US Army implements Neighbourhood Electric Vehicles

The U.S. Army has announced that it will lease 4,000 Neighborhood Electric Vehicles (NEVs) within three years. The Army plans to use NEVs at its bases for transporting people around the base, as well as for security patrols and maintenance and delivery services. The Army accepted its first six NEVs at Virginia's Fort Myer in March 2009 and will lease a total of 600 NEVs through the rest of the year, followed by the leasing of 1,600 NEVs for each of the following two years. With a full eight-hour recharge, the NEVs can travel 30 miles (48 km) at a top speed of 25 mph (40 km/h)^[64] .

Taxi driver in Singapore

I took a taxi from airport to home. The taxi driver was previously working as an electrician in a town council. The town council oursourced the work to a contractor who brought in foreign workers and depreseed the wage to $1,500. He was not able to accept this reduced pay. So, he decided to drive a taxi.

He worked 12 hours a day and earned about $2,500 a month. About 15% of this calls come from booking. He has to pick up the passengers from the roadside or from private booking (without any fee) for the remaining 85%. 

He told me that if a taxi booking service is available on SMS, he will be happy to take up the calls without any booking fee. It is better than driving around to look for a passenger.

Taxi driver in Vancouver

A taxi driver told me that he gets 80% of his call from bookings and 20% from the road. There is no booking fee. He gets the normal taxi fare.  His net earnings is about CAD 20 per hour. An office worker earns CAD 15 per hour.

He was surprised to learn that there is a taxi booking fee in Singapore, repsenting an estimated on top of the taxi fare. He says that the booking fee will discourage customers from using the booking service. It will earn up with more taxis plying the road.

Operation of an automated car

An automated car can move from one point to another on a lane, without the need for a driver. It needs the following:

1.  A dedicated lane, preferably elevated.  The lane can be of smaller width than a light rail system, as the automated car is smaller than a train that carries many more passengers.

2.  Sensors to detect the distance to a car or object in front. This allows the brake to be applied to slow down or stop the car and avoid collision.

3.  A computer system in the car to input the destination stop and to guide the car directly to the destination. The car is able to its location as it travels along the lane.

4.   A by-way at each stop for the car to use, so that it does not obstruct the cars that are bypassing the stop.

5.  The cars should be electrically operated. Batteries can be changed when it is more than 80% consumed. The car can automatically go to the battery changing station when it reaches this point.

I see such a system being developed and deployed within 10 years.

Feeder service in a town

A town can be served by a bus service (to bring passengers to the town center or train station) or by automated cars. 

A bus has to stop at every stop to take and drop passengers. The fare has to be collected. The travelling time can be 2 or 3 times of an automated car that takes the passenger to the destination. A bus journey of 10 to 15 minuts can be done within 5 minutes on an automated car.

A bus can take many times the passengers of an automated car. 

Which is better? Previously, there was no such choice, as an automated car was not possible. With the advance in computer technology, it is now possible to design an automated car (i.e. a car that can drive safely to the destination without the need for a driver). It is time to consider such an option.

Bus service in Vancouver

I took the bus service in Vancouver yesterday. Here are some interesting observations:

1. There are only 2 bus services on the main road near my hotel. It takes me to downtown and allows me to transfer to the Skytrain service or other buses along the way.

2. The waiting time is short. My bus arrives within 5 minutes. 

3. Another passenger complainted that he waited 10 minutes and saw four buses arriving in the opposite direction. They are probably used to getting a bus within 5 minutes.

4. The bus driver was polite and helpful. When I told him of the place that I visited, he told me the stop to get down. He also said that he would announced it on arriving at that stop. He did.

5.  There are several stickers in the bus asking for passengers to give priority to seniors and people with disability. When a senior arrive, the bus driver announced for someone to give up their seat. A seated passenger did what was expected - and enforced.

6.  The bus was electrically operated. The electric power was provided by the electric line that was operated. The bus was not running on rails and is not called a tram.

7. It was quite clear that the bus driver was well educated and probably well paid. In my view, it is better to pay an adequate salary to attract the right type of people to do this job and do it well.

Electric Vehicles

Singapore is spending $20 million to experiment with the use of electric vehicles. The idea is to find electric vehicle that can be more economical to use, compared to the conventional vehicle. 

I wish to suggest a more bold approach. Can the electrical vehicle be used as the backbone of a new transportation system? 

Over the past decade, several innovative transportation thinkers have proposed the Personal Automated Transport (PAT) based on the following concept:

a)  Use of electric vehicles

b)  Automated system, i.e. no need for people to control the vehicle

c)  Running on a separate road system, preferably elevated

d)  Take the passengers from point to point, unlike a light rail system that stops at every stop

e)  The elevated road can use a small gauge, compared to a light rail system. 

f)   When the battery power runs down, it can be replaced with a fully charged battery. 

The PAT system operates like a taxi, but does not have a taxi driver. It operates like a private car, but does not require to find a parking space. It can take the passengers to the destination and can be booked by another passenger.

I like to suggest that the PAT system can operate to provide local transportation in a town, to bring people to the MRT station or bus interchange. 

I hope that a city like Singapore can develop this new concept and bring it to the world. This will be more efficient than a light rail system. It reduces the travelling time and brings greater comfort to commuters. 

Tan Kin Lian

Insufficient parking spaces

Two months ago, I visited Nanyang Technological University to give a talk. I cannot find a parking space near the meeting place. I had to park far away and walk there.

Last week, I took my mother for medical consultation at National University Hospital. I could not find a parking space until after 15 minutes.

Today, I visted Singapore Polytechinic for a meeting. I faced the same situation. All parking spaces are taken up. So, I had to park quite a distance.

It seems that many places have too many cars, probably driven by the employees. They do not provide parking space for visitors. 

We have too many cars and insufficient parking spaces. It is better to take a taxi or public transport, and save the trouble of looking for a parking space. 

The Government should not allow more cars to be sold, if our roads and parking spaces are insufficient to cope with the load.

The case for public transport

In a small rural town in a country, it is necessary to have a private car. The roads are usually empty and there is no public transport. Driving is convenient and a pleasure.

In a heavily populated city, the situation is different. The roads are congested and traffic is crawling most of the time. It takes a long time to travel on the road. To add to the hassle, it is difficult to find a parking space. Driving is no fun. It is a big hassle.

Many people are forced to use a private car due to inadequate public transport. This is now the situation in Singapore. The roads are congested and there is insufficient parking space most of the time.  We have a large increase of population in recent years, and have not expanded our roads and parking spaces to accommodate the large increase in private cars.

The solution is to improve our public transport rapidly. We should follow the model of Hong Kong where most people prefer to use public transport, for its convenience and low cost. I have not experienced it personally, but many people said that it is possible to get a feeder bus within 5 minutes and it takes the passenger direct to the destination.

 A top priority action is to improve the feeder services in each of our towns. Like Hong Kong, we can encourage the use of small buses owned by the individual operators. We have to keep the cost low, by reducing the road tax paid by the operators of these services. If this is available, many car owners will be happy to take a feeder service to the MRT train station or bus terminus.

 We have to introduce express bus services that connect the different towns. These services should have just a few major stops to reduce the travelling time. All passengers should be assured of a seat. These new services should be introduced in addition to the existing services. When they are popular, some of the existing services can be withdrawn in a rationalisation exercise.

 We can reduce energy consumption and improve efficiency significantly by getting more people to use public transport, instead of private cars. I use public transport regularly (and leave my car at home) and confirm that it is now my preferred mode of travel. I wish to encourage many car owners to give it a try.

 Tan Kin Lian

 

 

 

Improve public transport - by HK Lim

Introduction
A house divided against itself cannot stand.

Main Body
Much has been said about our public transport, specifically SBS and
SMRT. And this article that appeared in the MyPaper (authored by a
certain Tan KL) hit the nail in the head.

The article (http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dcqjz7c8_174cn9kfnfj) was
about Real Time Bus Arrival Information System and Intelligent Route
Information System. The former was developed by our Land Transport
Authority while the latter was done by SBS. Two expensive systems that
hits some snags lately.

With much knowledge, technical competency, and talent massed in our
small island, there is so big to wonder why we cannot come up with a
system that will match or surpass what other countries are able to
develop that can handle 8000 buses running on 700 routes with 17,500
bus stops.

There is much available information within our grasp, for example,
from the Internet, on the topic "intelligent transport systems." I am
giving you some links below and I am also attaching some documents
downloaded from the Net that might help our think tanks at the various
sectors of our government to think out of the box.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Buses
http://www.nlondon.bcs.org/pres/mdjun06.pps
http://books.google.com.sg/books?id=cXL_avEOQWYC&pg=PA67&lpg=PA67&dq=london+bus+network+avl+system&source=bl&ots=whNPI9w-NB&sig=-5MMoqoZgSS-fNAsdBRVtNFJhlc&hl=en&ei=D5LwSfXtOYTi7APw5Jy6Dw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6
http://niacad.com/htm_accy.htm
http://www.silicon.com/publicsector/0,3800010403,39165346,00.htm

To get the feel of what the community is talking about on the issue
about our public transport, we no need to go so far. The Net is abuzz
with their grouses and suggestions.

http://gene-journey.blogspot.com/2009/04/smrt-bus.html
http://talkback.stomp.com.sg/forums/archive/index.php/t-12323.html
http://comment.straitstimes.com/showthread.php?t=18801
http://mollymeek.livejournal.com/115303.html
http://comment.straitstimes.com/showthread.php?t=3015&page=2

If we are serious about providing a transport system that befits our
status as a first world nation, we can just refer to this FAQ provided
by SBS (http://www.sbstransit.com.sg/doyouknow/faq_bus.aspx#1). Are we
really using our technical competencies to nail the issues at hand?

A*Star can lend its brains, funded by EDB, assisted by MOT, LTA, URA,
MND, IDA and SLA to develop a system, or shall we say OUTSOURCE a
system to our SME companies. Or we can straight away ask ST
Electronics to develop one, of course with the help of the respective
agencies. We can ask our CDC's to gather the problems encountered by
our constituencies in their daily commute to-and-from work.

Technology wise, we can utilize RFID, GPS, GPRS, Gyro, Bluetooth and
Zigbee technologies and combine them to form a state-of-the-art
solution. And we can also implement simple solutions like preventing a
bus driver from packing the bus. If the bus is authorized to carry 38
seated passengers, then taking up 5 standing passengers is okay. But,
taking up 15 more will further delay the bus, and all the other buses
behind it. Simple as that!

Hopefully, the recipients of this email will forward or let their
respective bosses or inform the concerned parties on this so we can
finally put a stop to the blogs, forums, and tweets from our netizens.
Much has been said, we've had enough!

Best regards,
HK Lim

Commuters have to accept transfers

Many commuters said that they like to have direct bus services, instead of making transfers. This preference has its drawbacks.

Singapore has more than 100 direct bus services, but it does not produce an efficient system, leading to the following:

a)  Late arrival of buses

b)  Overcrowding

c)  Bunching of buses

A more efficient system is one that make use of transfers. Each town (e.g. Toa Payoh) should be served by a local bus (maybe using small buses) that carry the people within the town to the bus interchange, MRT station or town center. Those who need to travel long distance can take the intertown bus or MRT.

Here are the attractions of a local bus service:

a) Waiting time for a bus should be less than 5 minutes

b) More stops are available within 150 meters of one's home

c)  Can be managed by individual operators, similar to the taxi system

d) More buses are put into operation during peak hours

Here are the advantages of inter-town buses:

a)  Each passenger can have a seat

b)  There are few stops, reducing the travel time

People are used to transfers when they take an earoplane or MRT. The same concept should be applied to the bus services. If commuers accept this idea, the public bus services can be improved tremendously to support the MRT service.

Arrival time of buses

Read my letter to MyPaper.

Failure of public transport in Singapore

I am caught in a bad traffic congestion on several roads today. There are too many cars on our roads.

What is the underlying cause? It is the failure of public transport. To overcome the inadequate and inconvenient bus services, too many people buy cars. There are too many cars, in relation to our roads and parking spaces. Driving a car in these conditions can be tiring and frustrating.

Many people find Hong Kong to have a better system. They rely almost entirely on public transport. It is easy to get a bus or train to reach to most parts of Hong Kong. Few people need to own cars to get around.

There are just a few train services in Hong Kong, but they are well connected by light buses. This gives a total system that is convenient to the people.  I hope that Singapore can implement some of the measures adopted in Hong Kong. 

Tan Kin Lian

Insufficient parking spaces at National University Hospital

I took my mother for medical checkup at National University Hospital. There were insufficient paking space. Many cars waited in a long queue to enter the car park, which was full.

My mother had to wait for me at the lobby of the hospital for quite a while, while I searched for a parking space. It was a bad experience. I thought of abandoning the car at any available spot, even illegally.

The hospital administrators probably had reserved parking spaces, but what about the public? The next time, it makes more sense to go to the hospital by taxi or public transport. But my mother needs to use a wheelchair.

At least, the hospital could have engaged people to provide a valet service. But, there was no such service! The welfare of the public does not seem to be of much concern to them.

How to build the MRT stations closer together

Did you wonder why the distance between the stations on the NS Line and the NE Line at Dhoby Ghaut is so far apart? It take a long walk to move from one station to another to take a different line.

I guess that the reason is that the NE Line is built many years after the NS Line was completed. It was not possible to build the station closer, as the tunnelling work could affect the operations of the NS Line and could be dangerous.

In London, the distance between the interchange stations for some of the lines are also far apart - possibly for the same reason.

Could it be possible for the stations to be build closer together, so that the commuters do not have to walk a long distance? I can think of two possible solutions, which are feasible from an economic and engineering angle. What are there? I invite your views.

It is important for a solution to be fuond, as many new lines are being build. We should keep the stations closer together and reduce the walking time.

Bus stops as landmarks

I suggest that the Land Transport Authority should use the bus stops as landmarks. They should name each bus stop and make the sign visible from a distance. They can be used to give directions, for example, go along Ang Mo Kio Avenue 5, pass bus stop XXXX, turn right into Ang Mo Kio Industrial Park 2, and then 2A.

The bus stops can also be used as the landmark to take taxis. For example, pick me up 100 years after bus stop XXXX at Ang Mo Kio Avenue 5.

We can make it as a convenient that taxis can pick passengers 100 years from a specific bus stop.

The use of bus stops as landmarks is better than to use building address (as these buildings are usually not easily visible).

Expensive and unnecesary vehicle inspection

I sent my car for inspection this morning. It cost me $62. The inspection took 10 minutes. The mechanic said that most of the work is computerised.

Why should it be so costly for 10 minutes of computerised work? My car is quite new, so why is it necessary for inspection?

Somebody decided to set the rule, and incur unnecessary and high cost for the public. I hope that our politicians will think about the people and help to remove some of the wastefulness.

Traffic Police now issues advisory

In the past, the Traffic Police is strict. They issue a fine for each traffic offence.

This has now changed. My daughter received a letter from the Traffic Police. Her car was found to have exceeded the speed limit along Lornie Road. The letter said that the offence merited a fine of $150 and 4 demerit points. But, the Traffic Police is issuing an advisory in this instance - i.e. they are not asking for payment of a fine. Wow!

My sceptical friend said that general election is around the corner. But, I think that the Traffic Police is adopting a more friendly, advisory approach, and should be commended.

Bus driver gave way

I had to turn out of a side road into a busy road. The bus driver stopped to let me through. I appreciate the kindness in giving way.

Give way

I was driving down a busy and congested Scotts Road. A taxi on the left lane turned suddently into my lane. The driver was tired about waiting for the bus to move ahead. I slowed down and gave way.

Further down the road, a car turned from the side road into my path. I slowed down and gave way.

On both occasions, I decided to use my brake instead of my horn. It is all right to give way and let the other driver move into the lane that they needed. They have been stuck for too long in their lane or the side road.

Light buses in Singapore

I hope that the Government will make it possible for small operators to run light bus services to serve each town. I suggest the following approach:

1. Each town shall have 2 to 4 routes to serve different parts of the town, and bring the residents to the town center, shopping center or bus terminus

2. These light buses should be exempted from taxes, so that they can reduce the cost of service to the residents

3.  The rental of these light buses can be reduced to a share of the bus fare, so that the operator does not have to incur a fixed cost.

This is a way to create employment for the unemployed. Those who have a driving licence can operate a light bus service. They do not need to go through the extensive training to be a taxi driver. The fare can be kept low. This will improve the quality of the transport service to make it as convenient as Hong Kong. It will improve the quality of life in Singapore, without incurring a big cost.

ERP shift congestion to other roads

I drove from my home to Orchard Hotel to attend a conference. I paid $4.50 to pass 2 ERP gantries along the CTE. But, I got stuck in slow traffic along the PIE and wasted 20 minutes. So, the high charges did not help to reduce my travelling time.

Many people drive private cars to work. This caused congestion on the major roads. The ERP does not help to reduce congestion. It only shift the congestion to other roads.

A better way is to develop more efficient public transport. We need a system similar to Hong Kong where light buses bring people for short distances to the nearest train station or bus interchange. Most people wait 1 minute for a light bus.

With many people out of work in Singapore, it is time for the Land Transport Authority to set the framework for them to make a living by driving a light bus, and offering a service to the travelling public. This may reduce congestion on the road. 

Convenient public transport in Hong Kong

My friend spent four days in Hong Kong. She was amazed at the convenience of the public transport, especially the buses. She has to wait 1 minute for a bus. The bus can take her to her destination. Most probably the destination is a MTR station or a nearby shopping center. She does not need taxi or private cars. She has all praise for the public transport system in Hong Kong.

I hope that the public transport system can have some of the convenient features of the Hong Kong system. Most probably, we need light buses to provide convenient and frequent tranport within a short distance, also called "the last mile".

Urban and intercity public transport

I read an article by Jeffrey Sachs. He talked about the opportunity to rebuild the global economic system to be sustainable. This is to protect the environment and avoid wastage in the use of resources.

A key recommendation is to develop urban and intercity public transport to reduce the reliance on private cars for travel. Many cities are over-congested with private cars.

I like this idea. Cities should be efficient public transport. Make it easy for the people to move around in safe, clean and comfortable public transport. People will prefer this mode of travel, rather than private cars.

Many people buy private cars and bear with the high cost, due to lack of convenient public transport. I hope that the Government will recognise this deficiency, and give top priority to develop public transport.

Public transport can be charged on a marginal cost. They should not have to pay road, ERP and other taxes.  With this special advantage, many people will find it more economical to use public transport. 

It will be win-win for the people and environment, greater efficiency and protection of the environment.

Tan Kin Lian

Booking a taxi

I booked a taxi to fetch me from my home to Raffles Hospital at 10 am. I was quite surprised that the taxi fare was only $13 (i.e $10 fare, $2.50 booking fee and $0.50 ERP fee). I was expected a much higher fare. Probably, there was no surcharge at that time.

I hope that the surcharge can be removed, so that more people are willing to take taxis. This will giv more business to taxi drivers and make taxi more affordable to the commuters.

Bus service

In recent times, I have come to appreciate the bus service in Singapore. I take a bus from my home to SMU during the off-peak hours. I am able to get a seat on the bus and to update my blog. The journey takes about 45 minutes (including waiting time) and the time is usefully spent on reading or blogging.

We need to make it more convenient for people to know how to find the right bus. We also need a way to tell the commuter about the number of the  approaching bus, using an electronic display,  so that they do not need to strain their eyes to watch out.

Perhaps, the bus services can announce their schedule of arrival times at each bus stop. And they should try their best to keep to the arrival times. 

Expensive display board at bus stop outside SMU

There is an expensive display board at the bus stop in Stamford Road outside Singapore Management University. It shows the arrival time of about 20 bus services that passes that stop.

I observed the display board on two occasions. Once, the bus arrived 5 minutes before the displayed time. The second time, it arrived 5 minutes after the display time.

It seems to be an expensive display board that needed complicated software and communication to  show unreliable information.

I prefer a simple display board that shows the service number of the buses that are arriving at the bus stop. This helps me to avoid straining my eyes to signal my deseired bus to stop. I do not need to know the waiting time, as most bus services are scheduled 5 to 15 minutes. 

I hope that the authority will look into the feasibility of this low cost, but extremely useful, technology.

Tan Kin Lian

Security check at Changi airport

Since the terrorist attack in New York in 2001, many airports increased their security checks. But the checks at Changi Airport was excessive. Each time that I go through the metal detector, the beep will always come on, even though all coins, pens, etc, have been removed. It seems that a plastic case will cause the beep.

I have travelled in many airports around the world. Most of the security measures were quite sensible and did not cause unnecessary inconvenience - unlike Changi.

Recently, the beep has disappeared. It seems that the sensitivity setting of the detector in Changi Airport has finally been adjusted. How wonderful.

But, I wonder, why does it take eight years for someone to realise that the adjustment should be made. I must have given more than half dozen feedback to various channels, and they have always been ignored, without any acknowledgement. This seems to be the style in Singapore in recent years. I hope that the situatiojn can be remedied and that the authority are more responsive and communicative.

Tan Kin Lian

When a person travels to another country, the traveller has to go through immigration checks. The purpose is to ensure that undesirable people are not allowed into the country. Is this a good way to carry out the task? Is it producing any beneficial results?

This approach of immigration control seems to be adding a lot of inconvenience to ordinary people and is probably not achieving its purpose.

Here are the practical problems:

1. We know only of some undesirable people, but not the others
2. The undesirable people can travel on a false passport
3. There are other ways of entering a country illegally.
4. The undesirable people need to live somewhere, so they are allowed free movement in their own country anyway.

I wonder if there can be a re-think of the entire approach of immigration control?

I took a flight to Phnom Penh. I was surprised to see a long queue at the Silk Air counter. It seems that during the economic crisis, more people are travelling by budget airlines.

Bus arrival information

I suggested that technology should be used to tell commutters about the service numbers of the approaching bus. My proposal uses low cost technology to provide a useful service to the public.

I found that a high cost technology was already used in some bus stops. At the bus stop outside of the History Museum in Stamford Road, there was a large display showing the arrival time of all the bus services.

I watched the arrival time of my service. It showed 20 minutes. This was not helpful. After waiting for 13 minutes, the display showed the arrival time to be 7 minutes. But the bus arrived, 7 minuates ahead of the display.

To provide this type of information, it is necessary to use high cost technology to monitor the position of each bus and to calculate the time to reach each bus stop.
The irony - in spite of spending so much money, the informatin is inaccurate!

I hope that our leaders in Singapore realise that spending more money does not mean getting better results. It is better to use low cost technolgy. I hope that this feebdack is given to the people in charge at our Ministry of Transport!

Tan Kin Lian

Use technology to improve bus information

Some people, especially the elderly, have poor eyesight. They may not be able to see the service number of the bus that is approaching the bus stop, until the bus is close by. By that time, it may be too late to signal for the bus to stop. The passenger will also have to strain the eyes to look out for the number of all the approaching buses.

I suggest that we use technology to solve this problem. The approaching bus can transmit its service number electronically to a display located at the bus stop. This display can display not only the bus number but also the main rout and destination of the bus. It will be a good service to the passengers and may encourage more people to take the bus.

I hope that the bus operators will take up this suggestion. Perhaps the Land Transport Authority can provide the encouragement by paying for the infrastructure cost.

Tan Kin Lian

Student ask about ERP and recession

Dear Mr. Tan,
I am a business student. I like to ask you. Why during this recession time government of Singapore increase ERP, and even increasing up to 5 gantries on the main district? What are the negative effects?

REPLY
Please send your enquiry to the Minister of Transport.

Singapore likes ERP in Dubai

My friend, a Singaporean, worked in Dubai. I visited him recently. He said that Dubai introduced the ERP and there is now less congestion on the road. He does not mind paying ERP as it helps him to reach home faster. He thinks that this is a good idea. 

Too many cars

There are too many cars parked on the roads in many private housing estates. The owners of each house have two or more cars. As the house usually accommodate only one car, the additional cars are parked on the road, causing congestion and difficult for other cars to drive through.

There are too many cars in Singapore. This is due to the inadequate service to link the private housing estates to the MRT station or bus interchange.

I hope that the local services can be improved. These local services will serve an area within the same town. The Land Transport Authority should encourage the small operators to provide a feeder bus service or a shared taxi service, for $1.50 per trip, to bring people within the same town.

This will encourage people to use the feeder services,  instead of buying an additional car.

Central Expressway

I find the traffic flow in the Central Expressway to be quite smooth on most days. I avoid the extremely busy hours (where the ERP charges are high). On other times, the flow is smooth. 

I find the electronic display to be useful, as it tells me the exact charge and the period that the rate applies. This allows me to decide on the best time to travel, to reduce the ERP charges.

It is time to show appreciation to the Land Transport Authority.

Advertising messages

There are too much advertising messages on buses, trains and stations. The transport operators wish to increase their advertising revenue, but they forget that their customers need information to use their service. 

For example, I find it difficult to get information about the train service in the MRT stations, due to the distraction from the advertisements. I like the bus to tell me which are the main roads for their service, but I get more advertisements.

I hope that the authority restrict the advertisements and require the transport operators to provide information relevant to the service.  We have to get away from the over-commercialised world.

Pay ERP by the day

A reader commented in the Straits Times Forum that some lorries have to stopped studdenly before entering the ERP as they did not have sufficient money in the cash card. He suggested that the driver should be allowed to pay the ERP within the same day. This is practiced in London.

I agree with this suggsetion. There is already a scheme to allow the ERP to be paid through credit card, but this requires the owner to register for the scheme in advance. It does not help the cases where the cash runs out unexpectedly, or where the cash card does not work.

We need three ways for people to pay the ERP charges:

1.  Cash card - which is now commonly used

2. Credit card - for monthly billing

3. Pay within the day - where the cash card runs out of money

Long taxi queues at Changi Airports

I saw a long taxi queue at Changi Airport. Someone said that it streched for 2 kms. There must be at least 100 taxis waiting for 1 hour or longer to pickup a passenger.

This seems to be a waster of resources. The taxis can be put to better use to carry passengers who need the taxi service. There must be something wrong with our fare structure.

My wish to improve the bus service

I had to take a bus from Chijmes to Bugis Junction. I wanted at the bus stop and waved down the number of my bus. It did not stop. Another passenger told me that I had to go to another bus stop.

I had to walk up to two bus stops along Victoria Street to get to the right stop. It was a long walk. If I went the other direction, it would be shorter (but there was no sign).

It will be better for each bus stop to show a map of the locality. It will show all the major buildings, roads, bus stops and service numbers. It will also give some indication of walking distance.

The Land Transport Authority has, so far, refused to take my suggestions to show the locality map. They prefer to show an index of roads. Maybe, they should have both.

I found that there were 10 bus services travelling along Victoria Street to my destination. It was difficult to remember all the numbers. I had to write it down. 

I prefer a system of local bus. There should be only 1 bus travelling down each major road. I do not mind changing to another bus to take me to the next stretch. 

The current bus system is complicated. Each passenger has to carry a bus guide.

Light bus or taxi service to serve a town

I visited AMK Hub to buy some accessories for my home. Although it is a working day, the car park is full and there is a long queue of cars trying to get into the mall. I decided to keep the mall.

It does not make sense to drive a car, due to the high ERP and parking charges and difficulty to get a parking space. 

I hope that there is a light bus or taxi service that provides a low cost service for a local town and allows people to move around easily. The waiting time should be less than 5 minutes. This will be more convenient than driving. It will reduce congestion and lack of parking space. 

Long taxi queue at Changi Airport

There was a queue of 100 taxis at Changi Airport. It extends for perhaps 1/2 or 1 kilometer. Is this wasteful? Surely the taxis could have been put to better use to take passengers around Singapore, rather than wait in the queue. 

Things does not seem to be right in Singapore. We appear to have wasteful practices. I hope that this type of inefficiency can be corrected.

Metal detector at Changi Airport

For several years, I have found the security check in Changi Airport to be ridiculous. To avoid the beep as I walked through the metal detector, I remove my key chain, belt, pen, coins and other objets . The detector still beeped, requiring a body frisk.

I did not have to go through this situation in most other airports. Changi Airport seems to be the exception. I have given several feedback, but it went unheeded.

To my great surprise today, the detector did not beep, although I had my pen, belt, coins and key inside my pocket. Has Changi Airport finally acted, after a few years, and changed the sensitivity of the detector? I have to try a few more occasions to be sure.

Perhaps, other travellers can share their experience?

No need to use the horn

I was turning left from Draycott Drive to Steven Road. The car in front made a sharp turn into my path. I had to apply the brake to avoid a collision. I did not use my horn - unlike most other drivers in Singapore.

The car had to make the turn to avoid collision with another car. He might have been somewhat careless, but sounding the horn will not make any difference - other than to add to the stress that the driver had gone through.

Singapore drivers like to use the horn to express their anger. There is no need to.
On other occasions, the horn is used to stop the car in front from moving into one's lane. How selfish of the driver behind.

In many countries, the horn is used to tell the driver in front that is is all right to move into the lane, as the driver at the back is aware about the intention. This is a considerate behavior.

Feeder bus service

Summary of 30 replies.

1. What is your primary form of transport?

Train 65.4%
Bus 19.2%
Car 15.4%

2. Which system of bus service do you prefer?

Feeder service 36.0%
More direct bus service (but wait longer) 64.0%

3. Which type of feeder service do you prefer?

Big bus, longer wait, lower fare 36.0%
Light bus, shorter wait, higher fare 64.0%

4. Which system do you prefer to pick up and drop passengers, but only along the designated route

Only at designated stops 36.0%
Pick up at designed stops, drop anywhere 24.0%
Pick up anywhere, drop at designated stops 8.0%
Can pick up and drop passengers anywhere 32.0%

Feeder bus

Join this survey:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=scXwXJF8mtnVGQ2i806Zbg_3d_3d

Trains are now less crowded

I was surprised that the trains were less crowded in December. Here are some possible reasons:

> Less people in Singapore during the December holidays

> Economic slowdown

> More trains operated by SMRT

What is the main reason?

Marina South

Marina South is the new CBD. There is an excellent opportunity to plan a light rail system or a personal rapid transit system at this early stage. This is the transport of the city of the future. We should avoid building roads for cars in the new CBD.

Feeder Bus Services

The Land Transport Authority wishes to promote the "park-and-ride" scheme. It is better to promote feeder services. These services should meet the following criteria:

1. Be frequent
2. Short travelling time
3. Be affordable.

The light bus system used in Hong Kong is the best model. It should be managed by individual operators and not big companies.

Double length bus used by SMRT

The double length bus used by SMRT should be disallowed on Singapore roads. They take too much space at the bus stops (i.e. taking the space of two buses) and make it difficult for other buses to use the same stop. These lenghy buses also take a long time to make a turn.

As these buses have double the capacity, their frequency will be doubled (as they have to fill up the bus as much as possible). The waiting time will be longer.

Feeder services should use the standard bus or a light bus (with fewer passengers). It allows them to move more agilely and also to have a shorter waiting time.

The bus service operators need to be considerate about people, and not insist of maximising profits.

Too much advertising

There are too much advertising in Singapore. Property owners are more interested to get the maximum advertising revenue, at the expense of the convenience of the customers.

Recently, I was at the underpass around Republic plaza, looking for the escalator to reach the street level. I cam across a section with many tables and eating stalls. I had trouble looking for the escalated, which was obscured by the eating places. There was so much advertising of the food, which obscured the sign to the escalator.

The advertising in the MRT stations is also overwhelming. The commuters sees advertising all over the place. It is difficult to find the signs and directions to get to a place around the station. The guide to the commuters is inadequate.

There should be a better balance. It is all right to have advertisements, but they should not crowd out the information needed by the commuters. Our businesses should be more considerate to the public. The regulators should exercise better oversight.

Poor signages in Singapore

The signages in Singapore is inadequate. I had a lot of trouble using the underpass from NTUC Building to Republic Plaza. When I came to a junction, I did not know which direction to go, due to inadequate signage. I had to walk down a few ten meters to find that I took the wrong turn and had to turn back.

It seems that nobody test the signages to make sure that they are adequate and placed at the right places. Too many senior people use the cars, and do not bother about the convenience of people who take public transport.

There are inadequate maps. I find maps to be useful to show distrances, roads, buildings and the turns to take.

There is also lack of direction signs. When I am on an unfamiliar road, I do not know which the direction to take. In many well-organised cities, the street sign will indicate the direction that is north, south, east or west. It is helpful.

The signages in Singapore need to be improved. Is this the responsibility of the Land Transport Authority, Singapore Land Office or other agency?

More hand-rails needed on MRT trains

The MRT trains are crowded most of the time. Many passengers have to stand near the doors, as the rest of the carriage is full. There are insufficient hand-rails in these areas. It is difficult to hold on to something to stop from falling down. Some passengers have to lean on the end of the carriage to get some balance.

This is a dreadful condition. I wonder why this deficiency has not been corrected for so many years. Perhaps the top people in the government and the land transport authority do not take trains, so they are not aware about this situation.

I hope that their staff monitor this feedback and pass it upwards.

Electronic signs at MRT trains

A few months ago, I suggested that MRT trains should provide electronic signs to show the current and next station for the train, and which side of the door will open at the next station. At that time, I got a reply that one part of the suggestion will be implemented.

I was surprised to observe the electronic signs on a MRT train today. They implemented both suggestions and in two different ways. At each door of a carriage, there is a sign to show the current and following stations, and the door that will next open. There is also a few electronic signs containing moving messages down each carriage.

During the intervening period, there was no attempt by either SMRT or Land Transport Authority to call and tell me about how they plan to implement the suggestion.

I hope that the people in power in Singapore will talk and engage the public, especially those who make suggetions for changes. This new culture needs to start from the top, from the people who make decisions.

Look at the total picture

I went to a machine to add value to my ez-Link card. It rejected by ATM card. I tried many times and gave up.

I went to the counter to add value to my ez-Link card. I told the station officer that the machine was not working. His reply was "The machine is owned by Transit-Link". It implies that this is not the concern of SMRT.

We need to encourage Singaporeans to think of the total picture, and not in terms of individual segments. It the machine is not working, the station officer could have taken the responsibility to pass the feedback to the relevant "owner".

Less crowded trains

I took the MRT train from Yio Chu Kang station at 9 am. To my surprise, the train was only half full.

I wonder if this is due to more train being put into service, or less passengers due to the economic recession?

Surprise - small MRT trains are now not packed

In recent weeks, I was surprised to find that the MRT train is not packed on some times of the day. I may not be able to get a seat, but at least I do not have to squeeze in a crowded train.

I suspect that the SMRT is now running more trains. Sometimes, if we are lucky, we can get a train that is not over-crowded. We might even be lucky to get a seat!

Poor signage in Singapore

I took the underpass from One Marina Boulevard (NTUC Building) to Republic Plaza. The signage in the underpass is quite bad. I had difficulty finding the right turn to take in a few places.

I took the wrong exit and found myself on the wrong side of Cecil Street. I had to return back to the underpass.

I find the signage in Singapore to be quite bad. There are inadequate signs. They are not prominent displayed. Often, I wish that there were maps to show the roads and buildings, but it seemed that maps are taboo in Singapore.

When I arrived at the basement of Republic Plaza, I had trouble in finding the escalator to get out. The area was filled with eating places. It seems that the commecially minded property owners are more keen to get the maximum rental from the available space, rather than help the people to find the escalators and stairs.

I expect our regulator to be more pro-people, rather than allow business to extract the last dollar of revenue. The convenience of the people should also be considered as being important.

Priority Seating

There is a sign in the MRT train that reads:

Be considerate.
Give up this seat to a
passenger with special needs.

I wish to send this message to the operator of the
MRT trains:

Be considerate.
Run more trains, so that more
passengers have the chance to have a
seat.

It is difficult to expect a passenger to give up a seat if it is available only once in a long, long time.

Public bus in Jakarta

I took the public bus in Jakarta. It is air-conditioned. I was able to get a seat, as it was during the office hours and there were not many passengers. The fare is 3,000 rupiah (SGD 0.50) for a 30 minute trip.

A few street musicians were in the bus singing songs. They pass the hat around for donations by the passengers. Most passengers give 500 rupiah (SGD 0.10).

Busway in Jakarta

I took the busway in Jakarta. It was an interesting experience - quite different from what I thought it would be.

The busway run on a dedicated lane on the road. The other lanes used by private cars are congested and slow. The bus run quite fast on the busway.

The passenger pays the fare before entering the station, similar to the MRT system in Singapore. A fixed fare of 3,500 rupiah (SGD 0.70) applies for each trip, regardless of distance.
You can change to another bus at an interchange station.

The buses are crowded, similar to the MRT trains in Singapore.

The busway is a low cost way of implementing rapid transit. It uses bus instead of trains.

Increase in fares for public transport

There are several articles and views from the public in this blog:

www.theonlinecitizen.com

Free public transport in 20 cities

Somebody said that 20 cities provide free public transport. Can readers help me to identify these cities, and the scope of their free transport:

> area covered
> how is the cost funded
> quality of service.

Adolf Hitller complains about the ERP and MRT

By courtesy of Loh Hon Chun:

Even Adolf Hitler complains about the ERP and MRT in Singapore.
http://hongjun.blogspot.com/2008/09/hitler-complaining-about-erp-and-mrt.html

Free bicycles and bus rides

Some cities offer free shuttle service within the central area. Some offer free bicycles that the public can use.

The cost of the free service is borne by the city through taxation. People are not likely to abuse free transport. They do not take transport for fun. It is necessary for work or to visit places.

I believe that a system of free public transport is efficient and useful. There is no need to worry about collecting fares and have gates and fences.

It is free to walk on the runs. It can be made free to take a shuttle bus or train. We only need to treat it as a social cost.

Free public transport during Beijing Olympics

My friend visited Beijing for the Olypmpics. The visitors, with the Olympic pass, were able to get free transport in Beijing. This makes it convenient for them. It adds to the wonderful experience.

Over-crowded trains

Our SMRT trains are over-crowded most times of the day and night. Passengers like to stay near the door, as they will find it difficult to get down the train, if they move inside the carriages. It is difficult for other passengers to get up or down the train, as they have to squeeze through these passengers crowding near the doorway.

I hope that the Public Transport Council will mandate that SMRT should run more trains, so that they are not so crowded. It is possible to use a benchmark based on the ratio between trains and passengers. In my view, the average occupancy should be 75%, based on passengers and train capacity (i.e number of trains X passenger per train).

If the average capacity is 75%, the trains should be 100% full during the busy hours and 50% full during the off-peak hours. At present, I suspect that the average capacity is closer to 85%, which leads to over-crowded trains.

As another indicator, I do not get the chance to have a sit for more than 80% of the trips that I take, even during the off-peak hours.

Reduce commuting

I wish to encourage people to live near their place of work or to work near their homes. This will reduce the time spent on commuting and will lead to a better quality of life.

My views are contained in this article:
http://www.tankinlian.com/articles/sustain.html

Use your brake more than your horn

To motorist,

Use your brake more than your horn.

If you see the vehicle ahead signal a change of lane or make a swtich at the last minute without warning, you can use your brake rather than your horn.

Sometimes, the vehicle in front may be unfamiliar with the road or overlook to move to the right lane in time. Be helpful and considerate. Give way.

Taxi fares in various cities

This comparision was made in January 2008. Here is a rough comparison of taxi fares for a 5 km trip during the peak hours.

London       GBP 9   SGD 30
Sydney       AUD 12  SGD 16
New York     USD 8   SGD 12
Singapore            SGD 7 (plus ERP and CBD)
Hong Kong    HKD 40  SGD 8
Taipei       NT 160  SGD 8

Taxi fares are no longer cheap in Singapore. The most expensive is London.

Taxi fares in Taipei

I was in Taipei at the beginning of 2008. I found their taxi fares to be as follows:

1. Starting fare for first 1250 m, NT 70 (SGD $3.50)
2. Surcharge after midnight, NT20 ($1)
3. Calling a taxi - no charge
4. Distance fare for 250 m or 84 secs of idling, NT5 ($0.25)

Fare for 5.11 km daytime, NT157 ($8)

The new fares, which took effect recently, was decided by the Taipei City Government based on three proposals submitted by interested parties. The decision was accepted by the taxi operators. The revised fare was necessary based to cover higher operating cost, due to higher oil prices.

Observation: The taxi fares in Taipei are much simpler than Singapore. The fares are regulated and produce a satisfactory outcome for commuters and taxi drivers.

Taxi fares

Singapore has a complicated system of taxi fares. The fares differ according to the taxi company.

In most cities, there is a uniform taxi fare. This is a fairer system to the commuters and to tourists.

SMS taxi booking

Some taxi companies now allow SMS taxi booking. But they continue to charge the high booking fee of $3.50 (peak period) and $2.50 (off-peak period).

With SMS, the cost should be lower, as there is no need for human intervention. If the taxi company reduces the booking fee, it will encourage more people to book a taxi (and not wait to flag down on the road).

Infrastructure cost of MRT and PRT

I suspect that the infrastructure cost to build a MRT is much higher than a PRT, to transport the same number of passengers. The PRT is modular and appears to be a more efficient system.

I think that there are studies on the relative infrastructure cost. I will be looking into it. But, the experts promoting the PRT are likely to be able to locate the answer for me.

Different fares for seated and standing passengers

Planes have first class, business class and economy class paying different fares. Long distance trains (i.e. not commuter trains) also have first class and normal class, with different fares.

I wonder if the MRT trains can also introduce 2 classes, a higher fare for people who wants a seat and a lower fare for standing passengers. This is how it can be done.

The front carriages have seats; the back carriages are for standing passengers only. If the passenger enter a front carriage, it is recorded in the smart card (ez-Link). On exit, a higher fare is charged.

This is just an idea. It is worth exploring.

Energy Efficiency of PRT - calculation

Someone asked me, "How can the PRT be more efficient than the MRT?" The MRT has economy of scale and should use less energy. I think that the PRT can be more efficient because:

1. the number of podcars can vary according to demand.
2. the podcars can go straight to the destination, without having to stop at the intermediate stops

A Transportation Enthusiast provided the following useful information for my calculations:

> Consider weight alone as a rough estimate of energy usage. This is not fully accurate, but can give a ballpark number for energy efficiency.
> According to Wikipedia, MRT trains weigh about 214,000 kg unloaded and can carry a maximum of 1920 passengers (492 sitting, 1428 standing).
> A ULTra PRT weighs about 700kg unloaded and carry 4 passengers.

I will approach the calculation in this way:

> Train 214,000 kg / 1920 passenger = 111 kg p passenger
> Podcar = 700 kg / 4 = 175 kg p passenger

Assume an average occupancy of 50% during the peak and off-peak hours.

> Train (50% occupancy) = 222 kg p passenger
> Podcar (50% occupancy) = 350 kg p passenger

We have to consider the energy used in starting and stopping the train. Assume that this adds to an additional 20% in energy use.

The final adjustment is for distance travelled. The podcar can take the direct route and cut down the distance. The train follows the same schedule and forces all passengers to travel longer. Assume that the difference in distance is 30%.

The final energy consumpiton is:

> Train 222 X 1.2 X 1.3 = 346 kg p passenger
> Podcar = 350 kg p passenger

Both train and podcars can probably consume the same energy.

The podcar beats the train in the following respects:

> Shorter travelling time, due to direct route
> All passengers in the podcar are seated.

If the podcar can be filled with 4 passengers (through pod-pooling, to reduce cost per passenger), the pod beats the train in energy consumption as well.

Disclaimer: This is just a simple calculation. It is based on assumptions that may differ in actual practice. Take the conclusion with a pinch of salt!

Sharing a pod

At the pod station, passengers who wish to share a pod to a popular destinatio, e.g. the train station, bus station or shopping mall, can wait in a certain queue. When 4 people have arrived in the queue, they can enter the pod. They share the cost of the ride.

On the return journey to the home, they can also stand in certain areas (according to their destination or zone). They can talk to the other people in the spot and identify who can share the pod back home.

SMS booking of taxi

I am working with a technology partner to introduce SMS booking of taxi.

A passenger can send a SMS with the postal code to a server. A SMS will be sent to the passenger within two minutes, giving the particulars of the taxi. The taxi driver will call the passenger shortly afterwards. They can communicate the pickup place. Tentatively, the fare is $1.50 for off-peak hours and $3 for peak hours.

The passenger can download a program into the mobilephone. This program allows the passenger to press a button to send a SMS to the server, with the current location (i.e. no need to enter the postal code).

If no taxi is available, the server will send a SMS back within two minutes. The SMS message will contain the LTA taxi booking number for the customer to call.

I hope that many people will find it to be more convenient to get a taxi to come to the doorstep and do not mind paying $1.50 extra. The taxi driver does not need to waste petrol in plying the road to look for passengers.

The passenger can also book a taxi at a lower booking fee of $1. If a taxi is available, the taxi driver will call the passenger. If there is no call within 3 minutes, the passenger can assume that the taxi is not available. There will be no SMS message to notify the customer about the status of the taxi.

Powering the pod

The pod operates on batteries. This is clean and efficient energy.

The pod should be designed so that when the battery level reaches a certain point, the pod will not take any more passenger, and will instead proceed to the battery station. A technician can insert a fully charged battery into the pod to replace the used battery. The used battery will then be charged.

When fully charged, the pod can be despatched to the next station where it is needed.

This approach ensures that all the pods are put to maximum use to meet the demand, and the charging of the battery is carried out as a separate off-line operation.

Manpower efficiency of various modes of transport

At one time, the MRT is more efficient in the use of manpower. The ratio of workers and passengers is quite low in the MRT. The highest ratio comes with the use of taxis.

The PRT changes the equation. It has the convenience of a taxi but does not require a driver. It is more efficient that the MRT.

Energy efficiency of PRT and MRT

Someone asked me, "How can the PRT be more efficient than the MRT?" The MRT has economy of scale and should use less energy.

I think that the PRT can be more efficient because:

1. the number of podcars can vary according to demand.
2. the podcars can go straight to the destination, without having to stop at the intermediate stops

Board the train last

Due to overcrowding, many passengers want to board the train first, in case the train is full.

If the passenger is taking a few stops, it is better to board the train last and stand near the door. Let the long distrance passengers can board the train first and move towards the center.

This will avoid squeezing pass passengers when the passenger wish to alight.

Encourage more people to take public transport

I read this article a few months ago. It was printed in the Straits Times.

http://www.tankinlian.com/articles/transport.html

I hope that someone in the Ministry of Transport or Land Transport Authority will consider and implement some of these ideas.

Manual override on a pod

Some people are worried about riding in a pod which is automatically controlled.

Actually, there should not be any serious concern. We already use the LRT and the Skytrain at the airport. They are automatically controlled.

Perhaps, the concern is that the pod can be travelling faster, and is smaller. Perhaps, it is travelling a longer distance.

This concern can be addressed by allowing a "manual override" in the pod. When this is activated, the pod will go to the nearest station and stop there. This allows the passengers to disembark.

If there is any mechanical problem in the pod, it can also move automatically to the nearest station.

This feature of "move to the nearest station" on mechanical problem or manual override can enhance the confidence in the PRT system.

Efficiency of PRT and LRT

Which is more efficient, a PRT (personal rapid transport) or LRT (light rail transport)? What is the difference?

A PRT operates like a taxi. It offers point to point transport. It is used exclusively by the initial passengers and does not stop at intermediate points to pick other passengers. The journey time is shorter. All passengers have a seat.

A LRT operates like a bus. It stops at all intermediate stops to allow passengers to embark and disembark. The journey time is longer, as the train has to stop at every stop. Some passengers have a seat; others have to stand.

The train (i.e. LRT) is less efficient as all the passengers have to make many stops, which takes up energy. If the train is replaced by 100 pads (say) and each pod is able to travel non-stop on its journey to its destination, it should save energy.

Studies have shown that the energy used to transport a passenger on the PRT is lower than the LRT or MRT.

Minibus in Hong Kong

Someone asked me about the operation of the minibus system in Hongkong. Is there a fixed schedule? Are the fares fixed?

From my research, the system operates as follows:

1. The minibus has to be registered and is required to run on a certain route. There is no control over schedule or fare.
2. The operator is allowed to charge his displayed fare and to run at any time. They can increase their fare on a rainy day.
3. There is no fixed schedule. The number of minibuses that ply a route will demend on the market demand. This is similar to the supply of taxis.
4. The minibus can drop and pick up passengers anywhere along the route, except for the busy town areas where they are restricted to the stops (for control of traffic and safety).

The minibus offers nearly the same convenience as a taxi, but at a considerably reduced fare. It improves the efficiency of the transport system.

Senior citizen fares

SBS provides concession for senior citizens (60 years and older) throughout the day. SMRT provides concessions during the off-peak hours. The maximum fare is around 66 cents, regardless of distance. This is a useful concession to senior citizen.

My friend, who is over 60 years, was not aware of this concession, although he has been using public transport over the years. When I told him of the concession, he applied for it and was surprised that it saved him some travelling cost.

Re-confirm the appointment

I arranged a meeting at 8 pm on Sunday night at my home. One of the attendees came to my home at 8 am in the morning. He misunderstood the time.

I faced the problem as well. Sometimes, the date, time or place has been changed, but some people were not notified or they forgot to update their scheduler.

Lesson: Before leaving your home or office for an appointment, give a call on the mobile phone to the other party to confirm the time and place. In making an appointment, always ask for the mobile phone number of the party that you are meeting.

Feeder service

We have to introduce feeder service like in Hong Kong. They are operated by small operators and given the freedom to run their service according to market demand. Many people find this service to be excellent.

More details in:
http://www.tankinlian.com/articles/express.html

Elevated guideway for PRT

A PRT requires the use of elevated guideways. Some people think that this is unsightly.

I have seen designs of the elevated guideways. It can be quite attractive. The guideways are narrow and light and does not need to carry a heavy load. It can be placed at the middle of existing roads.

When the pod arrives at a station, it can take a side guideway which can move to a elevated platform at the side of the road or to the second level of a building.

Parking charges at Suntec

I had lunch at Suntec City. The parking charges for 2 hours was $4.28. I found it to be quite expensive. I had to pay $1 ERP charge as well. It would have been better to take the bus from my office to Suntec City at $0.66 per trip.

ERP charges

This morning, I drove through 2 ERP gantries along the Central Expressway at 9.20 a.m. The charges are now displayed. I was surprised that the charge was $0.50 per gantry, or a total of $1 for two gantries. I had the impression that the charges were much higher. It is useful that the ERP charges are now displayed. It is not as painful as I thought.

Premium bus - higher fare, better quality

Some people are willing to pay a higher fare to get a better seat in an airplane. They are called first class and business class.

We can have the same arrangement for a bus. Certain buses can be designed as premium bus by a different color. They will charge 50% more in fare. As they are more expensive, some people will avoid taking the premium bus. Others who are willing to pay the higher fare can be assured of a seat and no crowding. The premium bus should run on the same route as the regular bus.

Automated controls in PRT

The PRT system requires the pod to move automatically, after the user keys in the destination. The challenge is to design the navigation and control system to ensure that the safety of the pods and the entire system.

There are many approaches to the design of the system. Some people are ambitious and want to have a sophisticated system - which is costly and may not be achievable.

I can think of a simple system that can operate efficient and is practical to implement. It comprises of two components:

1. The vehicle control system. This will ensure that the passengers are seated and secured safely. It checks that the pod moves at a safe speed and is able to slow down in tandem with the vehicle in front or if there is an obstacle. It also receives instruction from the central control system on the route to take.

2. The central system. This system is aware of all the pods in the network and will instruct each pod on the optimal route, after considering the traffic in the entire system. This will reduce congestion and ensures the smooth flow of traffic.

By adopting the dual approach, it will be possible to design a workable system that ensures a high standard of safety and efficiency.

Pods wait for people

A PRT uses a pod. It typically seats 4 people. It waits for the passengers and moves away when the passengers enters the pod. This is more convenient that a bus or train, where people have to wait for the vehicle.

A pod is used like a car. The car waits for the owner. The owner arrives, enters the car and drives away.

If 100 people drives a car, the 100 cars are parked in the parking lot. This takes up a lot of space and is quite wasteful. At any time, perhaps 10 pods can serve the needs of 100 people. Each person orders a pod and uses it to move to the destination. The pod is then available for another person to use. As the 10 pods are moving nearly all the time, there is little need for parking space.

The use of pods will be more efficient than cars. It will be more convenient and economical. As the pod is automatically driven, there is no need for a person to drive the pod. It is like a taxi without a driver.

I believe that PRT will improve the transport system tremendously, especially for local transport (i.e within a town).

Lower Petrol Price

I filled up my petrol tank. The petrol price is $2.03 per litre. One month earlier, it was $2.24 per litre. The price has dropped by 10%. I hope that this trend continues, and that the petrol price will come down to a more normal level.

Seat on MRT train

I took the MRT from Toa Payoh to Yio Chu Kang at 12.30 pm. It was supposed to be the lunch hour. The train was half full, and many seats were available. This was a pleasant surprise!

My concept of a PRT

Here is my concept of a PRT (personal rapid transport). The system uses a pod carrying 4 passengers. It operates like a taxi without a driver. It runs on elevated guideways and is computer controlled. The PRT has the following advantages, compared to cars and taxis:

1. One pod can replace 10 cars, as it can be take many trips a day
2. It reduces traffic congestion as it runs on elegated guideways
3. It can operate smoothly compared to taxis, as the pods do not compete for business
4. The guideways can be lighter than the tracks used for LRT or MRT
5. The PRT is useful to provide a feeder service within a town.
6. The pods run on battery or electricity.

I believe that the economics will favor the use of the PRT.

Crowded trains day and night

I find the SMRT trains to be crowded at all times of the day and night. During the off-peak hours, SMRT reduces the number of trains. It means a longer waiting time and packed trains all the way. Even if I travel at 10 p.m. at night, I hardly have the chance to find a seat.

In this type of condition, most passengers will not give up their seat to the elderly and to ladies. It is so rare to have a seat that they must hog it all the way.