More Sporeans own at least 2 cars

[Roh96]

More Singaporeans own at least two cars

More than 34,000 people with more than one car to their names

By Cheryl Ong & Maria Almenoar

http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/i...GES_MACAR24.jpg

 

THIS may be the world's most expensive place to own a car, but it is not stopping more people from buying a second one or even a third.

 

Land Transport Authority (LTA) figures show 6.8 per cent of car owners here have two or more cars, up from 5.5 per cent just four years ago. This translates into 34,226 people with more than one car to their names as of June.

 

This has caused a crunch on the number of parking spaces available.

 

It is not just the well-off who own more than one car. Parking spaces in the carparks in Housing Board estates are also getting hard to come by. Increasingly, residents have to park farther away from their flats or park illegally.

 

When the HDB looked into complaints over this, it found 36,370 households owning more than one car - 60 per cent more than in 2006, when 22,700 did.

 

Transport researcher Lee Der Horng of the National University of Singapore said the trend is a sign that people have come to see a car as a necessity, not a luxury.

 

He said he had expected the demand for cars to fall, given the Government's drive to promote public transport and the expected hike in certificate of entitlement (COE) prices because of the limited supply of COEs available now.

 

He said: 'If people believe in this lifestyle of having more cars, to satisfy that, they'll convince themselves that the price of a COE is an acceptable percentage of their disposable income.'

 

He added that this suggested the Government's message to people to use public transport may not be getting through.

 

COE premiums now stand at $30,000 to $40,000, higher than in recent years, when they dipped below $20,000; but they are still cheaper now than when they hit $100,000 back in the 1990s.

 

Car dealers and owners cite a slew of reasons people have more than one car: Couples may each need their own car to get to work, or a non-working spouse may need one for errands.

 

And then there are parents who register a second car in their names but let their children drive it, to save on insurance premiums for newer drivers.

 

Sometimes, people buy another car because they can. Take for example a man who indulges himself with a second car, usually a sports car, said managing director Eddie Loo of used-car dealership Car Times.

 

Another factor is the launch of cheaper China-made cars, which make for affordable second cars.

 

The HDB said it will add 5,000 more parking spaces to the existing 500,000 in the next three years to ease the squeeze.

 

Pasir Ris resident C. Ong, 23, drives her family's second car, which her father bought when she started her studies in Nanyang Technological University.

 

Parking spaces are scarce by the time she gets home in the evening though she has a season parking ticket, so she sometimes parks illegally and risks a fine.

 

Sembawang resident Valerie Toh, 23, also an undergraduate, said her parents each drive their own car and see their wheels as a necessity. Parking spaces are a rare find after 6pm, but they put up with it, she said.

 

Those who own just one car are also vexed. Engineer Henry Chew, 38, of Tampines Street 71, said the multi-storey carpark near his block is always nearly full by 10pm on weekdays.

 

The squeeze is on in condominiums and private estates too; some condo managements have resorted to making residents ballot for spaces or charging them for a second parking spot.

 

In a private estate in Lorong Marzuki last week, cars were parked on both sides of a road with double yellow lines. To avoid parking fines, residents parked just outside their gates, so motorists using the road had to inch their way forward.

 

Dr Lim Wee Kiak, chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Transport and an MP for Sembawang GRC, suggested raising carpark charges, which Associate Professor Lee said may work to discourage people from driving to work or downtown.

 

A survey last month, comparing parking charges across 145 cities, found Asia's most expensive parking spaces in Tokyo and Hong Kong - at $74 and $38 a day respectively.

 

It costs an average of $29 a day to park in prime areas such as Shenton Way and Orchard Road.

 

Prof Lee said that in the suburbs, parking charges could be pegged to the number of cars one owns, with multi-car owners paying higher rates.

 

But Ms Lee Bee Wah, an MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC, doubts this will work. She said: 'If residents spend so much on a car, they'll pay for parking even if it's expensive. The solution is twofold - we have to improve public transport and manage the car population.'

 

This means ensuring that even private estates are served by buses and trains, and further reducing the supply of COEs.

 

'If people think public transport is more affordable and efficient, they will consider it a more viable alternative to buying a car,' she said.

 

ongyiern@sph.com.sg

[Ferraricalifornia]

take the train lah....

 

so many lines up and coming....

[Roh96]

The desire to own a car in Spore is very strong, no matter how good the public transport ppl will still choose to drive if they can afford.

[RadX]

  On 8/24/2010 at 3:41 AM, Roh96 said:

The desire to own a car in Spore is very strong, no matter how good the public transport ppl will still choose to drive if they can afford.

 

 

actually, it is an intangible benefit you dun see in terms of convenience and you cannot put a price tag to.....

 

in reality, owning a car is a definite silly proposition BUT....

[Watwheels]

It only goes to show that the world grass public transport is not effective and convenient to many.

[Etnt]

There are also social causes of it which appears to be ignored by the article:

 

1. More singles who are still living with their parents. Thus parent 1 car, themselves another, since the usage pattern does warrant so and each can afford their own vehicle.

2. More full time working couples. Husband and wife both need car for their work, rather than one staying at home as a full time home keeper.

[Nhyone]

Their intention is quite transparent...

 

Maybe next time second car can only park in white lots, even for season parking.

[RadX]

  On 8/24/2010 at 3:45 AM, Watwheels said:

It only goes to show that the world grass public transport is not effective and convenient to many.

 

 

yeah and the bloody maintenance....can break down on expressway... like last night atb 1930...raining cats n dogs, and the slip to bke, the bloody 190 stalled, 1 lane block.....bloody jam stretched all the way to lornie.....

[Ferraricalifornia]

the rich have cars for almost each member in their family....

 

1 Car for chauffeuring around business associates,

1 Car for wifey to go out with other tai-tais....

1 Car for Son

1 Car for daughter

1 Car for maid to do marketing

1 MPV for going out as a family on weekends

 

etc etc....

 

more and more of such families around....

 

not surprising that more families are owning more than 2 cars....

[Coupecabriolet]

this kind still okay.

 

1 for everyone. fair enough.

 

i've ever been to a house, 2-3 cars for each member of the family.

 

usually follows a trend, the youngest have most cars available. the dad only has 1 lol.

[Vhtfhwlego]

If that the public transport system is good, it will be worth it.

Over recent years, there are some incidents I would like to share about the transport system in Singapore.

 

From Upper Aljunied Road to Portsdown Road at off peak hours.

Solution, take 100 to Aljunied MRT transfer to Redhill and via another Bus, walk 15mins from AYE Busstop to camp (total, 1hr & 15mins).

Or take 100 to Vivo and transfer to another bus to AYE Busstop walk the same 15mins to camp (1hr 30mins).

I had to go back once camp at 6am and there were no bus service at 4.30am!

 

If that I drive, 20mins....

 

From Toa Payoh Interchange to Jalan Besar stadium...

Bus, 30mins...

Drive, 10mins....

Cost of pertol vs cost of bus trip... Same....

 

Not all places are near to MRT and some is so near yet so far...

For instance, around blk 160 Bishun... Walk 12mins to MRT or take a bus which you have to wait 12mins at times...

 

I that you are at Joo Seng, the nearest MRT are as NEL Line Potong Pasir (no bus service, walk 20mins), Circle Line Tai Sing (walk 5mins to Busstop and 2 stops away or walk 15mins), East West Line Aljunied (walk 5mins and bus jounery another 10mins), North South Line Toa Payoh (5mins to busstop and minimum 20mins)...

 

This is so near yet so far... Not all people can access to MRT lines and travel easily on public transport.

 

 

 

 

[Lex250]

  On 8/24/2010 at 3:41 AM, Roh96 said:

The desire to own a car in Spore is very strong, no matter how good the public transport ppl will still choose to drive if they can afford.

 

 

Well apprently not good enough that's why the desire to own a car. Honestly If we cannot revamp our rush hour with cabs only plying one way and the tran frequencies dimishiing as well as more lines to cover more of the island...the next headline will read More Singaporeans owning 3 or more cars.....

 

FAIL if u ask me to grade our world class public transport system...I didn;t even go on abt the buses........

[Ferraricalifornia]

it also depends as to whether they have enough parking spaces at their landed homes or private houses or in this case,

 

in HDB....

 

that's why i still say,

 

owning a car is a status symbol....

 

can't get away with this fact, especially in Singapore....

 

keke....

[Tleslie]

  On 8/24/2010 at 3:47 AM, RadX said:

yeah and the bloody maintenance....can break down on expressway... like last night atb 1930...raining cats n dogs, and the slip to bke, the bloody 190 stalled, 1 lane block.....bloody jam stretched all the way to lornie.....

 

everyday i am taking that route home at that time. heng heng yesterday went for show.

otherwise, i would be another contributor to the jam....

[Girl_powerful]

A potential Car parking problem coming its way and government's way of solving such problem... increase Price!

[Ichibawa]

Think there is a new taxation on the amount of cars per household liao...

[Zztensor]

It's not just the time saved....it's the heartache/fatigue/frustration saved.... try taking MRT/bus at peak hours with a baby and a toddler....more often than not, ppl dun give a hoot abt giving up seats or letting u board first....how to survive w/o a car and keep a decent quality of life?!?!

[Ferraricalifornia]

our culture of giving up seats to those in need more has yet to be fully cultivated,

 

especially during peak hours....

 

but then,

 

if you're able to afford a car here, no matter the price,

 

you'd still go for a car rather than take public transport right???

 

like what Jeremy Clarkson from Topgear says....

(paraphrased)

 

"Taking public transport just means getting a disease from the person you're seated next to....and smelling the odour from another person".....

 

which is really true....