The problem that is HDB...
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HDB carparks need a makeover
EVERY time I borrow my fiancee's mother's car for the weekend, I go back to find the nearby multi-storey carpark almost full.
The only available spaces will invariably be on the top deck.
My future mother-in-law is not going to climb five storeys to her car the next day. So, in return for using it, I'm supposed to drive it down to a lower deck in the morning - something I don't look forward to.
As a soon-to-be car owner myself, I will join the ranks of drivers who feel their estate's carparks are inadequate and in need of some design upgrades.
Going by readers' complaints others, too, have faced similar problems when they go home to find parking spaces only on the least-desirable, unsheltered deck of some multi-storey carparks.
It costs $90 a month for season parking there - that's what the Housing Board (HDB) charges for covered lots.
The fee is much higher than the $65 a month for unsheltered surface carparks.
Unfortunately, the number of cars at my Pasir Ris carpark seems to have grown each time I use it.
Unless I return at the unlikely time of 6pm on a weekend, there's no chance of getting a sheltered parking space.
This, I feel, defeats the purpose of paying the extra $25.
Besides, there are also no surface carparks nearby.
Recently, a reader even suggested charging lower parking rates for the unsheltered top levels of multi-storey carparks, an indication of how residents must feel when they don't get their money's worth.
Holding a season parking label does not guarantee a choice space, however.
I was surprised to find out from the HDB that non-residents can pay for season parking there, too.
However, the HDB says priority will be given to residents of the estate served by the carpark.
There is no difference in the monthly season parking fee for non-residents.
With season parking available to so many, it is no wonder the red-painted lots are always taken up by the time I get back late at night.
Currently, most of the lower decks at my carpark are reserved for season parking, and the higher floors for visitors.
While it may serve season parking holders well to have more parking spaces set aside, as car ownership goes up, it is unlikely to solve the problem.
To be fair, however, there are limits to how many labels a household can get, depending on supply.
Priority will be accorded to the first vehicle of the household. Remaining parking spaces will be allocated to subsequent vehicles belonging to the same household as well as non-residents on a first-come, first-served basis.
However, improving the design of multi-storey carparks could go a long way in making life better for HDB residents.
For a start, adding shelters to the rooftop decks of these carparks will make it less inconvenient for users, especially when it rains.
Since 2005, the HDB has been building shelters on the uncovered roof decks of carparks where demand has, well, hit the roof.
It will extend this to other multi-storey carparks where suitable.
But, more importantly, lifts should be installed at all multi-storey carparks, and not just the taller ones.
This would not only encourage parking at all levels but also make it easier for older drivers, who will then be spared climbing several flights of stairs. It will even allow the disabled to use regular lots.
These features might eventually raise parking charges, but it is something I would willingly fork out money for - just for the sake of convenience.
That is why I am buying a car in the first place.Marcel Lee Pereira
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This was the comments from one HDB resident:
I read with interest recent complaints about HDB carparks. Let me narrate an encounter with an officer from HDB regarding a request to reserve car parks for residents. I stay at Serangoon North Ave 1 and I almost always have problem finding a parking lot near my block during 'peak' hours of after work. I usually end up having to park a distance away from my block. I have requested my HDB area office officer-in-charge to consider converting half of the parking lots at my block for residents' use only, if not for the whole day then at least from 6 pm. However his response was that the general public is entitled to use the car park.
I agree with his view, however I requested him to consider the needs of residents who use the parking lots on a daily basis and the proximity of parking their cars nearer to their block is extremely useful during bad weather or when they have bags of groceries etc. He responded with a 'hmmm", followed a "No" and then he hung up. My email request for an appeal by his supervisor was met with silence as I have not received any response from HDB. I surmise from the above encounter, the officer is just there to do his job, which is to look after HDB's affairs. I do not fault the officer for not being helpful.
It is clear to me that my problem is not his problem as his key performance indicator appears to be to take care of HDB's property and not to serve and satisfy the residents' requests. After all that, I come to realise I should not expect much from HDB.
I am but one of the masses and unless I am exceptional (in which I probably will not be residing in a HDB flat) I should not be expecting anyone to pay attention to my needs.
Maya Lim
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After all the issues with rising costs of flats and their lack of availability plaguing the system, Ms Maya Lim is correct to believe that nothing will come from her email request.
We are talking about a government agency which to this day has not yet given a response to the previous open question of discounted flats as opposed to HDB's claim that flats sold are at a subsidy to the people.
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Hahaha the last part of the email is funny
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Originally posted by BillyBong:
HDB carparks need a makeover
EVERY time I borrow my fiancee's mother's car for the weekend, I go back to find the nearby multi-storey carpark almost full.
The only available spaces will invariably be on the top deck.
My future mother-in-law is not going to climb five storeys to her car the next day. So, in return for using it, I'm supposed to drive it down to a lower deck in the morning - something I don't look forward to.
As a soon-to-be car owner myself, I will join the ranks of drivers who feel their estate's carparks are inadequate and in need of some design upgrades.
Going by readers' complaints others, too, have faced similar problems when they go home to find parking spaces only on the least-desirable, unsheltered deck of some multi-storey carparks.
It costs $90 a month for season parking there - that's what the Housing Board (HDB) charges for covered lots.
The fee is much higher than the $65 a month for unsheltered surface carparks.
Unfortunately, the number of cars at my Pasir Ris carpark seems to have grown each time I use it.
Unless I return at the unlikely time of 6pm on a weekend, there's no chance of getting a sheltered parking space.
This, I feel, defeats the purpose of paying the extra $25.
Besides, there are also no surface carparks nearby.
Recently, a reader even suggested charging lower parking rates for the unsheltered top levels of multi-storey carparks, an indication of how residents must feel when they don't get their money's worth.
Holding a season parking label does not guarantee a choice space, however.
I was surprised to find out from the HDB that non-residents can pay for season parking there, too.
However, the HDB says priority will be given to residents of the estate served by the carpark.
There is no difference in the monthly season parking fee for non-residents.
With season parking available to so many, it is no wonder the red-painted lots are always taken up by the time I get back late at night.
Currently, most of the lower decks at my carpark are reserved for season parking, and the higher floors for visitors.
While it may serve season parking holders well to have more parking spaces set aside, as car ownership goes up, it is unlikely to solve the problem.
To be fair, however, there are limits to how many labels a household can get, depending on supply.
Priority will be accorded to the first vehicle of the household. Remaining parking spaces will be allocated to subsequent vehicles belonging to the same household as well as non-residents on a first-come, first-served basis.
However, improving the design of multi-storey carparks could go a long way in making life better for HDB residents.
For a start, adding shelters to the rooftop decks of these carparks will make it less inconvenient for users, especially when it rains.
Since 2005, the HDB has been building shelters on the uncovered roof decks of carparks where demand has, well, hit the roof.
It will extend this to other multi-storey carparks where suitable.
But, more importantly, lifts should be installed at all multi-storey carparks, and not just the taller ones.
This would not only encourage parking at all levels but also make it easier for older drivers, who will then be spared climbing several flights of stairs. It will even allow the disabled to use regular lots.
These features might eventually raise parking charges, but it is something I would willingly fork out money for - just for the sake of convenience.
That is why I am buying a car in the first place.Marcel Lee Pereira
Basically this person just wants a parking lot reserved in the lower decks just for him to park when he comes back late.
Lazy for waking up earlier in the morning to reposition the car?Then he should not borrow the car or should willingly fork out money for landed property.
What makes him think that he deserves a lower deck parking lot more then the neighbour next door?
Lifts at every MSC?His SGD 90 is covering the cost of installing the lift or the cost of maintaining it,including electricity cost?
He can afford the increase in season parking charge doesnt mean the rest of Singapore is with him.
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climbing stairs to reach the overpriced car in a hdb multi-story carpark....
like that also complain?
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if you don't want to use the stairs then use the ramps lor but do watch out for vehicles though
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Originally posted by Xcert:
Basically this person just wants a parking lot reserved in the lower decks just for him to park when he comes back late.
Lazy for waking up earlier in the morning to reposition the car?Then he should not borrow the car or should willingly fork out money for landed property.
What makes him think that he deserves a lower deck parking lot more then the neighbour next door?
Lifts at every MSC?His SGD 90 is covering the cost of installing the lift or the cost of maintaining it,including electricity cost?
He can afford the increase in season parking charge doesnt mean the rest of Singapore is with him.
Personally i couldn't care less about some reporter's attempt to get a story into the papers...On the other hand, i am concerned about the lack of interest in resolving parking priorities for residents, as highlighted in the 2nd post.
In relation to this, there was an observation on a previous case about the supposed 'free parking' at IMM building in jurong east. Apparenly, IMM realised that the reason their shoppers always complained of a lack of parking was not down to flat fees for parking, but rather a large number of residents from the nearby housing estates were taking advantage of the fact that IMM did not lower their shutters overnight, hence residents actually left their cars at the IMM building to avoid paying the usual carpark charges from their own HDB carparks.
Law of nature - people will flock to freebies...
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Originally posted by BillyBong:
Personally i couldn't care less about some reporter's attempt to get a story into the papers...On the other hand, i am concerned about the lack of interest in resolving parking priorities for residents, as highlighted in the 2nd post.
In relation to this, there was an observation on a previous case about the supposed 'free parking' at IMM building in jurong east. Apparenly, IMM realised that the reason their shoppers always complained of a lack of parking was not down to flat fees for parking, but rather a large number of residents from the nearby housing estates were taking advantage of the fact that IMM did not lower their shutters overnight, hence residents actually left their cars at the IMM building to avoid paying the usual carpark charges from their own HDB carparks.
Law of nature - people will flock to freebies...
For post 2...the issue would more be towards the service level provided by the town council rather than the season parking issue per se...cos I have personally encountered some very helpful town council ppl who helped me with season parking issues.
yes the law of nature will apply...it would be pretty naive for the IMM management not to realise that before they implemented free parking....likewise for Jurong Point now...parking at its free carpark is quite horrible....packed like sardines...ppl anyhow park...etc...
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At our estate there are four MSC. Each MSC serving a batch of blocks. The one at my block always fill up fast because it is the first MSC as they enter the estate. Those living a little further inside would rather park there and walk to their block than drive on and park at the MSC near their block. The season parking at our estate entitles one to park any of the four MSC. This creates an unbalanced demand for (prime) space at the first MSC. There is sufficient space, but late comers would have to drive to higher levels to park. This irritates residents living just next to that MSC.
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In my country there is problem,
And that problem is complain kias.
They complain about everything
Because Singapore's too goodThrow these fags down the well
So my country can be free
We must make everyone happy
Then we'll have a big partyIn my country there is problem
And that problem is the complainers
They say gahmen take their money
And they never give it backThrow these fags down the well
So my country can be free
You must grab him by his horns
Then we have a big partyIf you see the fags coming
You must be carefull of their mouths
They always keep complain
And I tell you what to doThrow these fags down the well
So my country can be free
You must grab him by his horns
Then we have a big partyto the tune of In My Country There Is Problem by Borat, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yViYDULqno