While I do applaud the fact that we indeed have a sprawling network of public transportation, I think it still needs a lot of improvements before it can be labelled as world class. Sure, the infrastructure is world class, but the service standards leave much to be desired.
Case in point: every morning I will take the service number 65 to change to 75, to school. Usually, it comes at 830am SHARP and frequency is rather high during this peak period. But on Tuesday, it was not even there after I waited for 30 minutes, and I hopped onto 195 instead so that I will not be that late. Even when I did so, 65 was no where in sight.
That was the first time I saw the bus stop overcrowded and many people, presumably running late for work walked down a few metres to flag a cab (which isn't an efficient form of public transport either, by the way), incurring extra costs at the same time. I believe like me, the rest of the commuters waiting for 65 deserve an explanation as to why the bus is not here on time.
It is appalling then, that despite this sort of service we are offered (old rickety buses, non-working aircon, late, late and later and sometimes reckless drivers), the transport companies are still trying to increase their fares.
Public transportation has very much an inelastic demand as it is a necessity for most people to get around. The transport companies can increase prices for all they want, but still consumers have no choice but to take them. So this means us consumers, have to bear the brunt of their claimed rising costs, despite reporting record profits?
It sounds dubious but that is the fact we have to face. If they want to increase prices, then surely a higher standard of service should be pegged to the price increase? All consumers would want to have some form of value added to justify the price increase. Merely stating that 'Oh, because fuel costs are rising, operating costs are rising, so we have to increase your fares" is goddamn ridiculous and simply not good enough for me.
My response to that would be, "Up yours. Show me how this price increase will provide me better service, and what is with the record profits then?" Simply put, do not take us commuters as fools. The government wants more public transport travel, but with this sort of service we are getting right now, I really don't think so.
Right now, trains are the most efficient form of public transportation as they run on schedule, are clean, energy efficient and do not display "on call" signs to wait for bookings. But I do not have a train station at my doorstep unlike many people and buses at my place generally take me to most places I want to go, so I have to take the bus all the time.
So I think we commuters deserve much more. Its not that I'm demanding, but it is an obligation by the transport companies as a service provider for the public at large to serve us with their best capabilities.
And
They do like to state the bloody obvious...
