Car Sharing in Singapore: Challenging the COE Paradigm?
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IF YOU FIND THIS TOO LONG, READ PRO POINT 1) and 2).
Dear members of this well-established forum (am a newbie!
) I am a Singaporean in Germany, an avid fan and passionate user of car sharing schemes (one of the earliest established) here. In a year's time I will be enjoying the COE system under the tropical sun again.
I would hereby like to reopen the discussion of car sharing, as a mobility concept, in Singapore. It adds to the spectrum of transport methods available to the mortal Singaporean.
At present there are 3 car sharing schemes (if I am not outdated): NTUC Co-op, Cityspeed, HondaDiracc. According to input from my friends in Singapore, the chief pain of car sharing is the sparse geographical availability of the fleets in the heartland. Waiting in the hot sun for 5 min for feeder bus to the fleet, or cycling (again under the hot sun) there is a complete turn-off. I want my own aircon comfort when I step into the carpark downstairs. The success of the scheme depends on the enthusiasm of the populace. Where I study, there are cars around every block of houses, ensuring instant accessibility. Hence I am here to fish for supporters and learn from the opponents.
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The chief characteristics of carsharing, from my experience, are:
PROS
1) Limiting number of cars on the roads
10000 participants share 2000 vehicles. 1:5 ratio. Need more be said? YES! Remember that the COE scheme was implemented so that Singapore does not erm... drive like Bangkok. So does the car sharing scheme share the same ideal. Less cars, less pollution, more driving space. But in a Singaporean context, more people have access to it affordably. Empower the masses.
2) Accessibility to wide range of cars
Ideally, there can be many types of vehicles within a pool. SUVs, stationwagons, Smart cars, sedans. Now you can go Ikea shopping with your own van. Alternative would be to stick to your Corolla for 5 years at $600+ a month.
3) Geographical accessibility
The Juronger can access the fleet in Bedok after meeting his friends there. And (IDEALLY) return it in Jurong (ask HondaDiracc)
4) Cheaper fixed and maintenance costs
Insurance premium, monthly instalment, servicing charges shared.
5) Cost control
Because cars are charged hourly and per km, you can control how much you want to spend in a month. If you are feeling broke this month, just take MRT lor.
6) No need to service
Have to take leave just to check that brake light of yours? Not with carsharing. Servicing is done through the employees of the company.
7) Mobility AND privacy
Cabs sure can get you from A to B. But car sharing allows that in the privacy of your own "cab". Family outings can be done in privacy, no extra ears and mouths in the vehicle. My latest experience with cab drivers had him telling me he ordered his new 3.3L Nissan in September, even BEFORE I closed the door upon boarding. Beat that.
8 ) Profitable
Undeniably, this is anothermoney-making concept for the gahmen. But it is a win-win one isn't it?
CONS
1) Time limit
Because use of the vehicles should be booked for fixed periods, there is pressure on the roads to drive back to the designated lot on time. Watch out!
2) Unavailability of vehicle
Related to the above point. When the bugger returns the car too late, you can't get the car you want. This can be circumvented by allowing usage of a vehicle of similar(or higher) class, and charging the late bugger the extra (+ fine!)
3) Cannot pimp your ride
Get what I mean? If not click here.
4) Cleanliness
Well...it's not your own car, so you can leave your Yeo's can and BreadTalk crumbs on the rear seat?
COMPLAIN via telephone hotline and see if the previous user dares to do it again. This requires alot of civic mindedness. Everyone is in the same boat. If not just hire some security guard to check on the vehicle condition upon return.
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If you have followed my thoughts till now, CONGRATULATIONS! Maybe someone can criticise my utopia of having fleets in EVERY single HDB carpark, allowing access, or add to the plus points.
I hope a fruitful discussion blossoms out of my contribution.
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I like the dream. Still waiting for them to have some cars near my block. Doesn't seems to be happening though. Anyway I can help to make it happen?
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Hi Qitai,
I was thinking alot about it also. I have one at my block, but that doesn't stop me from wanting to share the benefits with fellow heartlanders. Where I am now in Germany, fleet expansion happens only when a critical mass of people sign up. Then it is worth it for the company to buy new cars, employ new drivers. So now, we just have to try to psycho people to take up the offer. The truth is, I have met alot of resistance from my friends. They were like....Yeee...so dirty, no privacy, etc. Well....taking a cab is the same isn't it? -
I am all for it since I don't use car very often, but like to use it now and then whenever I had to move to several places in one trip, has to carry things or wanted to fetch passengers.Originally posted by Feynman:Hi Qitai,
I was thinking alot about it also. I have one at my block, but that doesn't stop me from wanting to share the benefits with fellow heartlanders. Where I am now in Germany, fleet expansion happens only when a critical mass of people sign up. Then it is worth it for the company to buy new cars, employ new drivers. So now, we just have to try to psycho people to take up the offer. The truth is, I have met alot of resistance from my friends. They were like....Yeee...so dirty, no privacy, etc. Well....taking a cab is the same isn't it?
So, you think just signing up will make them increase the locations to possibly my place? Right now, last I check, they mostly have it only near the town centers. This, to be defeats the purpose, since I still have to worry about the town center to my home part each time. I do not mind signing up if this is an indication to them that maybe they should consider having a location near my flat. -
Haha!Originally posted by Qitai:I am all for it since I don't use car very often, but like to use it now and then whenever I had to move to several places in one trip, has to carry things or wanted to fetch passengers.
So, you think just signing up will make them increase the locations to possibly my place? Right now, last I check, they mostly have it only near the town centers. This, to be defeats the purpose, since I still have to worry about the town center to my home part each time. I do not mind signing up if this is an indication to them that maybe they should consider having a location near my flat.
Qitai dun get me wrong. I am not a marketing agent for any of the 3 agencies. I am just trying to raise awareness about another transport concept. But I guess what you said is right. Why not take the leap and try for a while? You will get used to the routine. When I first got started here, the timing was my biggest problem, having to overcome the many traffic junctions. But after some time, it's like 2nd nature. And just like you, I use it only occasionally, driving to wholesale marts, or just ferrying friends out to town for a night out. It's cool. 
Not to mention they got some pretty nice vehicles here, albeit abit old. Peugeot 206CC's are the most fun. -
Car sharing won't work for people who drive regularly.And I believe most Singaporeans fall into that category.
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Unfortunately I must say that most Singaporeans do not drive regularly. They get crammed into MRT and bus. But as a kind of side ideaOriginally posted by RSP:Car sharing won't work for people who drive regularly.And I believe most Singaporeans fall into that category. (I did do quite alot of thought about it), for places like CBD, we could have a whole lot of parking lots there for the car sharers to park their cars (they stop paying when they park), and pick up when they return. It's commuting after all, and will happen like clockwork, just that along the way, can send the kids to school, pick up your beehoon from the hawker centre.
Imagine an exodus of vehicles from heartland to CBD every morning, and return every evening. While the vehicles are parked in the CBD, people can still use them (e.g. HondaDiracc concept)
But of course, this defeats the purpose. We want less cars on the roads, not more. Migrating people from the MRT system to the roads does not really help. -
I shd rephrase.
Most Singaporeans who can afford to maintain a car,drives regularly.
By making Car Sharing more acessible in Sg,you're actually encouraging more people to drive.That means more cars on the roads. COEs were implemented for the exact reason - to reduce the number of cars on the roads. -
Well said. So I suppose there will be an equilibrium, above which, the number of cars on the road outweigh the benefits. Carsharing does reduce the number of cars in the road as well. Or rather, it is a way to give the less well-off a chance on the roads (in privacy, I stress). Without which, they are banned to public transport for a long time.Originally posted by RSP:I shd rephrase.
Most Singaporeans who can afford to maintain a car,drives regularly.
By making Car Sharing more acessible in Sg,you're actually encouraging more people to drive.That means more cars on the roads. COEs were implemented for the exact reason - to reduce the number of cars on the roads.
I did edit my previous post. The commuting exodus thing will not work. But the weekend use of cars could still be attractive.
Am just trying to find an optimizing solution to my constant frustration of not having wheels. -
Glad to see this discussion on car-sharing.
I've been with Honda Diracc (HD) for about two months and so far, I think it has served my purpose well. I don't need the car regularly, just want to practise my driving periodically (since I got my licence only three months ago) and to run errands from time to time.
I like the fact that I don't have to worry about maintenance and stuffs like that, after I return the car to the port each time, that's it, end of story. Also like the part about being able to take the car from Point A and return it to Point B, and without having to specify a return time too (CitySpeed and NTUC do not allow this).
The only thing about driving a HD car is the attention it yields, no thanks to the "weird" car-plate (diagonal blue-yellow). I've had pedestrians literally stopping in their tracks, in the middle of the pedestrian crossing, to "examine" the car-plate and give me puzzled looks.
Otherwise, so far so good. -
I've been using Cityspeed for about 10 months now... try to drive at least once a month just so I don't get rusty after getting my license last Dec... True... the problem with returning the car to the same place used to be troublesome... until one new station opened just 10 mins walk from my place... hee... But other then that, I find it adequate, just that the timing packages they give end too early in the day for me to return them, so I just try to return them earlier... Just used it yeaterdat actually... got the car from 7pm to 8am... but finished using it at 3am, parked the car and then just walked home... They could do with separate timings for weekdays though, instead of just one weekend block...
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CitySpeed is not really Pplate-friendly yah? They charge an extra $120 for P-platers, if I rem correctly. That's partly why I signed up with Honda Diracc instead.
But the other big plus for HD is that there's a port located just opposite my office bldg.
Hmm, for CitySpeed, they impose a fine if you return the car late, right? -
Yeah... but I can go to at least 3 stations near my house with cityspeed... honda doesn't have any near my place... And it good that they impose a fine... I encountered one time where I couldn't unlock the car cos the previous owner didn't lock it yet... in other words, the car was deemed as not returned... hehe.... Had to call them to do it for me... At least with the fine, the next user won't have any problem getting the car...Originally posted by Charis75:CitySpeed is not really Pplate-friendly yah? They charge an extra $120 for P-platers, if I rem correctly. That's partly why I signed up with Honda Diracc instead.
But the other big plus for HD is that there's a port located just opposite my office bldg.
Hmm, for CitySpeed, they impose a fine if you return the car late, right? -
I am 19 this year...passed about 4 months ago...
Cannot join HD as they require u to be 23 and above...
Thinking of joining Cityspeed...Is it true that you can get waiver of registration fee if u have popular card? And is it better to join by referral? -
The last time i checked out these car sharing schemes, there is a high insurance premium if i wish to take to car for a day trip in malaysia. Is it still so?
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More like buy the car liao. If don't use go to waste? So, use it as often as possible?Originally posted by RSP:I shd rephrase.
Most Singaporeans who can afford to maintain a car,drives regularly.
By making Car Sharing more acessible in Sg,you're actually encouraging more people to drive.That means more cars on the roads. COEs were implemented for the exact reason - to reduce the number of cars on the roads. -
Hrm... for cityspeed... I think you have to pay a bit more to bring the car out to Malaysia.. but P platers cannot bring it out to Malaysia... If you guys want to know more, just go to www.cityspeed.com.sgOriginally posted by nukewatch:The last time i checked out these car sharing schemes, there is a high insurance premium if i wish to take to car for a day trip in malaysia. Is it still so?
Btw... if you guys are thinking of signing up, can come to me, I intro you to my agent for cityspeed... -
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so how u find cityspeed?Originally posted by LH83:Hrm... for cityspeed... I think you have to pay a bit more to bring the car out to Malaysia.. but P platers cannot bring it out to Malaysia... If you guys want to know more, just go to www.cityspeed.com.sg
Btw... if you guys are thinking of signing up, can come to me, I intro you to my agent for cityspeed...
anyway i am curious, how do they allocate the type of cars to the different locations?
do the same location always have the same type of cars?
what if you need a cheap economy car but at your location there's only the luxury ones? -
Wow....I am glad to hear about WhizzCar. Really heartlander sites (too bad mine not there). And they offer to bring more sites to the people. Sign up guys!
From what I gather, there are people (like me heh heh) who use it as a form of driving practice. Not bad I guess. Though I lament that it is still too expensive (still so much prohibitively more than cab) and that probably has to do with the high acquisition costs of the vehicles.
Back to my utopia vision ...if only one day, LTA would support this effort to bring freedom to the people and not enslave them with a runaway COE system, perhaps car sharing operators can be given incentives? *kachink kachink for GLC idea* There are opponents to this who feel that their fellow countrymen without the income are just encouraged to choke up the roads, but my reply would be that:
1) There are only so many cars that can be on the roads at one time. i.e. If a Florida hurricane came and families had to flee north, those who cannot book....too bad. So less choking of roads than if everyone drove.
2) Less parking lot use.
3) Maximise use of vehicles. Land is scarce. So why keep vehicles parking in HDB carparks like vases when they can be maximising their purpose (to MOVE)
Also, if Singapore is even keen about being environmentally friendly (I have had many experiences with the contrary), then the whole fleet could be Honda IMAs or Toyota Prius. Last I checked with Borneo Motors a Prius costs a prohibitive 109K. Oh please...where are the tax incentives to acquire a green vehicle? I would rather pay that amount and chiong around on a 2.4l combustion engine. -
Quite good... there's a station within 1o mins walk from my home....Originally posted by jeramy:so how u find cityspeed?
anyway i am curious, how do they allocate the type of cars to the different locations?
do the same location always have the same type of cars?
what if you need a cheap economy car but at your location there's only the luxury ones?
Some locations have 3, 4 cars, some have 2... depending on the space allocated since the stations are actually multi-storey car parks... And at each location, there are a few cars to choose from... most of the time, they're 1.5l, 1.6l and sometimes, a 2.0l car... And most of the cars they have are the family saloon ones... not many are luxury... unless you count the 2.0l cars...
If you really want to know more... just go to www.cityspeed.com.sg .... They explain everything to you there... -
Just to add on to some facts that non member might not have access to.Originally posted by LH83:Quite good... there's a station within 1o mins walk from my home....
Some locations have 3, 4 cars, some have 2... depending on the space allocated since the stations are actually multi-storey car parks... And at each location, there are a few cars to choose from... most of the time, they're 1.5l, 1.6l and sometimes, a 2.0l car... And most of the cars they have are the family saloon ones... not many are luxury... unless you count the 2.0l cars...
If you really want to know more... just go to www.cityspeed.com.sg .... They explain everything to you there...
I think now most station (at least those at neighbourhood estates) have at least 3 -4 cars, 95% of which are 1.3l, 1.5l or 1.6l saloon within the same price range (+/- 10 to 25%)
Majority of the cars includes Corolla, Lancer, Laser, Vios, Accent, Wira. So most probablyif you book, you will get a car in this range.
If i am not wrong, there are only 1 MPV (Toyota Picnic) at Market street (HQ) and 1 or 2 other 2.0l car at a neighbourhood near town / CBD area.
Locking and unlocking of car before and after hire is via your mobile phone thru sms technology.
You might also like to take note that beside the rental charges (per hourly, per night, per day), there is also the mileage charges, which can add up to a substantial amt.
Service and support is very good. Staffs are friendly. They also provide a 24 hrs hotline in case you experience car breakdown. So, there would not be any problem if you car breaks down at 3am and you should to gain access to another car.
Just my experience with Cityspeed. I am not a sale rep and neither am I interested to sign anyone up... -
Heh... yeah... be careful of the mileage... esp if you let others drive the car... they might clock up a lot... so if you're sharing with others, tell them about the mileage... it's $0.40 per km... kinda like taxi...
But letting others drive is actually not allowed... hee... -
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