I AM concerned that the Public Transport Council (PTC) does not consider it anti-competitive for taxi operators to agree on common fares and rates ("PTC addresses concerns over taxi surcharges"; last Thursday).
While the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has moderated some variable factors, it has yet to address the complicated fare systems that have plagued locals and tourists alike for over a decade ("New rules seek to simplify taxi fares"; April 1) .
Opaque surcharges and variable fees have turned many a pleasant ride into nightmares.
Even with deregulation in 1998, the taxi industry has continued to be dominated by a few major players that have enjoyed handsome profits from a captive market subject to their own terms.
The public has been coerced into accepting this system, and has suffered high fares and low service standards as a consequence.
Despite having one of the highest taxi-to-population ratios, at 5.3 for every 1,000 people, it is an urban reality that during peak hours, commuters continue to find themselves unable to hail a cab when they need it most.
Market economic models do not work in a privately held public taxi industry because profit-oriented operators manipulate it for shareholders' interests, in the name of a "free market" ("Figuring out Singapore's taxi conundrum"; last Saturday).
The LTA should uphold the core values of public transport - a taxi is a taxi; it should ferry passengers safely from point to point in comfort, and charge commensurate meter-rated fares regardless of vehicle make or operator livery.
Alternatively, the LTA could consider re-regulating the industry and imposing uniform tariffs and rules, such as those in Hong Kong.
This ensures that taxi operators must compete for customers by improving service quality, availability and efficiency.
If the PTC is right that due to legislative requirements, the taxi industry would not fall foul of the Competition Act, then it would be fair to allow professional bodies and trade organisations to agree on fee guidelines and price moderation.
This would further the public good because these groups, too, would operate with legislative requirements under the Companies Act.
Paul Chan Poh Hoi
While the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has moderated some variable factors, it has yet to address the complicated fare systems that have plagued locals and tourists alike for over a decade ("New rules seek to simplify taxi fares"; April 1) .
Opaque surcharges and variable fees have turned many a pleasant ride into nightmares.
Even with deregulation in 1998, the taxi industry has continued to be dominated by a few major players that have enjoyed handsome profits from a captive market subject to their own terms.
The public has been coerced into accepting this system, and has suffered high fares and low service standards as a consequence.
Despite having one of the highest taxi-to-population ratios, at 5.3 for every 1,000 people, it is an urban reality that during peak hours, commuters continue to find themselves unable to hail a cab when they need it most.
Market economic models do not work in a privately held public taxi industry because profit-oriented operators manipulate it for shareholders' interests, in the name of a "free market" ("Figuring out Singapore's taxi conundrum"; last Saturday).
The LTA should uphold the core values of public transport - a taxi is a taxi; it should ferry passengers safely from point to point in comfort, and charge commensurate meter-rated fares regardless of vehicle make or operator livery.
Alternatively, the LTA could consider re-regulating the industry and imposing uniform tariffs and rules, such as those in Hong Kong.
This ensures that taxi operators must compete for customers by improving service quality, availability and efficiency.
If the PTC is right that due to legislative requirements, the taxi industry would not fall foul of the Competition Act, then it would be fair to allow professional bodies and trade organisations to agree on fee guidelines and price moderation.
This would further the public good because these groups, too, would operate with legislative requirements under the Companies Act.
Paul Chan Poh Hoi
