Comments on: Taxi Surcharges Should be Removed.

By: Simon Tay

Simon Tay — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 06:14:00 +0000

That’s another cool idea however it may be hard to sell things while driving…hehe.

Maybe they need a mini vending machine inside the taxi that sells packet drinks, smokes, condoms to printed t-shirts.

By: lily

lily — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 05:18:00 +0000

Actually taxi drivers can create their own business by selling food and drinks within the taxi, something like budget airline. Selling souviners might be a good idea too because some people might be in Singapore for only business reasons and they haven’t got any time to shop and always rush to catch the plane.

By: Simon Tay

Simon Tay — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 02:46:00 +0000

Only by giving them the only reason to smile…money or profits is the solution to their attitude.

By: lily

lily — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 02:10:00 +0000

Do you think by taking away booking fees, the attitude of taxi drivers will changed? How to improve the image of Singapore taxi drivers other than providing them uniforms and training ?

By: Simon Tay

Simon Tay — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 08:31:00 +0000

You got a point too on that lowering on rental at midnight to 6 am.

I do hope that by so doing the free booking system, drivers don't need to scout for customers but can wait for customers to book them after midnight.

If it's free booking, I don't believe the taxi won't have business.

If nobody book even if there are no booking charges then...the taxi no need to waste petrol just buy some supper and wait near malls or car parks in random places.

The booking system uses nearest taxi selection system to select taxi drivers...so park nearby can get customers.

There are no point driving around midnight that's is why there are booking system.

It need people to book the taxi to confirm money going into their pockets.

By: lily

lily — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 08:23:00 +0000

you got a point but spare a thought for those drivers working midnight shift. If the flatdown rate is the same, then who will want to work the night shift if there isn’t any incentives? Just now in factories, night shift usually get a certain sum of allowance more than day shift workers.

Maybe taxi companies can lower the rental for drivers who drive the night shift from midnight to 6am.

By: Simon Tay

Simon Tay — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 07:31:00 +0000

When I suggest it as ALL surcharges removed and flag down rate be increase across the board means you will get taxi when there is demand.

I mean if the flag down rate is $5 you can confirm the taxi will be going mad after people who flag down.

If there is a demand on taxi, people book it FREE of charge hence taxi around Singapore can simply wait for the calls.

They don't need to scavenge wastefully anywhere...or even WAIT until it's midnight to approach taxi queues.

Taxi queues before midnight can be serviced quickly and efficiently without taxi hiding somewhere.

Reputation increases the chance of "rich" customers who switch back to taking taxi as their regular transportation methods.

I believe if you give a sense of service level increase, the tourist might even tip these drivers with more money than the fares it self.

if the tourist wait forever to get at taxi or taken a longer route than necessary or charged hidden peak hours surcharges...they might never take taxi anymore...FOREVER in Singapore.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 05:12:00 +0000

What about midnight surcharges? Should be removed also ?

By: Simon Tay

Simon Tay — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 08:31:00 +0000

That's where the FREE booking system comes into play.

If the flag down or starting price of ANY ride starts higher such as $5 per ride...

ANY FREE booking calls will be entertained like bees to honey.

What I mean is to simplify the whole taxi surcharges and make it a standard higher flag down rate..then run on meter that goes by the distances instead of time.

Fair to customer & fair to the drivers.

If customers like me totally avoid taxi rides because of seriously bad experiences...do you think it will be good for taxi drivers in the long run?

Imagine tourist all over the world who came and experienced it first hand to be waiting for hours before midnight charges or see empty taxi zoom by the taxi queues.

The worst is these customers are very influential ones that will write reports overseas on the travel "experiences" prompting more tourist to take MRT or bus instead.

I am thinking out of the box to solve the problem...hopefully the taxi companies wake up their ideas.

By: lily

lily — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 08:22:00 +0000

The problem of removing all surcharges is that taxi won’t even bother to go into the CBD areas. The people working in CBD areas will have difficulties flagging a taxi. Suggest to implement taxis only for CBD area, which means after fetching customers home, they drive straight to CBD and wait for another customer. They are not allow to pick up customer outside CBD zone.