SimplyGo screw ups

[RedsYWNA]

I'm hoping for right incentives to move away from the old system. By charging a little more to reflect the cost for say top-up or 10c more per trip. There is a cost to maintain the legacy system and as an early adopter of SimplyGo, I do not see why that cost should be socialised and be borne by the rest.

CHT made an interesting comment yesterday that credit cards/bank cards only made up 40% of commuters. This showed the electorate's desire for the current status quo is quite strong.

 

[reddevil0728]

CHT made an interesting comment yesterday that credit cards/bank cards only made up 40% of commuters. This showed the electorate's desire for the current status quo is quite strong.

Eh I think typo.

must see the graph

41+23 = 64%

 

[sglandscape]

CHT made an interesting comment yesterday that credit cards/bank cards only made up 40% of commuters. This showed the electorate's desire for the current status quo is quite strong.

Eh I think typo.

must see the graph

41+23 = 64%

41%+23% = 64% is the correct number.

It's quite the opposite, this is a good example of oppression by the minority due to their resistance to change.

Also the 39% card based ticketing is likely to be lower, as it would have included concession card holders (which are not impacted for now)

 

[oceanicmanta]

i think it's time the oppressed majority voice their views publicly

then can give some bullets for CHT to fire back

 

[maumu]

policy making is not just about satisfying the majority. if so, the minorities will always be treated as low priorities. this is not the way forward for a modern society supposedly embracing diversity and inclusiveness.

in this situation they (LTA) got it wrong in that their so-called 'upgrade' to simplygo did not go well with the group of commuters who see a drop in confidence in the system due to processes which
(i) hides information from the consumer such as not displaying fare deductions and balances, and
(ii) further inconvenience commuters in that they (including the elderly, the less tech savvy, the young) have to make an extra step to check their own usage via a separate app

they should iron out some issues such as how to ensure reliability and transparent accountability without inconveniencing the commuters.

 

[reddevil0728]

policy making is not just about satisfying the majority. if so, the minorities will always be treated as low priorities. this is not the way forward for a modern society supposedly embracing diversity and inclusiveness.

in this situation they (LTA) got it wrong in that their so-called 'upgrade' to simplygo did not go well with the group of commuters who see a drop in confidence in the system due to processes which
(i) hides information from the consumer such as not displaying fare deductions and balances, and
(ii) further inconvenience commuters in that they (including the elderly, the less tech savvy, the young) have to make an extra step to check their own usage via a separate app

they should iron out some issues such as how to ensure reliability and transparent accountability without inconveniencing the commuters.

(i) it doesn’t hide ah. Hide suggest you cannot find the info. You can just via a diff means.

(ii) it’s a generation thing, cannot keep using the elderly as an excuse, and this excuse also not valid since the elderly have access to concession. One day the elderly will also pass on. So just need to make sure the subsequent generation are ok with it.

what’s the reliability issue?

and what’s not transparent?

“Convenience” is also subjective.

 

[RedsYWNA]

Eh I think typo.

must see the graph

41+23 = 64%

The 23% includes my maid who unwittingly switched to simplygo stored value cards. I think if you ask the 23% if they prefer to see their fare but can only topup at kiosks (instead of online), you may well see a resounding yes.

 

[reddevil0728]

The 23% includes my maid who unwittingly switched to simplygo stored value cards. I think if you ask the 23% if they prefer to see their fare but can only topup at kiosks (instead of online), you may well see a resounding yes.

Yes your maid might be one of the 23%

But everything else you mention is just speculation.

 

[Leaden]

I prefer not showing the card's value at the fare gates and readers. Personally, I don't really feel comfortable that people behind me can see how much i have in the card.
Not showing have its privacy benefits.

Actually govt can set up an opt out system, let people choose. If they want to see their card's value at the readers, they can opt out in the app or at ticketing machines.

 

[reddevil0728]

I prefer not showing the card's value at the fare gates and readers. Personally, I don't really feel comfortable that people behind me can see how much i have in the card.
Not showing have its privacy benefits.

Actually govt can set up an opt out system, let people choose. If they want to see their card's value at the readers, they can opt out in the app or at ticketing machines.

An example of diff ppl diff expectations.

 

[darknite]

(i) it doesn’t hide ah. Hide suggest you cannot find the info. You can just via a diff means.

(ii) it’s a generation thing, cannot keep using the elderly as an excuse, and this excuse also not valid since the elderly have access to concession. One day the elderly will also pass on. So just need to make sure the subsequent generation are ok with it.

what’s the reliability issue?

and what’s not transparent?

“Convenience” is also subjective.

dont underestimate the voice of the seniors/elderly.
there have been previous policy shifts (or revisions) when it involves the seniors' needs, like AMK SERS 50 years lease expiry for replacement flats etc
so to me, this policy u-turn is actually consistent with the governments' previous moves of prioritizing the seniors' needs and listening to their voice, at least in terms of public transportation.

on paper, comparing the pros and cons, the switch to simplyGO is inevitable, logical and worth the transition hassle. that's probably what the original policy makers concluded. you could argue that from the AMK Sers experience, LTA would have roped in the seniors in their trials, but thats something we can only speculate until LTA release more details.

like what others have pointed out, there's a new incoming captain for Singapore Inc. it'll be a mammoth task to firefight too many negative sentiments on the ground, esp after cases involving Iswaran, TCJ and few others. whatever you can settle early, do it fast and get over it. so in such circumstances, even if you can list out 100 pros for SIMPLYGO vs 1 CON, the outcome alr decided the moment the ground sentiments get overwhelmingly negative.

 

[reddevil0728]

dont underestimate the voice of the seniors/elderly.
there have been previous policy shifts (or revisions) when it involves the seniors' needs, like AMK SERS 50 years lease expiry for replacement flats etc
so to me, this policy u-turn is actually consistent with the governments' previous moves of prioritizing the seniors' needs and listening to their voice, at least in terms of public transportation.

Depends on how we define “seniors/elderly” also.

is like a lot of people seem to use the smoke screen of “seniors/elderly” to make a point, when there’s a definition of “seniors”, i.e., those on concession card, arent actually impacted by the current situation.

on paper, comparing the pros and cons, the switch to simplyGO is inevitable, logical and worth the transition hassle. that's probably what the original policy makers concluded. you could argue that from the AMK Sers experience, LTA would have roped in the seniors in their trials, but thats something we can only speculate until LTA release more details.

like what others have pointed out, there's a new incoming captain for Singapore Inc. it'll be a mammoth task to firefight too many negative sentiments on the ground, esp after cases involving Iswaran, TCJ and few others. whatever you can settle early, do it fast and get over it. so in such circumstances, even if you can list out 100 pros for SIMPLYGO vs 1 CON, the outcome alr decided the moment the ground sentiments get overwhelmingly negative.

Is this transition botched? I wouldn’t fight you on that. But will the eventual transition be inevitable, I think so.

It seems like they were too eager to proceed with the transition because the decision point on whether to reinvest in capital expenditure to maintain the legacy system is coming up hence they thought they should just transition.

But the question as to whether tax payers should foot the bill is something that’s worth equal attention also.

maybe they should price it equally, like why is cash fare different from card fare

 

[sglandscape]

the ability to price differentiate to reflect the cost of maintaining 2 different systems should be reflected in the fares, based on payment mode.

majority of the seniors are not impacted given their concession card in order to enjoy discounted fares. it's a smoke screen of those who do not take the public transport, or a vocal minority just assuming the elders are resistant to change.

 

[fr33d0m]

The opposition could have a field day in the parliament, to question about the 40 million, which is a lot of money. Is it only one-time? If not, what’s the long term cost? How will the government fund it? Increase GST to 10%?

the 40 million has to be paid. It does not come out of thin air.

 

[speedsonic]

majority of the seniors are not impacted given their concession card in order to enjoy discounted fares. it's a smoke screen of those who do not take the public transport, or a vocal minority just assuming the elders are resistant to change.

excerpt.
What are some problems that only rich people face?
My wife went to Monaco a few years ago with my daughter. As they were in South France they figured they will spend a couple of days in Monte Carlo. There was some sort of a playground there where my daughter was playing when a lady arrived with her daughter. The two girls started to play with one another and the two moms started to chat.
My wife soon learnt that the lady was very, very wealthy. They had houses in Monaco, Miami, London and New York. Her husband was the CEO of one of the main European beer companies.
They chatted for two hours as the girls played and in it the lady mentioned how she is tired of this lifestyle where they are being followed by security people 24/7 and that her daughter has no real friends.
But the two most ridiculous problems they had to face at that time was:

• Which Ferrari her husband was about to use in the morning as they owned several.
• How she will find a private captain for the following day for their yacht party as the one they always use got sick.

Very rich people live in very different dimensions and their problems are not very well understood.

 

[reddevil0728]

The opposition could have a field day in the parliament, to question about the 40 million, which is a lot of money. Is it only one-time? If not, what’s the long term cost? How will the government fund it? Increase GST to 10%?

the 40 million has to be paid. It does not come out of thin air.

maybe that's why government say need to increase GST to account for all these?

 

[sglandscape]

maybe that's why government say need to increase GST to account for all these?

it's very likely a yearly expense

 

[RedsYWNA]

it's very likely a yearly expense

If it's a yearly exp, the govt will likely mention it. After so many years, we more or less know how the govt operates

 

[sglandscape]

If it's a yearly exp, the govt will likely mention it. After so many years, we more or less know how the govt operates

The press release was too brief to give details, and it was provided as a one liner, so I would not make such assumptions and would continue to say its a guess

 

[reddevil0728]

The press release was too brief to give details, and it was provided as a one liner, so I would not make such assumptions and would continue to say its a guess

Can wait for next parliament seating sure will be addressed