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GCT: Aim For Zero Vehicular Growth

Vulcann

By Vulcann,
in Lite & EZ

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Vulcann

Vulcann

6th Gear

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/sin...1080183/1/.html

 

Move to have zero vehicular growth to tackle road jams "imminent"

 

By Hetty Musfirah Abdul Khamid | Posted: 09 September 2010 1928 hrs

 

SINGAPORE: Congestion on Singapore's roads has renewed calls for more aggressive measures to curb the vehicle population.

 

One solution is to have zero vehicular growth, a point raised by Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong at a dialogue with grassroots leaders recently.

 

Observers said implementing such a move is imminent as Singapore roads are nearing maximum capacity.

 

Singapore's vehicle population has grown to about one million. With limited land, vehicle growth rate has been set at 1.5% for the next two years.

 

But, is this sustainable?

 

Dr Lim Wee Kiak, chairman of Government Parliamentary Committee for Transport, said: "We should maintain our current fleet of vehicles, not to increase further. Perhaps, given a chance, Ministry of Transport should consider a reduction in vehicle number rather than (an) increase.

 

"We are looking at a reduction in growth, but what I will like to see is to reach the zero (growth) faster. In Parliament, we have been pushing for some sort of a zero growth, if not, even a negative growth to counteract the excess over the last few years.

 

"They should release (fewer) COEs compared to the number of vehicles taken off the roads so that there is actually a reduction in the number of vehicles in Singapore."

 

The reduction in COEs will mean higher car prices. Is this likely to get more people on public transport?

 

"I will still strive to get a car, even if the price is high," said a member of the public.

 

"I still want to own a car," said another.

 

"If you are holding a certain position, you may need it (car) for the image," said a third.

 

"I will give up my car, if the transport in Singapore is able to achieve the coverage.....(such that) we can go anywhere conveniently," said a fourth.

 

Such reasons are why many say aggressive measures are needed to convince people to take public transport.

 

One suggestion has been for public transport operators to offer fare discounts for travel during off-peak hours, as this is likely to tackle the problem of overcrowding in trains.

 

Dr Lim Wee Kiak said that with discounts, more people would consider spreading out their travel. "So there would be spaces for everyone," he said.

 

Buses must also become a more reliable alternative, said Associate Professor Lee Der Horng from the Department of Civil Engineering at the National University of Singapore (NUS).

 

He said: "We must take some very aggressive approach. What we have to do is, other than the MRT, we have to pay more attention to the buses.

 

"Can we provide more full-day bus lanes? Can we give higher priority to public transportation vehicle like the bus? Can we improve the level of bus service, have cleaner buses, newer buses, faster buses, safer and more comfortable (bus travel)?"

 

Meanwhile, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said it will conduct a review in 2012 to determine an allowable vehicular growth rate. It also said that even if the growth rate is reduced to zero, there will still be a need for usage measures to effectively manage demand for roads.

 

- CNA/ir

 

 

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Vulcann

Vulcann

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(edited)

Quite surprised to hear about what he said about one solution to curb road congestions was to have zero vehicular growth (this time hope no more clarifications from his press secretary later) and GPC for Transport chairman

Edited by Vulcann
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Vulcann

Vulcann

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ride bike if you can't tahan the traffic....

 

best of both worlds....

 

you get private transportation (you decide where you want to go),

 

and don't have to beat the crowds taking public transport!!!

 

Bikes are also subjected to COE bidding system though it would not be as expensive as other categories...

 

And the old chinese saying (no offence to bikers bros out there): 人包铁 (literally meaning human covering steel) analogy forced me to take a Class 3 rather than 2 license last time.

 

The worst part is that riders always suffer on the roads even if they are not in the wrong: a slight brush by any other vehicle (even another bike) may result in dire consequences for the biker.

 

Quite sad to hear about this:

 

http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/stomp/sg...ter_killed.html

 

Feel sorry for the family and may he R.I.P.

 

 

 

 

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Zyrofillica

Zyrofillica

1st Gear

ya lor....

 

got alternative,

 

but you don't want to take....

 

haha....

 

for young guys like us its ok. imagine u family man got small kids and a wife dependant on you? Would you keep risking life and limb to take bike to work everyday or would you rather drive assuming u can very well afford it? I will definitely drive even if its jammed to hell. insurance $$$ alone cannot provide a husband for your wife and a father to your kids.

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Sons_of_singapore

Sons_of_singapore

Neutral Newbie

Instead of reducing the COE quota & making it more expensive to own a car. They should just increase the min. downpayment to 30% & reduce the max. loan period to 5 yrs. This will be a better way to prevent people from over-borrowing.

 

The last thing the Government want to see is with high COE prices like $100K, the B&B car is selling for $150K & people can't afford to buy car will use their vote to show their unhappiness.

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Ferraricalifornia

Ferraricalifornia

1st Gear

Instead of reducing the COE quota & making it more expensive to own a car. They should just increase the min. downpayment to 30% & reduce the max. loan period to 5 yrs. This will be a better way to prevent people from over-borrowing.

 

The last thing the Government want to see is with high COE prices like $100K, the B&B car is selling for $150K & people can't afford to buy car will use their vote to show their unhappiness.

 

 

dude....

 

car and housing totally different....

 

don't mix the 2 things together....

 

if you can't afford, don't drive lor....

 

but you can't afford to not have a roof over your head....

 

<_<

 

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Ferraricalifornia

Ferraricalifornia

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and if i were the gahmen,

 

i'll introduce even more cars on the road rather than limit the growth potential....

 

liddat,

 

can earn from more drivers ERP, Petrol Excise Duty Tax, GST, ARF, Parking, fines, etc etc....

 

why not???

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Parkingidiot

Parkingidiot

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One suggestion has been for public transport operators to offer fare discounts for travel during off-peak hours, as this is likely to tackle the problem of overcrowding in trains.

 

Dr Lim Wee Kiak said that with discounts, more people would consider spreading out their travel. "So there would be spaces for everyone," he said.

 

This clown Lim Wee Kiak, come from where? Spread out travel? Can go to work suka-suka during off-peak period, to "spread out travel"? The boss, will spread out your pants and give you a kick in the butt out of the office, if you don't come to work on time. "Spread out travel... yeah, right... [shakehead]

 

Ask this fella go to Jurong East MRT every morning and spread out their travel with discounts and see how easy it is before tokking kok and trying to act smart.

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Fcw75

Fcw75

Hypersonic

Should ask them to take a ride every morning to see the packed trains.

 

Even if they do, the MRT staff will also clear 1 cabin beforehand to ensure the MPs get a nice and comfortable ride.

 

Pui!

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