Minister explains why bus fares cannot remain unchanged

Well at the bottom of the first page lies a story of our dear Transport Minister saying that “Singaporeans should not politicise the issue”.

Are we politicising the issue? Not that I know of, or read of. Perhaps I haven’t seen any of those articles that politicise the issue, but the main stuff that I read of in the forums are of citizens raising their concerns, and most of them valid. I see it as feedback to the government, of which, it seems to be labeled as politicising the issue. I think that is sad.

The latest fare hike is 1 to 2 cents on October 1 2007, and a resident has suggested that the fares be reviewed once every four years before the GE. I’m not here to support or take down this suggestion. Our minister’s reply is that if it was done this way, people will ask the government to extend it again. Its true, we will always want lower bus fares wouldn’t we.

However, he quote that other countries’ have shown that when the government succumbs to this pressure, service standards will worsen.

The last fare raise is 1 to 3 cents last year. We have raised it last year and we are raising it again, however, service standards has worsen and it is not improving. Thus other countries’ experience do not necessarily apply to Singapore and should not be used. By this service standard’s argument, then are we liable to pay more each time when service standards become lousier by the minute?

It makes no sense to me.

It is typical of a monopolistic company (there is only 2 companies providing bus services and they ply on different routes) to have lousy service, since people have no choice but to take bus services since the other alternative, the car or the taxi is much too expensive. Yet we cannot allow more companies to come in to take the slice of the pie as routes will overlap and things will become inefficient.

The only form of assurance is the Public Transport Council which governs the fare increases.

Anyway, our transport system is labeled as good, of which i do not deny since we are relatively better as compared to other countries’. Yet, it is not good enough to compare to other countries, but we have to compare to ourselves. Should we allow service standards to worsen, and that if service standards are still relatively better to other places, it means that our public transport system is good? I doubt it.We should continually compare to ourselves.

If not, the top students of Singapore will always be good, as there is always someone lousier than them,but yet, they would have already dropped to a lousier standard. In education, we strive to be the best within our peers, shouldn’t be apply the same philosophy to our bus standards or any standards? After all, Changi Airport may be good as compared to the other countries, but it may not remain the best if it keeps thinking that good is enough.

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