Distance-based system?

It's nothing new really. The news was released sometime April and the system to be implemented on coming 3rd July.

Not that I don't care (it might seems a few cents to spare, but since sedikit-sedikit lama-lama jadi bukit), I finally spare some time today trying out the distance fare calculator at here.

Excerpt from Straits Times on April, 21 says,

"Those who make transfers between buses or between buses and trains will pay less: The 63 per cent of commuters who break up their journey into two or more legs will save an average of 48 cents a week or $25 a year.

Another group, the 34 per cent of public transport users who opt for longer, single-leg journeys, will pay an average of 31 cents more a week, or $16 a year.

The remaining 3 per cent will spend neither more nor less than now."

(Not sure how the figures derived. What's the standard deviation? p value?)

Anyway, journey to my work place costs SGD1.20 per trip transferring at Raffles Place Interchange currently. With new distance-based fare system, it will cost SGD1.29 per trip for the same route.

The difference is 9 cents per trip which made up to 9x5days (assuming I don't have to go back to work on weekend) x2 (to and fro) = 90cents per week.

Great. Just when I really really need to save for my loan.

+++

Oh well, do more transfer then.

Not sure if this affects senior citizens as well.. can you imagine some old aunties/uncles trying to get direction from you for transfer? Worse, in Hokkien (well, for my case! *chuckle*)

+++

This is like, so can-be-seen everywhere.

I mean, great cartoon.. but whoever comes up with the idea must be some elites who had never take public transport. DON'T CHA NEED TO WAIT FOR THE BUS/TRAIN? It's not like your own vehicles where you just start the engine let it warm up and off you go! =/

It's still consider okay waiting for the next train: 2-4 mins for the next train during peak hours, 6 mins max. Nonetheless, for bus service, only selected bus stops are installed with NextBus service. More often and not, you won't know when is your next bus coming, and EVEN it says next bus arrives 10 mins later (if you are using IRIS on mobile phone), it's almost never accurate =s

Forgive me, 10 mins is slightly.. conservative. Please ±5mins. Again, more if it's during peak hour &/ bus heading town area.

And the IRIS thingy only applies to SBS Transit buses.

Either they are trying to get people to leave their bed home earlier for TRANSFERS (so people won't be late for work), or indirectly - the public transport providers will continue to make more profits.

From what I gathered from friends, most people will stick with their current route (which works the fastest) and let the company earns that a-few-cents.

Again, sedikit-sedikit lama-lama jadi bukit. The bus/train company better make sure their service mark the standard with the extra a-few-cents drained earned from us. tsk.