Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Singapore Talking - COE, 10.30 pm Sunday 18 April
I have been invited to be in the panel on Singapore Talking this Sunday at 10.30 pm on Mediacorp TV. The topic is on the high price of COE. I will be giving my views about moderating the fluctuation in price of COE and more importantly, about making public transport and taxis more comfortable and affordable.
Good signages to show directions
It is important to provide good signages to help people to find their way. In recent years, there is too much focus on getting revenue for advertisements that result in signages being hidden or difficult to find. Here are some examples:
1. Whole buses are now being painted as a moving advertisement. It is difficult for the commuter to know if it is a public bus.
2. There are many advertisements in MRT stations and bus interchanges that the essential signages, such as EXIT and PLATFORM number, are difficult to find.
3. Even gantry gates of car parks are being converted into advertisements for property agencies.
When I visit an unfamiliar place, I have a lot of difficulty to find the way due to poor signages, but I get distracted by many advertisements.
There has to be a balance between the desire for advertising revenue and the need to give property signages and instructions to commuters. I hope that the regulatory authority comes into the picture. If the transport operators are restricted in their advertisements, it will create opportunity for other media, such as the newspapers and the television. This may be better for all.
Tan Kin Lian
1. Whole buses are now being painted as a moving advertisement. It is difficult for the commuter to know if it is a public bus.
2. There are many advertisements in MRT stations and bus interchanges that the essential signages, such as EXIT and PLATFORM number, are difficult to find.
3. Even gantry gates of car parks are being converted into advertisements for property agencies.
When I visit an unfamiliar place, I have a lot of difficulty to find the way due to poor signages, but I get distracted by many advertisements.
There has to be a balance between the desire for advertising revenue and the need to give property signages and instructions to commuters. I hope that the regulatory authority comes into the picture. If the transport operators are restricted in their advertisements, it will create opportunity for other media, such as the newspapers and the television. This may be better for all.
Tan Kin Lian
Consumers can force reforms
Read this post in FISCA about the work being done by the Consumer Union of USA to force reform of bad practices. Join FISCA to strengthen consumer protection and education!
New MRT interchange stations
The best interchange stations were at City Hall and Raffles Place. It was possible to change from one line to another on the same level. This was possible as the two lines were developed at the same time.
The worst interchange stations were at Outram Park and Dhoby Ghaut. The commuter has to walk a long distance to change from one line to another. Similarly, the walking distance between the two lines at Bishan is quite far. When a new line is built at a later time, after an existing line is operational, it is necessary to build the station at a distance from the existing station, due to safety and engineering reasons.
But there is another approach that allows the interchange stations to be build close together to reduce the walking time. In developing the new station, it is possible to build a new platform for the existing line, and to divert the existing line to use the new platform at a later date. I hope that the engineers consider this possiblity, so that the walking distance is reduced.
Tan Kin Lian
The worst interchange stations were at Outram Park and Dhoby Ghaut. The commuter has to walk a long distance to change from one line to another. Similarly, the walking distance between the two lines at Bishan is quite far. When a new line is built at a later time, after an existing line is operational, it is necessary to build the station at a distance from the existing station, due to safety and engineering reasons.
But there is another approach that allows the interchange stations to be build close together to reduce the walking time. In developing the new station, it is possible to build a new platform for the existing line, and to divert the existing line to use the new platform at a later date. I hope that the engineers consider this possiblity, so that the walking distance is reduced.
Tan Kin Lian
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