You Can Choose Not to Board says SMRT's CEO

“People can board the train – it is whether they choose to,” said SMRT’s CEO, Saw Phaik Hwa, in response to comments that MRT trains have become overcrowded. Unfortunately, Ms. Saw speaks like a person who hasn’t had the slightest experience with MRT crush hour. Any regular peak hour commuter will know that it’s an illusion of choice – you can choose to wait for the next train or choose to crush yourself against the wall of flesh that meet you at the doors.

That said, in all fairness, our country undeniably boasts an excellent public transport network. The trains haven’t reached the level of overcrowding seen in Tokyo; taxis aren’t as exorbitant as those in London or New York; and buses, although occasionally erratic, are still above acceptable standards for comfort and reliability.

For now, at least. Two factors point in the direction of transport system overload: one, a steadily growing population, largely through immigration; and two, increasing costs of living. Hence, we need to look at economical alternatives to our regular modes of transport. Do they exist or are we prisoners of our public transport system? Here are two to consider.

CYCLING

Travelling on two wheels has seen a revival in popularity across the world and it is a wonderful mode of transport.

How It Works: What it says on the tin. For a good primer on cycling in Singapore check out mrbrown’s guide to bicycle commuting.

Pros: Reduce your carbon footprint, sneak in daily exercise and save money at the same time.

Cons: Cycling in Singapore has proven to be a fatalistic venture and cyclists face obstacles like limited cycle-only lanes, severe riding restrictions on footpaths and fellow motorists who don’t treat cyclists with the same level of courtesy and care as they do for other vehicles. Furthermore, the heat factor in our equatorial climate means arriving at your destination in a rather sticky state, not to mention the high possibility of rain, or worse, floods.

Recommended for: Folks who are relatively fit, are confident on the roads and have access to showers at their office or gym.

Alternatively: Consider investing in a motorized bicycle. The Land Transport Authority allows motorized bicycles that run up to speeds of 25km/h, which can save riders some energy and perspiration.

Rating

Comfort: LOW

Safety: LOW

Cost: LOW

CAR CO-OPS

Car co-ops have been in the market for some time now and popular ones include Car Club, KahShare by Honda and WhizzCar.

How It Works: Members book cars in advance which are then allotted to them at designated parking stations dotted around the island. The system is fully automated, and cars are accessed by a personalised key fob or access card. The cost of using a car co-op is an annual membership fee in addition to per-use fees that are charged according to the level of usage. For basic users that only drive occasionally (approximately less than 10 hours a month), fees are charged according to the time, mileage and model of car used. For heavier users, there are discounted package deals. Members are usually invoiced once a month.

Pros: Great for people who love to drive without having to fork out the exorbitant cost of owning a car. Car co-ops also reduce carbon emissions as cars are shared among users and you can’t beat a car for comfort.

Cons: For regular daily use, the costs of a car co-op are relatively high. For a member to use a car during business hours for commuting to the office and back (Mondays to Fridays, 7am – 6pm) the minimum cost is $38 a day (Car Club) for the smallest car. Assuming a month has 20 working days, be prepared to spend at least $760 a month and that excludes parking fees in business areas and ERP charges that can easily tip your outlay to over $1000 a month.

Recommended for: People who only need to use cars occasionally or want to drive, but don’t want to spend on the upkeep of owning their own car. Travelling to the parking station may be an additional hassle, so it’s only suitable for people who live close to one.

Alternatively: Take taxis.

Rating

Comfort: HIGH

Safety: MODERATE (depending on skill)

Cost: HIGH