A recent video about "changing 5'Cs" of Singapore stated that a car in Singapore costs as much as 19 of the same car in the US. That is quite sad considering that most Singaporeans don't earn 19 times the salary of an American. Nevertheless, life goes on and public transport is the way to go in Singapore. Buying a car as a young adult is like committing financial suicide. A "budget" Toyota Vios, the kind of car used by beginner drivers, now cost a whopping $120,000+ (http://www.sgcarmart.com/new_cars/newcars_pricing.php?CarCode=10397). This means that if you decide to set aside $1000 per month as installment, you'll only complete your purchase in 10 years, which is, the time when your COE ends...
As much as I love driving and cars, I know that the only time when I can well afford a car is when I am near retirement. Sob sob. For now, I'll either get a cheap and cheerful motorcycle or spend even less by taking bus and mrt. Sadly, for a small country, our public transport is not fast enough to catch up with the country's fast paced lifestyle. So, I present to you 2 simple steps to minimize the pain in taking public transport in Singapore.
1. Make technology work for you! Minimize your dwell time at bus stops.
It sucks to arrive at your bus stop only to see your bus leave just before you can run. Now, you can know what time these buses arrive in advance.
Download the app "SG Nextbus" on your smartphone to find out how long it takes for your bus to arrive. Especially useful if you live quite a distance from your nearest bus stop because you can pick up the pace if you know that a bus is arriving soon. Better than strolling most of the way and pulling a Usain Bolt near the bus stop. Or better yet, don't even leave your house until the time is right. Bus stops are the worst places to dwell in.
2. Make use of distance fares! Minimize your dwell time at bus stops (again)
Shit happens once in a while. You arrive at your bus stop and the bus you are waiting for is taking eternity to arrive. We all know that shitty feeling.
Well, you could either wait till your bus arrive (chances are, that elusive bus is going to be very packed by the time it arrives) or you could hop on another bus that takes you in the general direction of your destination. Chances are, there will be several buses that go the same way for the first couple kilometers. Get moving and alight at a bus stop as far as your bus takes you in the direction of your intended travel. Chances are, you will end up at a bus stop with other buses available that can possibly take you to your destination. By moving forward, you also open up the possibility of overtaking buses that can take you to your destination. When that happens, alight, hop on your intended bus and smile. There were several times when my next alternate bus arrives in less than 5 mins after alighting.
Its nice to know that we are no longer penalized for bus transfers (up to 5 transfers).
Well, these are the two methods I use for myself and I found them quite useful at reducing the time I wait for buses. I used to drive to school but now that I have graduated and jobless, my brothers now have priority over the family car and I have to use public transport most of the time. Truth be told, I really hate public transport. Buses are slow and unreliable and trains are often packed. In other countries, taking public transport is only a phase in life, in Singapore it is likely to be something people will be doing for life. I wish I could do something with public transport in Singapore but since I probably can't, these are the little things I do to make my own transportation less of a chore. I hope you find them useful and if you have any methods to share with me, do tell me too!
