Issues face in using public transport in Singapore

Issues face in using public transport in Singapore

Table of Contents
Summary 2
Introduction 3
Background 3
Purpose 3
Scope 3
Method of Investigation. 4
Common issues that commuters face in using public transport in Singapore, overseas measures and analysis of these measures 5
Common issues that commuters face in using public transport in Singapore 5 overcrowding 5 long waiting time 5 lack of particular transportation means for senior citizens 5 high fares 5 lack of night service 6
Implementation and analysis of measures that enhance public transport in other cities 5
Measures in Tokyo, Japan and analysis of these measures 6
Measures in Beijing, China and analysis of these measures 7
Measures in London, UK and analysis of these measures 8
Conclusion 10
Recommendations 11
Reference List 12
Research Portfolio 13

Summary
This report provides an overall idea about the common issues that commuters face in using public transport in Singapore, shows the findings on overseas measures which have enhanced public transport and analysis how applicable these measures are to Singapore’s context.
Common issues including the five parts, overcrowding, long waiting time, lack of particular transportation means for senior citizens, high fares, and lack of night service. Three parts on the implementation and analysis of overseas measures, namely measures in Tokyo, Japan and analysis of these measures, measures in Beijing, China and analysis of these measures, and measures in London, UK and analysis of these measures.
This report also provides recommendations on how to solve current problems to enhance the public transport system in Singapore and also attract more commuters.

1. Introduction
1.1. Background
The Public Transport in Singapore consists of over 24,000 taxis, more than 2,700 buses and over 800 SMRT. However, as the rapid development and population growth, problems appeared when people using public transport system. Problems such as long waiting time, overcrowding have brought much inconvenience for commuters.
In order to provide people better service and ensure good mobility, Public Transport Council should find ways to build a more efficient public transport system which can offer reliable, accessible, punctual and comfortable transportation modes for everyone.
Therefore, this report was commissioned by the Public Transport Council to promote public transport and enhance measures to build a more efficient system.
1.2. Purpose
The objectives of the report are to research on the problems that commuters face in using public transport in Singapore, compare to other cities such as Tokyo, Beijing and London, analyse the effective measures which can be used in Singapore’s context and recommend strategies to attract more people to ride public transport.
1.3. Scope
This report covers the followings:
Problems that commuters face in using public transport in Singapore.
Analysis of overseas measures on the quality of services, facilities, and the fares of public transport system in Tokyo, Beijing and London.
Recommendations on how to overcome current deficiencies and enhance the public transport system in Singapore and also attract more commuters.
It does not cover the benefits of using public transport.
1.4. Method of Investigation
The information for this report was obtained from newspaper articles and websites on public transport. Information was evaluated for relevance and reliability.

2. Common issues that commuters face in using public transport in Singapore, overseas measures and analysis of these measures

2.1. Common issues that commuters face in using public transport in Singapore

2.1.1. Overcrowding
Overcrowding is the most prevalent problem when people taking public transport. Buses and SMRTs are always full of people during peak hours. Some of the commuters have to wait for several turns in order to get on a bus or a train. It has brought inconvenience to passengers especially for those who have to reach school or company punctually. Passengers would also feel uncomfortable in overcrowded environment and could not enjoy the ride.

2.1.2. Long waiting time
According to the Land Transport Review Study (2008), only 35% buses run at intervals of 10 minutes or less. That is, the frequency for most of the buses is more than 10 minutes or cannot be guaranteed within 10 minutes. Commuters have to reach the station as early as possible because of the uncertain arrival time. This has led to much inconvenience for commuters. Many passengers complain about the problem and urge the need for action to improve frequency of service. STOMPer i luv (2010,December 20) post “ I was shocked to see the estimated arrival time (ETA) for bus 61 was 32 minutes. It seems a few months ago, the ETA for the same bus was as long as 63 minutes.”

2.1.3. Lack of particular transportation means for senior citizens
For the senior who cannot act easily, it is not so convenient for them to take normal public transportation vehicles. Some of the senior who equipped with wheelchairs are hard to get on the vehicles such as bus and taxis. This has brought inconvenience for senior citizens when going out. Public Transportation Council should come out with good solution to guarantee good mobility of the senior.

2.1.4. High fares
Singapore public transportation implements distance-based fares. Major Transport Issues (2010) stated that “For prices of Certificates of Entitlement (COEs), observers say they will continue to climb in 2011.” In Major Transport Issues (2010), “Dr Lim Wee Kiak, chairman of Government Parliamentary Committee for Transport, clarify that for long trips it becomes a little bit more expensive while for short trips, when you need to make a lot of transfers, it actually becomes cheaper.” However, passengers still complaining they were paying more than previously.
2.1.5. Lack of night service
Public transportation service in Singapore is limited during the night. This has brought much inconvenience for citizens, especially for those who work on night shifts or get off work late at night.

2.2. Implementation and analysis of measures that enhance public transport in other cities

2.2.1. Measures in Tokyo, Japan and analysis of these measures
Trams in Tokyo are characterized by using special compartments. For example, women-only compartment is used to prevent physical contact caused by congestion during rush hours. Other special compartments provided such as compartments with weaker or stronger air-conditioning. Using of special compartments in Singapore public transportation is an applicable. It would provide superb service to satisfy different needs of passengers. This measure is relatively easier to achieve without requiring much changes of public transportation system and also require less fund to operate. Implementation of particular measures is necessary for women passengers and also senior passengers who are sensitive to cold. In this way, passengers would feel more comfortable when taking public transportation. It is a good way to improve the service and attract more commuters to use public transport.
Tokyo provides special cars for the senior. These vehicles have two things in common: the door is installed with mobile lifts for the elderly to ride wheelchair; these cars have special fixtures installed to protect the elderly from bumps and crash. There are various types of these kinds of special cars which including buses, minibuses, taxis and minivans. This makes it possible for the senior to ride public transport conveniently and safely.
As the population of Singapore is becoming aging, it is necessary to implement this method immediately to seek welfare for the senior. This method requires financial support but to ensure the safety and convenience of senior passengers is very important. Public transportation should provide comprehensive service that takes into account the need of every commuter. This measure would help attract more senior passengers to take public transportation. It would simultaneously guarantee good mobility of senior citizens.

2.2.2. Measures in Beijing, China and analysis of these measures
The fares for public transport in Beijing are cheap. They charge a flat fare of ¥1 for all normal buses. Commuters with concession card only need to pay 0.4 yuan. Student can apply for a student card, with which are offered 0.2 yuan for a single trip. Only a few special buses which operate long-distance service to the outskirts of Beijing are charged by the meter. The subway fare is ¥2 for a single trip regardless the travelling distance. Beijing public transport serves comfortable traveling at very low costs.
By using this method, the expense people spent on public transport in Beijing is relatively lower compared with Singapore. It becomes an advantage in attracting more commuters to take public transport as their primary transportation modes. However, implementation of low standard fare in Singapore public transport is not quite suitable. It is not a sustainable way because the transportation companies would be rarely profitable and the employees would complain. In addition, as the problem of overcrowding is getting worse, especially in peak hours, making good use of the difference in fares can effectively regulate passenger flow volume. Fares can be variable of different time periods. For example, during peak period charges higher fares, off-peak period charges lower fares. Therefore, it can decrease the flow of passengers in peak hours.
The bus system in Beijing is known as its high frequency service. The government funded a lot to enhance the transportation facilities and also build numerous overpasses and underpasses to ensure less traffic jam happen. Almost all the buses are guarantee to run at intervals of 5 minutes or less. Bus302 even run 3 buses at intervals of 1 minute during peak hour.
It is a bit hard for Singapore to put much manpower and money in public transportation system. It is not necessary to increase the frequency to the level in Beijing, but to make sure all the buses run at intervals of reasonable time is essential. Singapore government should fund to help enhance bus operation and to construct a more efficient and reliable system for commuters. 2.2.3. Measures in London, UK and analysis of these measures
A variety of travel passes are available in London including One-Day Pass, One-Day(Off Peak) Pass, Seven-Day Pass, One-Month Pass, and One-Year Pass. All the passes allow unlimited use on all London underground, buses, trams, light rail and over-ground trains within all zones in the city .
To provide more kinds of travel passes is an applicable method for Singapore. In this way, people would have more choices to pick the most suitable travel pass according to their needs. In addition, as the problem of overcrowding in Singapore public transport is getting worse, especially in peak hours, making good use of the different travel passes can effectively regulate passenger flow volume. Fares are variable of different time periods. For example, One-Day Pass charges higher fares, One-Day(Off Peak) Pass charges lower fares. Therefore, it can decrease the flow of passengers in peak hours.
Night Buses continue service during period between the close of the underground and the start of daytime bus services. In addition, many London bus routes run for 24 hours.
Compared with Singapore, the public transport system in London develops more comprehensive with night buses service. Night service is applicable and essential to Singapore. It would require more manpower. However, it is reasonable to increase the fares a little more than the day-time service. Implementation of this method would bring much convenient for citizens especially for those who work on night shifts or get off work late at night.

3. Conclusion
Based on the research findings, it can be seen that the current public transportation system in Singapore have deficiencies existed which bring commuters much inconvenience. Main problems that commuters face including overcrowding, long waiting time, lack of particular transportation means for senior citizens, high fares, and lack of night service. While research on some overseas measures and analysis how applicable these measures are to Singapore’s context.
Based on the findings and analysis on these overseas measures, it can be seen that some of the measures are applicable to Singapore. Measures like using special compartments in public transportation and providing special cars for the senior can be implemented in Singapore to improve quality of service. However, measure like implementation of low standard fare is not quite suitable for Singapore as a sustainable way. To increase the bus frequency to the level in Beijing is also not quite applicable as much manpower and money is required. To provide more kinds of travel passes is an applicable method for Singapore. This method provides more choices for passengers and also can regulate the flow of passenger of different time period. Night service is applicable and essential for Singapore to guarantee the mobility of citizens during the night.

4. Recommendations
Based on the conclusion above, I would like to make the following recommendations to overcome the current deficiencies in Singapore public transport and also attract more commuters.
Government should raise funds to update the transportation facilities and reconstruct highways, overpasses, underpasses as a premise to build a efficient and reliable system.
Implement suitable measures like using special compartments in public transportation and providing special cars for the senior to improve quality of service. Increase the bus frequency to make the system reliable and efficient for commuter to use. Provide more kinds of travel passes to give more choices for passengers and also regulate the flow of passenger of different time period. To start night service to guarantee the mobility of citizens during the night.
Public transportation needs to do better arrangement for vehicles operation.

5. Reference List
Land Transport Review Study.(2008).Retrieved January 4, 2010, from http://singaporebuspage.wordpress.com/land-transport-review/public-transport-review-part-1-bus
Major Transport Issues. (2010). Retrieved January 18, 2010, from http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1101039/1/.html
STOMPer i luv.(2010,December 20) Arrival time for bus as long as 63 minutes: Please do something about this. Retrieved January 18, 2010, from http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/stomp/sgseen/got_service_or_not/518188/arrival_time_for_bus_as_long_as_63_minutes_please_do_something.html

Research Portfolio
1. What strategies did you use to search for the information sources for your report?

I used Boolean operator when searching for the information I need. This method actually sort of include more keywords in my search, making my results wider but more accurate at the same time.
For example, I choose the keywords Singapore, transportation, enhance, and measures based on my topic and combines with the variations Lion city, transit, improve, strategies. By using Boolean operators, I get a search phrase “(Singapore OR Lion city *) AND (transportation OR transit*) AND (enhance OR improve *) AND (measures OR strategies *).”
I also used Google Advanced Search. It provides Boolean operators automatically. Besides that, I can customize the search results to the file type, language, reading level I want.
2. What are some difficulties you faced in searching for the information sources? How did you overcome them?
With the use of Boolean operator and also advanced search engine, the search results narrowed down to be more specify. It should be efficient for me to get what I want. However, the results retrieved are not so relevant. When I search for effective overseas measures, I always retrieve some basic information such as introduction for public transportation in other cities.
I tried to use other search engines as well such as meta search engine and Yahoo directory. Meta search engine has minimized the total results compared with the huge number of results retrieved by Google Search. It makes me to source the information I need.

3. How can you be sure that the information sources are
(a) reliable? I can ensure that the information sources for my report is reliable as all the information is search from authorized websites. I refer to other sources as well to check whether the information I found is accurate. I also check the author’s information on line to make sure he/she is reliable.
(b) relevant?
The information sources for my report is relevant with my topic. It provides good evidence to help explain the problems and also effective measures. I have checked information sources to ensure that it answers the question well.

4. What are some learning points you have gained from writing the report?
I have learned to make use of different search engines such as advanced search option, meta search engine and Yahoo directory to make effective internet research. I also learned how to do correct citations in my report.