Cars Vs Public transport in singapore. (Your Views)

[Bicolor]

summer is 3 months. singapore all year round summer. but i agree it makes little sense to drive in HK anyway.

 

It's not just 3 months, in fact from end April all the way to mid October can be very hot.

[Kiadaw]

Some of you guys are exaggerating how bad the public transport in Singapore.

 

Am I the only one that think some of the people here are nitpicking the tiniest bad points to justify why they rather drive, or get too comfort in their car that they cannot go back to Public transport anymore, or even, some may feel they have passed the rat race to take public transport.

 

You means you guys never took MRT or bus during your school days? Man, there was a time, when most bus are not air condition also.

 

When I sold my car last July, & took public transport for a couple of months, it wasn't all that bad. For sure its more crowded, & more 'cosmopolitan' but that's about the difference from what I used to do when I was a schoolboy or the first 2 years of my worklife.

 

I also took public transport when I was back for holiday just 2 weeks ago. No biggy for me.

Edited March 18, 2012 by Kiadaw

[Thedream]

Some of you guys are exaggerating how bad the public transport in Singapore.

 

Am I the only one that think some of the people here are nitpicking the tiniest bad points to justify why they rather drive, or get too comfort in their car that they cannot go back to Public transport anymore, or even, some may feel they have passed the rat race to take public transport.

 

You means you guys never took MRT or bus during your school days? Man, there was a time, when most bus are not air condition also.

 

When I sold my car last July, & took public transport for a couple of months, it wasn't all that bad. For sure its more crowded, & more 'cosmopolitan' but that's about the difference from what I used to do when I was a schoolboy or the first 2 years of my worklife.

 

I also took public transport when I was back for holiday just 2 weeks ago. No biggy for me.

 

You're lucky. My experience during peak hours is that the trains and train stations are so packed that I can't even get near the door of the train.

[Blueodyssey]

Anyone want to take train/bus to tuas for work?

[KARTer]

Some of you guys are exaggerating how bad the public transport in Singapore.

 

Am I the only one that think some of the people here are nitpicking the tiniest bad points to justify why they rather drive, or get too comfort in their car that they cannot go back to Public transport anymore, or even, some may feel they have passed the rat race to take public transport.

 

You means you guys never took MRT or bus during your school days? Man, there was a time, when most bus are not air condition also.

 

When I sold my car last July, & took public transport for a couple of months, it wasn't all that bad. For sure its more crowded, & more 'cosmopolitan' but that's about the difference from what I used to do when I was a schoolboy or the first 2 years of my worklife.

 

I also took public transport when I was back for holiday just 2 weeks ago. No biggy for me.

I took buses from farrer park, my home, to siglap, my school in the 60s, it usually took me 45mins one way, sometimes I stood all the way on the bus, other times the bus was too crowded I had to stand on the steps, with part of my body outside the bus along the way the doors were permanently open, no aircon.

 

But there was hardly any traffic jam even without dedicated bus lanes (unheard of).

 

The same journey on bus today may take longer due to heavier traffic despite having bus lanes.

 

The point is:- with better technologies etc, the improvement over the past 50 years seems quite limited in terms of travel time.

 

I still take trains and buses today during non-peak hours and the experience seems ok, but other bros may have different experience if they take them during peak hours.

 

 

[13177]

Some of you guys are exaggerating how bad the public transport in Singapore.

 

Am I the only one that think some of the people here are nitpicking the tiniest bad points to justify why they rather drive, or get too comfort in their car that they cannot go back to Public transport anymore, or even, some may feel they have passed the rat race to take public transport.

 

You means you guys never took MRT or bus during your school days? Man, there was a time, when most bus are not air condition also.

 

When I sold my car last July, & took public transport for a couple of months, it wasn't all that bad. For sure its more crowded, & more 'cosmopolitan' but that's about the difference from what I used to do when I was a schoolboy or the first 2 years of my worklife.

 

I also took public transport when I was back for holiday just 2 weeks ago. No biggy for me.

Sometimes it depends which area and where you take your MRT and buses. Some route the MRT seems to be less crowded, example if you are taking MRT from town side towards Jurong. But if you take MRT from Jurong to town direction, MRT will be very crowded!

 

I took MRT and buses during my school days, but do you realise that back then there are not so many people in sg, MRT and buses not like now so jam packed. Even the population back then is not so high!

[13177]

Anyone want to take train/bus to tuas for work?

If you work in tuas area, usually your company should provide company bus, so should not be a problem. But SMRT is extending MRT into tuas area, so i guess next time should be better?!

Edited March 18, 2012 by 13177

[KARTer]

Sound like modern day Utopia...

Care to share where some examples of such places you have in mind?

 

Short of naming them, some of the cities where I have been to may have achieved much of what you posted, but unless you are of the correct race/ethnic group, you will never be accepted 100%. That is the sad truth.

Well, I have friends who have migrated and are happy, even though they are not rich here or where they are now. Depending on what one wants in life, migration can be a good choice, or at least an option worth exploring.

 

There are very few places which meet 100% the points I mentioned, but quite a few meet about 80%, which can mean a lot to some ppl.

[KARTer]

Pros of car:

1) Can plan last minute outing

2) Can leave home with home clothes if not getting out of car (eg dropping someone/ macs drive thru)

3) Have your own private space

4) Can listen to radio/ music

5) No need to squeeze with strangers

6) No chances of getting "stomped" for sitting on reserved seats or drinking water

7) Feel too hot? higher speed air con..no need to sweat.. Feel too cold? switch off aircon..no need to look for sweater or "freeze" during the journey

8) No chances of forgetting to press the bell and missing the stop

9) And the list goes on............

 

Pros of public transport:

1) Can sleep during the journey..that is if you manage to find a seat

2) Can sms/ play games in Iphone during the journey without having the chance of getting fined

3) Mrt: no traffic jam. Unless breakdown that you would rather walk home

Privacy, flexibility, etc are legitimate things a commuter can persue when he can more or less afford it. If the govt makes them hard to be available to him through imposing artificial rules, high prices etc, it has to show/have very good reasons to do so.

Edited March 18, 2012 by KARTer

[Porche]

Well, I have friends who have migrated and are happy, even though they are not rich here or where they are now. Depending on what one wants in life, migration can be a good choice, or at least an option worth exploring.

 

There are very few places which meet 100% the points I mentioned, but quite a few meet about 80%, which can mean a lot to some ppl.

 

if there r places to go, i think most of the ppl will want to move.

[Thaiyotakamli]

WOW i dont think u have tried taking the train during peak hours on the week days.

Even the train staition itself is crowded with ppl.

You should go try one day at bishan mrt at about 6pm on a week days.

Its a really interesting experience.

if got lots of chio bu but if with.....

[A5SB]

During peak hours, it doesn't quite matter what mode of transport, you'll still get stuck.

 

But being stuck in the traffic inside private transport, still beats smelling other people's body odor inside a jam packed MRT or bus. There's also slightly lower chance of getting sick during flu season.

 

As for me, not surprisingly it's private car as long as I can afford.

[A5SB]

if got lots of chio bu but if with.....

Most of those chio bus you see in bus / MRTs would really rather be travelling in private cars, or at least take a taxi.

[13177]

During peak hours, it doesn't quite matter what mode of transport, you'll still get stuck.

 

But being stuck in the traffic inside private transport, still beats smelling other people's body odor inside a jam packed MRT or bus. There's also slightly lower chance of getting sick during flu season.

 

As for me, not surprisingly it's private car as long as I can afford.

Stuck in a traffic also no fun, esp your car got "problem" and on a hot and sunny day! There was once when i stuck in my friend's car on a very hot afternoon due to some accident, even the air-con is turned to full blast but inside the cabin still feel very stuffy and even smell of petrol, maybe from other cars!

[inlinesix]

During peak hours, it doesn't quite matter what mode of transport, you'll still get stuck.

 

But being stuck in the traffic inside private transport, still beats smelling other people's body odor inside a jam packed MRT or bus. There's also slightly lower chance of getting sick during flu season.

 

As for me, not surprisingly it's private car as long as I can afford.

When i cycle to work, there is no traffic jam for me. By the way, Sg air quality is the best in South East Asia.

 

In a jam packed MRT or bus, i sniff my own parfum or cologne. No issue either.

 

I hate driving in start/stop traffic. If i would to drive, i will enjoy long drive.

[Funifasaid]

Pros of car:

1) Can plan last minute outing

2) Can leave home with home clothes if not getting out of car (eg dropping someone/ macs drive thru)

3) Have your own private space

4) Can listen to radio/ music

5) No need to squeeze with strangers

6) No chances of getting "stomped" for sitting on reserved seats or drinking water

7) Feel too hot? higher speed air con..no need to sweat.. Feel too cold? switch off aircon..no need to look for sweater or "freeze" during the journey

8) No chances of forgetting to press the bell and missing the stop

9) And the list goes on............

 

Pros of public transport:

1) Can sleep during the journey..that is if you manage to find a seat

2) Can sms/ play games in Iphone during the journey without having the chance of getting fined

3) Mrt: no traffic jam. Unless breakdown that you would rather walk home

 

one more pro for car is that I can leave many things in the car boot just in case of anything. e.g. leaving spare sportswear in case I'm feeling sporty or slippers, berms and mat in case I wanna go to the beach!

 

another pro for public transport is to enjoy the scenery of beautiful girls. heh! that's the only incentive for me to go public!

 

and I have to agree with some of you. I'm just waiting to finish my bond. free degree sponsored by govt. and I will migrate elsewhere. my friend in Perth bought her nice 2nd-hand Subaru at AUD$14k!! while my 2nd-hand normal car is at S$28k.

Edited March 19, 2012 by Funifasaid

[Kiadaw]

Well, I have friends who have migrated and are happy, even though they are not rich here or where they are now. Depending on what one wants in life, migration can be a good choice, or at least an option worth exploring.

 

There are very few places which meet 100% the points I mentioned, but quite a few meet about 80%, which can mean a lot to some ppl.

The thing about living overseas (not all places though) is that you can have a regular honest professional job, like engineer or something (do not have to be director or something also), & have a relative good quality of life.

 

You cannot say the same in Singapore.

 

Big open space, nature at the corner, a decent house (aka bangalow in Singapore) for a small family, a nice executive car or 2 (one for you, one for partner), & probabaly better work life balance, & maybe even enjoy the deversity of four seasons.

 

But then again, quality of life is subjective. Some people may like big lively city, shops open til late, 7 days a week, all year warm weather, or even 'cosmopolitan' feel etc

 

But I have to say, no place I know can touch Singapore in terms of food, but most nice food are not healthy though...

Edited March 19, 2012 by Kiadaw

[Stratovarius]

one more pro for car is that I can leave many things in the car boot just in case of anything. e.g. leaving spare sportswear in case I'm feeling sporty or slippers, berms and mat in case I wanna go to the beach!

 

another pro for public transport is to enjoy the scenery of beautiful girls. heh! that's the only incentive for me to go public!

 

and I have to agree with some of you. I'm just waiting to finish my bond. free degree sponsored by govt. and I will migrate elsewhere. my friend in Perth bought her nice 2nd-hand Subaru at AUD$14k!! while my 2nd-hand normal car is at S$28k.

Agree. My car is my mobile storage. Will always drive if i need to ferry alot or bulky stuffs.

 

Bought my first car after i couldn't stand spending 3hrs/day on public transport. Also, i need to work on weekends, so a car is definitely more convenient for me. I have since changed job and now new workplace is nearer to my home. i take a bus to work and walk home. If going to town on weekends before 5pm, i will take public transport unless i know i will be returning late or go multiple places per trip. So now, my car is under utilized. Prob only 1~3 times per week.

I will say a good mix between the two. Public if after 9 and before 5 on a weekday is good enough as long as it don't break down.