The news releases from LTA is titled “LTA introduces measures to improve taxis services”. The summary is as follows.
- Stiffer penalties for errant taxi drivers
- Taxi advisories for the public
- More taxi stands within the Central Business District (CBD) / Street hail of taxis on CBD roads disallowed from 1 March 2008
- Enhanced taxi QoS requirements fully phased in from 1 January 2008
- Taxi Mystery Customer Audit kicked off
Oh yes! Disallowing of street hailing of taxis on CBD roads is considered an improvement of taxis services! There are currently 80 taxi stands, and after an additional of 15 taxi stands by end Dec 2007, LTA claims that there will be a taxi stand within 300 metres or a 5-minutes walk from buildings within the CBD.
I really wonders how they calculate the 5-minutes and what are considered buildings. The 5-minutes walk is especially open for interpretation.
Almost everyone who had wanted to rent or purchase a house would have been told by housing agents that the prospective unit is only 5-minutes away. But when you try walking by foot, it usually takes at least 10-15 minutes.
If this is the case, the taxis will be actually more inaccessibly in certain area of the CBD. However, all is not lost. The ones making this regulation will have met their KPI of reducing the demand for taxis, as it will be more troublesome to get a taxi than to get a bus.
[...] Trains & Automobiles – Alice in Wonderland: Disallowing of street hailing of taxis on CBD roads! Section 377a – Sam’s thoughts: Appreciate [...]
Start topping up the EZ link card more often…
be prepared for the eventual system where all cabs everywhere will have to be called for.