Taxi Driver Lip Lai

edwinttt1978

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ComfortDelGro likely to peg cab fares to demand

Transport giant alerts watchdog that it plans to implement new fares for phone-booked rides

It is likely that taxi commuters will soon have to pay fares which fluctuate according to demand.

Transport giant ComfortDelGro, which controls over 60 per cent of cabs here, has informed the Public Transport Council (PTC) that it plans to implement new fares for phone-booked rides.

"We can confirm that we have written in to the PTC," said a ComfortDelGro spokesman, adding that the company was awaiting the council's response. "We are unable to comment further until things are firmed up."

The group, which operates the blue Comfort and yellow CityCab taxis, made its move right after rivals Trans-Cab and Premier Taxi informed the council of a similar plan.

The Straits Times understands that ComfortDelGro's demand- pegged fares may not be exactly like the surge pricing mechanism popularised by ride-hailing firm Uber.


Instead of informing the commuter of how many times the fare would go up by, ComfortDelGro intends to simply flash a fare - say, $20 from Ang Mo Kio to Orchard on a Friday evening. If the customer rejects this flat fare, he can choose to go by the metered fare. But whether there will be cabs available for him then is uncertain.

ComfortDelGro had earlier said it wanted to introduce dynamic pricing for some time now, but it was "not allowed" to.

Taxi fares in Singapore have been deregulated since 1998, but the industry operates with an unspoken understanding that players will still need the blessing of the authorities before any revision can be made.

Observers expect the new fares to be rolled out by ComfortDelGro. and also expect the two remaining taxi players - SMRT and Prime - to follow suit.

Experts have commented that surge pricing is an efficient mechanism to match supply to demand, but raised concerns about its lack of transparency. Others have also associated it with a form of auctioning, where the consumer willing to pay the highest fare gets a service.

National University of Singapore transport researcher Lee Der Horng said taxi operators need not go head-on with private-hire operators this way.

"Uber and Grab have plenty of venture capitalist funds to burn," he said. "Are taxi companies willing to burn their reserves?"

Instead, Dr Lee said, taxi firms should dismantle some of the surcharges in place today.

"They are confusing to overseas visitors. Even locals don't know all of them," he said, adding that flagdown, time and distance portions of the fare can be adjusted.

He said taxi companies have long claimed that surcharges were to help taxi drivers, and to incentivise them to pick up fares.

"But today, with so much competition from private-hire firms, is there still a need to incentivise them this way?" he said.

http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/comfortdelgro-likely-to-peg-cab-fares-to-demand
 

edwinttt1978

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Yellow taxis have fewer accidents than blue ones, says study

Researchers from NUS and the Chinese University of Hong Kong say that yellow taxis are more noticeable than blue taxis in both daylight and under street lighting.

The next time you hail a taxi, take note of its colour, for it might mean a safer ride.

Researchers at the National University of Singapore (NUS) found that taxis painted yellow, a colour that stands out, were involved in significantly fewer traffic accidents than taxis painted blue.

Their results were based on analysing 11/2 years' worth of detailed taxi, driver and accident data from a large fleet of over 4,000 yellow taxis and 12,500 blue taxis locally.

Yellow taxis were found to have about 6.1 fewer accidents per 1,000 taxis every month than their blue counterparts.

It meant an individual was about 9 per cent less likely to be in an accident in one of those.

Professor Ho Teck Hua, NUS deputy president of research and technology and lead investigator of the study, told The Straits Times that the study accounted for a majority - 60 per cent - of taxis in Singapore.

It was conducted in collaboration with Associate Professor Chong Juin Kuan from the NUS Business School and Assistant Professor Xia Xiaoyu from the Chinese University of Hong Kong Business School.

Their findings were published in the scientific journal Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences on Monday.

On the results, Prof Ho said that yellow taxis were more noticeable than blue taxis in both daylight and under street lighting.

"The difference in the accident rate between yellow and blue was highest in street lighting because the difference in visibility of the two colours was most pronounced against the dark background of night."

The study also highlighted the potential economic savings of repainting all the blue taxis in the study yellow. It would cause 917 fewer accidents per year, generating over two million dollars worth of savings.

Studies into the link between vehicle colour and accident rates were previously conducted in 2007 by Monash University in Australia, which found that cars painted in lower-visibility colours such as black, blue and grey, tended to be involved in more accidents.

Singapore's biggest taxi operator, with a fleet of blue cabs, ComfortDelGro told ST that the results of the study were "very interesting" and that the company would take a closer look at them.

http://www.straitstimes.com/singapo...ave-fewer-accidents-than-blue-ones-says-study
 

edwinttt1978

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Taxi Driver’s Vocational Licence (TDVL) holders can drive both taxis and private hire cars

9. TDVL holders who wish to drive a private hire car need not apply for a PDVL[3]. Existing TDVLs will allow their holders to drive both taxis and private hire cars. The TDVL refresher course conducted by the Singapore Taxi Academy for existing TDVL holders will be expanded to cover private hire car rules and regulations. New TDVL applicants will be instructed on both taxi and private hire car rules and regulations during their TDVL course.

[3] TDVL holders will use their existing TDVL, which will allow them to drive both taxis and private hire cars. TDVL holders will receive a letter from LTA notifying them of this, as well as the rules and regulations applicable to PDVL holders.

https://www.lta.gov.sg/apps/news/page.aspx?c=2&id=f1dae5f8-c9b5-4930-98d9-2eef544d9de9
 

edwinttt1978

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Commuters cheer dynamic pricing, but some cabbies unhappy

It was a new option for commuters that was also supposed to cast a wider net for taxi drivers.

But yesterday, as Grab rolled out a new dynamic pricing option for taxi bookings in tandem with five taxi companies, one group seemed happier than the other.

Commuters liked the largely lower fares and upfront charges.

Cabbies, however, were less enthused by the new fare option called JustGrab, with some saying that lower fares could hurt their earnings.

A check by The Straits Times comparing the various taxi and private-hire options showed that JustGrab fares tended to be cheaper than Grab's own private-hire car service GrabCar, but fluctuated against ComfortDelGro taxi fares.

For example, a ride from Shenton Way to Jurong East during the evening peak hour cost $31 with JustGrab, and $35 with GrabCar. The same journey cost $24 using a booked ComfortDelGro cab.

At the same time, a ride from Shenton Way to Tampines cost $31 with JustGrab, $37 with GrabCar and $40 with ComfortDelGro.

Still, commuters were mostly in favour of the new service.

Stockbroker Annalise Krishnan, 44, paid $11 using JustGrab for a ride from Bishan to Raffles Place at around 1pm. This was about $3 cheaper than if she were to use GrabCar - her usual option.

"I was surprised to see an SMRT cab pick me up because it's usually private-hire cars that come," she said. "I think surge pricing is going to become an inevitable part of the industry as consumers enjoy knowing the price of their ride upfront."

Madam May Yeo, a 59-year-old housewife who was at Westgate mall's taxi stand, said Grab rides tend to be cheaper because of the frequent promotional codes offered. She added that she would opt for whichever option was the cheapest.

Grab said that under JustGrab, taxis will have the same fare structure as its GrabCar private-hire car service, which starts from a base fare of $2.50 and has a rate of 50 cents per kilometre - cheaper than the fares of metered taxis.

But like private-hire cars, fares would also rise based on demand.

Grab told customers in an e-mail yesterday that JustGrab will have more than 50,000 taxis and private-hire cars available, with the nearest one dispatched to the passenger.

There are about 10,600 cabs from five companies - SMRT, Trans-Cab, Premier, Prime and HDT Singapore Taxi - under this scheme.

Grab added that JustGrab fares "will be at least 10 per cent cheaper" than if customers were to book via the GrabCar service, which will send only a private-hire car.

An SMRT cabby, who did not want to be named, said that some JustGrab fares were "too low". For instance, he added, a journey from Ghim Moh to Havelock Road at 7am would fetch a fee of $8, compared with $14 going by the taxi meter.

"I would prefer getting a passenger from the street," he said.

A 53-year-old cabby, who wanted to be known only as Mr Wee, said: "A ride from VivoCity to Telok Blangah is just $5 on JustGrab. And I have to give 50 cents of that to Grab. The pricing is not right."

For JustGrab jobs, cabbies have to pay a 10 per cent commision to Grab compared with 30 to 50 cents for company bookings.

ComfortDelGro, the largest taxi player with a 60 per cent market share, said that it would not launch dynamic pricing for now. Instead, it would offer a flat-fare option based on the current metered rates.

It said yesterday that it would introduce this on April 10.

• Additional reporting by Annika Mock, Nathasha Lee, Raynold Toh and Selina Xu

WATCH THE VIDEO
Taxi commuters welcome surge pricing option.
http://str.sg/48xV

http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/commuters-cheer-dynamic-pricing-but-some-cabbies-unhappy
 

edwinttt1978

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Competition forcing more cabbies to give up their taxis

LTA data shows that the average proportion of cabs sitting idle in yards has nearly doubled

Up against stubborn competition from private-hire car services Uber and Grab, more cabbies have been giving up their taxis this year.

For the first five months of this year, the average proportion of the taxi fleet which is sitting idle in yards - also called the unhired rate - hit 9.1 per cent.

This is nearly double the average unhired rate of 5 per cent in the same period last year, according to data the Land Transport Authority (LTA) shared with The Straits Times recently.

While the population fluctuates as vehicles have to be renewed every eight years, this translates to around 2,400 taxis being unhired, up from about 1,300 previously.

As of April, there are 26,476 taxis run by five operators: ComfortDelGro, Trans-Cab, SMRT, Premier and Prime.

ComfortDelGro, which operates the largest fleet - more than 15,860 cabs under the Comfort and CityCab brands, said its unhired rate has remained "relatively low" despite stiff competition, though it declined to provide a number.

The firm rolled out a flat fare booking option in April and also recently updated its rewards programme to target different customer groups.

Since late last year, firms such as Trans-Cab and Premier have been cutting rentals by up to 40 per cent to attract hirers.

Mr Neo Nam Heng, chairman of the Prime Group, which owns more than 700 cabs, said that about 10 per cent of his fleet is not rented out.

National University of Singapore transport researcher Lee Der Horng expects the unhired rate to increase further as more commuters accept private-hire car services, and cabbies themselves switch to becoming private-hire car drivers.

For cab firms, the costs of having one idle taxi requires about seven hired taxis to cover, he said. "If the unhired rate surges to double digits, it may not be sustainable for some firms," Dr Lee added.

LTA figures show that between January and April, the average daily ridership for taxis was at an eight-year low of 853,000, a 12 per cent drop from 977,000 in the same period last year.

Cabby Thomas Yuen, 40, said business is particularly poor on weekdays after midnight, as passengers tend to take private-hire cars, which do not levy a surcharge.

"It can be very challenging. I've roamed around for an hour without any passengers," Mr Yuen said.

Prime's Mr Neo feels that private-hire car services will have to turn in a profit some day, and will eventually cut back on the generous discounts for passengers and incentives given to drivers. He said: "I am confident that while the taxi business is down, it is not out."

http://www.straitstimes.com/singapo...n-forcing-more-cabbies-to-give-up-their-taxis
 

edwinttt1978

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Taxi population falls to lowest in eight years

The number of cabs here hit an eight-year low of 25,699 as at June 30.

SINGAPORE - The taxi population has fallen by more than 10 per cent since the arrival of ride-hailing apps such as Uber and Grab.

According to latest Land Transport Authority (LTA) figures, the number of cabs here hit an eight-year low of 25,699 as at June 30. This represents a 10.6 per cent drop from its peak of 28,736 in 2014 - a year after Uber and Grab set up here.

In fact, the cab population has been shrinking every year since then, with little or no prospect for an upturn in the foreseeable future.

The bleak outlook had prompted SMRT Corp, the third largest operator here, to enter into talks with Grab to dispose of its taxi business.

Cabbies themselves are leaving the trade in droves. According to an earlier report by The Straits Times, the percentage of idle or unhired taxis hit 9.1 per cent in May - almost double what it was same time last year.

Before Uber and Grab entered the fray, the unhired rate for taxis rarely went above 3 per cent.

Ex-cabby Alan Tang, 54, was among those who called it quits this year. Now in the security industry, Mr Tang drove a Comfort taxi for about three years before giving up.

"When I started in 2014, I was earning around $3,500 a month for a 12-hour shift. Just before I left, it had fallen to below $3,000," he said.

"Driving a taxi has its fringe benefits - such as freedom and access to a car for personal use - but it becomes not worth it when your earnings fall below $3,000," he said.

In his new job, Mr Tang said he is "easily making more than $3,000".

"My pay last month was $3,800," he noted, adding that he has days off, annual leave, dental and medical benefits, and most importantly, CPF.

"In the three years that I was driving a cab, I estimate that I lost close to $40,000 in CPF contributions," he said.

Like his former compatriots, Mr Tang blames the rise of private-hire players - and the inability of the taxi industry to respond adequately - as the only reason for the falling popularity of taxis.

Since 2013, the number of rental cars here has more than trebled to 63,259 as at end-June. Of the lot, some 50,000 are estimated to be cars plying as private-hire vehicles. Not all however, display the tamper-evident decal required from July 1.

Some operate under carpooling services such as GrabHitch or UberPool, which are not governed by the new private-hire rules.

Chinese daily Lianhe Zaobao reported over the weekend that Grab had terminated the services of some 200 drivers for exploiting this loophole by for instance, breaching the two-ride-a-day cap stipulated for carpooling services.

In attempts to stem the exodus of drivers, cab operators have started cutting rental rates. Industry leader ComfortDelGro for instance, has rolled out a $79 daily rate for Hyundai i40 cabs which are above three years old. This rate comes with various conditions, but is far lower than the $125 charged for a new car.

The intense competition has spooked investors, with ComfortDelGro's stock price hitting its three-year low of $2.26 Monday.

Meanwhile, the number of private cars has also plummeted. According to LTA statistics, the cohort hit a nine-year low of 545,024 as at end-June - 10.3 per cent down from a high of 607,292 in 2013. Part of the contraction has to do with private cars being converted to become private-hire vehicles.

The total vehicle population has fallen to a seven-year low of 953,097 - 2.2 per cent lower than its high of 974,170 in 2013. This has to do with a three-month lag between the time when a vehicle is scrapped and the time a certificate of entitlement is recycled back into the system.

http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/taxi-population-falls-to-lowest-in-eight-years
 

koolaid

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sounds like these taxi companies still havent wake up? no taxis when theres heavy downpour... no taxis between 10pm to 12am... put on hold for more than 30 mins when trying to call a cab during these 'peak periods'...

all these poor service rendered by them for the past 30 years and they did nothing to address it cos they monopolize the whole mkt. still dont wanna get rid of these complacenet idiots sitting at the top, doing pretty much nothing but collecting salary months after months? these taxi companies deserve to close down for good. :)
 

AL5509

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sounds like these taxi companies still havent wake up? no taxis when theres heavy downpour... no taxis between 10pm to 12am... put on hold for more than 30 mins when trying to call a cab during these 'peak periods'...
hhhmmm this seem to be the drivers fault rather than the companies ba?
 

itedino

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sounds like these taxi companies still havent wake up? no taxis when theres heavy downpour... no taxis between 10pm to 12am... put on hold for more than 30 mins when trying to call a cab during these 'peak periods'...

all these poor service rendered by them for the past 30 years and they did nothing to address it cos they monopolize the whole mkt. still dont wanna get rid of these complacenet idiots sitting at the top, doing pretty much nothing but collecting salary months after months? these taxi companies deserve to close down for good. :)

Use app to book.
 

Peach Tea

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sounds like these taxi companies still havent wake up? no taxis when theres heavy downpour... no taxis between 10pm to 12am... put on hold for more than 30 mins when trying to call a cab during these 'peak periods'...

all these poor service rendered by them for the past 30 years and they did nothing to address it cos they monopolize the whole mkt. still dont wanna get rid of these complacenet idiots sitting at the top, doing pretty much nothing but collecting salary months after months? these taxi companies deserve to close down for good. :)

Theres always uber and grab. Lol
 

AL5509

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taxi drivers created the prob... but the top echelons did pretty much nothing to resolve it. :(
Maybe the TOP is doing sometime??
In fact very often. Seems like justgrab gave priority pings to taxi. There was once a rider in my car who upon completing the trip wants to book me again, but when he book via justgrab, a taxi who is 3 mins away got the ping. End up he had to cancel and book via grabcar then I will receive the ping

Sent from somewhere ulu using GAGT
Are people accepting such changes or it is too late to?
 

BuGGi3

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sounds like these taxi companies still havent wake up? no taxis when theres heavy downpour... no taxis between 10pm to 12am... put on hold for more than 30 mins when trying to call a cab during these 'peak periods'...

all these poor service rendered by them for the past 30 years and they did nothing to address it cos they monopolize the whole mkt. still dont wanna get rid of these complacenet idiots sitting at the top, doing pretty much nothing but collecting salary months after months? these taxi companies deserve to close down for good. :)

heavy downpour driver scared of getting into accident maybe?

but for 10pm to 12am (mon-thurs), there's usually lots of green lanterns (unhired taxis) going around. perhaps they felt its pointless to drive empty and just head home to rest early then start to chiong early next morning?
 
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