Price Hike!

Its the time of the year again when the board of directors of SBS sit down and say "Hey lets up the bus fare again!". When I heard the news saying that SBS have decided to submit their proposal to raise the transport fares I was thinking..great, every year also increase, every year they also say "After careful consideration, they had no choice but to raise the fares to cover for rising costs"...I dun remember there was a year they said after careful consideration, we decided not to increase the fares. Of couse when SMRT heard that, they thought "kao! they also increase liao, if we dun increase we lugi!" and so next day, as expected SMRT also submitted their proposal after much consideration.

I must admit the Singapore transport services are quite efficient but they are really not that great yet to warrant a yearly increase. Besides, there is no competition! Its not like SMRT and SBS are competing with each other..they seem more like partners...increasing price one after another. Then came the news that there will be penalty for bus operators if the waiting time exceed 10 mins. Please... I cant remember how many times I waited for my one and only feederbus for more than 15mins...Who is going to monitor them anyway? Moreover, after years of price hike, I dont see any improvements in the transport services...On rainy days, I was appalled to see some buses with their upper deck seats totally wet as the roof was leaking. Many occasions I was sitting happily on the bus when I realised the aircon was dripping water on me. And talking about making places accessible to those handicap pple, our buses are way behind ...I saw buses in LA where people in wheelchair were able to board..boy was I impressed. Here, those old people have difficulties climbing the steep steps up the bus. Buses are always so crowded at peak hours and buses speed off bus stops without stopping just becos the front is packed and the bus driver cant be bothered to ask people to move behind. With all these they still have the cheek to increase the fare every year.

Talking about fare hike...there are so many merchants who took advantage of the 2% GST to increase their prices...can drinks selling for 1 buck now goes for 1.10, I bought a hotdog bun at Breadtalk this morning, previously at 1.20 now it cost 1.30..is that a 2% increase? How convenient...2% become duno how many percent..like those hawker..2% increase ah..my wanton mee at 2 bucks cannot become 2.10 ...make it 2.50 lor....