets more clogged up with buses
nothing wrong with split revenues, may the best company win and may the less worthy perish. that is competition and the idea is that the surviving firm delivers the best value for consumers.
increased competition does not necessarily mean more buses because bus riding is a basic need whose consumption does not increase dramatically just because there are more buses. in all likelihood, there would be sharing of market amongst competitors, which keep one another in check.
The only way is to let SBS and SMRT introduce more bus services like Express or Fast Forward services with totally new linkages.
if they are well received, it only serves to illustrate consumers' need for a more speedy commuting experience. but why restrict ourselves to the offerings of just one or two state owned firms? if the market can be opened up to enterprising minds, we may see even more innovative offerings that can serve to wake these giants up ... -
I can only say this, you have not seen the bigger pictureOriginally posted by snow leopard:
The private operators are able to provide cheaper fares because they cherry pick bus svs, govt gave them 26 bus rts to run as supplementary rts during peak hrs, yet only 3 to 5 are runned.
Also, if you think splited passengers are good... Think again, if you come with 3 bus co and all end up losing money, it would be back again to 1973 when all losing money bus co all merged into SBS... You cannot afford to have fleets losing money even if bus co are nationalised
Also, if SBS could introduce 23 new bus svs within 12 mth period and have created new links, this shows that bus svs has improved though I would say many svs are still facing capacity shortages -
Originally posted by sbst275:
I can only say this, you have not seen the bigger picture
who are you to judge that?
The private operators are able to provide cheaper fares because they cherry pick bus svs, govt gave them 26 bus rts to run as supplementary rts during peak hrs, yet only 3 to 5 are runned.
in the first place, why on earth should anybody depend on the govt to be "given" 26 routes to choose from? says a lot about protectionism and control isn't it? for all you know these 26 routes might be the most unprofitable of the hundreds available and the private operators are merely choosing the lesser of evils.
Also, if you think splited passengers are good... Think again, if you come with 3 bus co and all end up losing money, it would be back again to 1973 when all losing money bus co all merged into SBS... You cannot afford to have fleets losing money even if bus co are nationalised
that may well happen ... but it may also be that a better firm comes along and knocks the incumbents off their pedestals and in the process offering a whole new better deal for us customers. before that happens, we can talk until the cow comes home and never truly believe that what we have now is as best as it can get.
if we never allow our own firms to fail, they will never really learn how to fight for their own survival and at the end of the day will always remain second rate and cannot grow beyond our own shores, beyond the protection of its parents.
Also, if SBS could introduce 23 new bus svs within 12 mth period and have created new links, this shows that bus svs has improved though I would say many svs are still facing capacity shortages
all we hear are: introduce new services, airconditioning, ezlink. nothing truly out of the extraordinary is it? fundamentally, public transportation hasn't evolved beyond its current constrains and in the hands of its present monopolistic guardians will probably never see any real change. but i don't blame the bus company ... for it is just an extension of an entire dynasty. -
free bus rides?
i hope so. after teh hiking all these years to feed the lifestlye of others.