Yes, its true, earnings for cabbies have increased somewhat and I think this difference comes from the continuous additional 25% from 8.00pm till midnight everyday including Sundays and Public holidays. I would think an increase of 20% earnings after the fare hike is certainly visible, barring possible further increases in cost of diesel fuel.
These days I have been driving an average of 250km per day, additional 40 to 50 kilometres from around 5.00pm to 12.20am as more commuters, mostly foreigners and tourists make use of our services. Visitors to Singapore have risen significantly and they have been our regular and constant supporters. It has been quite tiring for me lately and I needed more time to rest.
Showing posts with label Fare hikes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fare hikes. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Back To Normal.
The increase in taxi fares has yielded an average additional income of about $20 to $30 for taxi drivers as far as I am concerned. This additional amount has been a great help in off setting the high cost of diesel fuel. For longer trips, an increase in the metered fare is more visible, whereas in shorter trips, the difference is quite negligible.
Nowadays, there is hardly any talk about the fare hikes and it seems like it is now generally accepted by commuters. Ever since the increase, I have had only three minor comments from passengers whom I sense are very occasional cab users. Anyway, it is good that the talk about the increase in fares has died down which makes both the drivers and passengers feel more at ease and comfortable during the trips.
Chinese New Year celebrations is still on and commuters are aplenty. I find it easy and not much of a hassle getting passengers which makes for pleasant workdays. Fridays and Saturdays are always very busy and hectic workdays for us and none would think much about resting or taking leave from driving. Today being a Saturday and I am already eagerly looking forward to start after a good day's rest.
Nowadays, there is hardly any talk about the fare hikes and it seems like it is now generally accepted by commuters. Ever since the increase, I have had only three minor comments from passengers whom I sense are very occasional cab users. Anyway, it is good that the talk about the increase in fares has died down which makes both the drivers and passengers feel more at ease and comfortable during the trips.
Chinese New Year celebrations is still on and commuters are aplenty. I find it easy and not much of a hassle getting passengers which makes for pleasant workdays. Fridays and Saturdays are always very busy and hectic workdays for us and none would think much about resting or taking leave from driving. Today being a Saturday and I am already eagerly looking forward to start after a good day's rest.
Monday, January 2, 2012
Continuous Vibrant Festive Celebrations Into 2012.
Chinatown, swarmed with 'Dragons' together with a host of activities, was 'lighted' up last night and this signals the start of a fresh series in festivals 'Light Up' rituals in Singapore, to be followed by many more new and exciting ones to come for Year 2012. These 'Lighting Up' events are expected features in Singapore's style of welcoming and celebrating its numerous cultural and religious festivals with elaborate decorations and colourful lightings covering over large popular stretches of roads all over the island throughout the whole year.
Its during these periods of celebrations that Taxi Drivers enjoy a substantial increase in their take home pay. Huge crowds of people from all walks of life including foreign workers and the continuous influx of tourists from all over the world have contributed to making life slightly easier and more rewarding for all cabbies.
This Christmas and New Year have brought on unprecedented hugh gatherings everywhere, in shopping centres, food courts, Orchard Road, Resorts World Sentosa and especially at the Marina Bay area. Throngs of holiday makers celebrating and welcoming the New Year Countdown and the spectacular fireworks display have created such a fabulous and vibrant atmosphere and not only that, the excitement, the hectic activities of ushering in the Chinese Lunar New Year have already begun.
It is truly a 'Bonanza' period, together with the recent newly implemented Fare Hikes this time of year, albeit very hard and tedious work for all active Taxi Drivers.
Its during these periods of celebrations that Taxi Drivers enjoy a substantial increase in their take home pay. Huge crowds of people from all walks of life including foreign workers and the continuous influx of tourists from all over the world have contributed to making life slightly easier and more rewarding for all cabbies.
This Christmas and New Year have brought on unprecedented hugh gatherings everywhere, in shopping centres, food courts, Orchard Road, Resorts World Sentosa and especially at the Marina Bay area. Throngs of holiday makers celebrating and welcoming the New Year Countdown and the spectacular fireworks display have created such a fabulous and vibrant atmosphere and not only that, the excitement, the hectic activities of ushering in the Chinese Lunar New Year have already begun.
It is truly a 'Bonanza' period, together with the recent newly implemented Fare Hikes this time of year, albeit very hard and tedious work for all active Taxi Drivers.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Bright and Busy Days Ahead.
Three more days to go and it will be 2012, 'Dragons' are already swarming the Chinatown area even before the Chinese Lunar New Year arrives.
Last couple of weeks and the coming January month, this particular period of the end and the beginning of old and new years is packed with endless human activities imaginable, everyday and everywhere. Taxis during this time are enjoying full usage and very much in demand, so much so, complaints about the recent fare increases are hardly heard nor discussed. Yes, I have not engaged in talks about the recent Fare Hikes lately and it looks like it has already died down, which is good.
Full steam ahead for us Taxi Drivers and it is truly going to be a Happy New Year 2012.
Last couple of weeks and the coming January month, this particular period of the end and the beginning of old and new years is packed with endless human activities imaginable, everyday and everywhere. Taxis during this time are enjoying full usage and very much in demand, so much so, complaints about the recent fare increases are hardly heard nor discussed. Yes, I have not engaged in talks about the recent Fare Hikes lately and it looks like it has already died down, which is good.
Full steam ahead for us Taxi Drivers and it is truly going to be a Happy New Year 2012.
Friday, December 23, 2011
"He asked for it what!"
Hail a Comfort or a SMRT taxi and you know their metered fare have already increased accordingly, but each time, whenever I ask my passengers if they had felt any such increase in their fares riding these cabs, they would simply say "Its about the same, not much difference leh".
There are one or two passengers who would ask me why I had to increase the taxi fares and when I tell them its not my doing, its the Taxi company that decides and makes the decision, they just shrugged their heads and say, "Ahh no lah, you people are the ones who put pressure on your Companies to demand for an increase all the time, you think we are fools ah".
This was the particular passenger whom I was unfortunate to have fetched yesterday evening from Sim's Drive and he asked to go to Tampines Street 34. I thought he was trying to be funny or maybe try to irritate me so as to get me involved in having a stupid argument with him or simply just to annoy me, but, unfortunately for him, I was quite prepared for his kind of nonsense from the way he behaved and the manner and style in which he made that remark and so, I replied "Of course what, you mean to tell me you don't expect any bonus from your Boss even when his Company is doing very well and at the end of the year, expect no bonus nor even a small salary increase from his Company meh? and if there is none, don't tell me you just sit and keep quiet and don't even ask???". to which he became an instant 'deaf-mute' and remain quiet throughout the journey.
This guy tried to be funny by putting the blame on me for the Fare Hikes, but he happened to bark up the wrong cabbie who would purposely hit back.
Sometimes I get 'tickled' when I take them on. You see, its usually these irritating minority group of passengers who hardly use taxis, maybe only once in a while who grumbles most and likes to make unreasonable and baseless remarks that can rile you. I would normally try not to engage in any arguments or even have casual conversations with these type of commuters by keeping 'mum' or just simply say "Ya" to anything he or she says.
There are one or two passengers who would ask me why I had to increase the taxi fares and when I tell them its not my doing, its the Taxi company that decides and makes the decision, they just shrugged their heads and say, "Ahh no lah, you people are the ones who put pressure on your Companies to demand for an increase all the time, you think we are fools ah".
This was the particular passenger whom I was unfortunate to have fetched yesterday evening from Sim's Drive and he asked to go to Tampines Street 34. I thought he was trying to be funny or maybe try to irritate me so as to get me involved in having a stupid argument with him or simply just to annoy me, but, unfortunately for him, I was quite prepared for his kind of nonsense from the way he behaved and the manner and style in which he made that remark and so, I replied "Of course what, you mean to tell me you don't expect any bonus from your Boss even when his Company is doing very well and at the end of the year, expect no bonus nor even a small salary increase from his Company meh? and if there is none, don't tell me you just sit and keep quiet and don't even ask???". to which he became an instant 'deaf-mute' and remain quiet throughout the journey.
This guy tried to be funny by putting the blame on me for the Fare Hikes, but he happened to bark up the wrong cabbie who would purposely hit back.
Sometimes I get 'tickled' when I take them on. You see, its usually these irritating minority group of passengers who hardly use taxis, maybe only once in a while who grumbles most and likes to make unreasonable and baseless remarks that can rile you. I would normally try not to engage in any arguments or even have casual conversations with these type of commuters by keeping 'mum' or just simply say "Ya" to anything he or she says.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Big "Hoo-Ha" Over Fare Hikes.
It is not a ridiculous taxi fare increase as far as regular commuters are concern, and I don't see any drastic change in taxi ridership patterns across the island. From some direct accounts of on the spot surveys carried out yesterday in respect of the fare hikes from commuters, results have shown that the increases are very minimal and hardly felt. Anyhow, it is still too early to gauge the impact of the hikes but Comfort Taxis having the largest taxi fleet on the road is good enough testing ground to finding out the general responses from commuters even from the very first day of its effectiveness, and from what we hear over live interviews on television, the newspapers and news online, I guess its not going to be a long drawn subject of unhappiness from the general public but the usual waiting time and the unending complaints will definitely continue to persist.
People use taxis when they need them whether there is any increase or not. As it is, the cost of living and the high diesel price have made it most difficult to earn a living. Taxi drivers work very long hours, as much as 12 to 13 hours a day and its no joke, with no CPF contributions, no annual leaves and worst of all, not even allowed to fall sick at all, the life of a Taxi Driver is indeed tough. Therefore, a tiny increase in taxi fares to help taxi drivers maintain a decent livelihood, have a better income opportunity, should not make it sound like a 'life and death' issue, cause great unhappiness or even having thoughts of boycotting, afterall, it has been 5 years since the last fare hike exercise in 2007.
People use taxis when they need them whether there is any increase or not. As it is, the cost of living and the high diesel price have made it most difficult to earn a living. Taxi drivers work very long hours, as much as 12 to 13 hours a day and its no joke, with no CPF contributions, no annual leaves and worst of all, not even allowed to fall sick at all, the life of a Taxi Driver is indeed tough. Therefore, a tiny increase in taxi fares to help taxi drivers maintain a decent livelihood, have a better income opportunity, should not make it sound like a 'life and death' issue, cause great unhappiness or even having thoughts of boycotting, afterall, it has been 5 years since the last fare hike exercise in 2007.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Christmas Is A Time For Giving And Receiving.
Christmas is just round the corner and we should all be rejoicing and getting ready once again for another year ending with many happy surprises of goodies to come such as, the main Christmas celebrations in churches and everywhere for christians as well as non-christians from all over the world, giving and receiving gifts for families, friends young and old and happy re-unions for everyone, annual holidays, annual company dinners, great annual sales, great parties and entertainments, annual salary increases and bonuses and lots more.
The biggest 'Hoo-Ha' of discontentment this year seems to be coming from taxi commuters with yesterday's sudden announcement of taxi fare hikes and surcharges to be effective this coming monday by the owners of Singapore's largest taxi fleet. This 'hot' topic is presently the 'Talk of the Town' from all walks of life.
Past experiences have shown us that in any sort of price increase issues, comes firstly, resentments, disapprovals, complaints all round but, by the end of the day, all issues will eventually quieten down and then gradually be accepted as the days go by and will soon be forgotten while life goes on. This has been the norm for us Singaporeans, if you like, just try recalling the recent 'outcries' in the General Elections, price increases in coffee and food episodes. But come this Christmas and it will bring forth Harmony, Joy, Well Wishes and all 'ill' feelings, grudges will soon disappear and be forgotten.
As for me, in this unpredictable and ever changing world that we live in, I feel happy to take this opportunity to Wish You, One and All "A Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year!". Cheers !
The biggest 'Hoo-Ha' of discontentment this year seems to be coming from taxi commuters with yesterday's sudden announcement of taxi fare hikes and surcharges to be effective this coming monday by the owners of Singapore's largest taxi fleet. This 'hot' topic is presently the 'Talk of the Town' from all walks of life.
Past experiences have shown us that in any sort of price increase issues, comes firstly, resentments, disapprovals, complaints all round but, by the end of the day, all issues will eventually quieten down and then gradually be accepted as the days go by and will soon be forgotten while life goes on. This has been the norm for us Singaporeans, if you like, just try recalling the recent 'outcries' in the General Elections, price increases in coffee and food episodes. But come this Christmas and it will bring forth Harmony, Joy, Well Wishes and all 'ill' feelings, grudges will soon disappear and be forgotten.
As for me, in this unpredictable and ever changing world that we live in, I feel happy to take this opportunity to Wish You, One and All "A Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year!". Cheers !
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