【導(dǎo)讀】Cities,Vol.20,No.3,p.205–216,2020. Allrightsreserved.0264-2751/03$-seefrontmatter. doi:(03)00014-3. Viewpoint. Improvementsand. ofSingapore. ofSingapore,4ArchitectureDrive,Singapore117566. Introduction. instance,inGreatBritain,theaggregate. Mackett(1994)suggeststhreemain. andAmpt,2020),andGardiner(1991). E-mail:. 205. mateChangein1994(Buttonetal.,Inrecentyears,sustainabledevelop-. itemsofgovernments,aswellas. researchers,acrosstheglobe(for. example,Mackett,1994;Quinn,1994;Barrett,1995;Jorgensen,1995;Cheung. andHoen,1996;Newman,1996;Spa-. ethling,1996;Gurneyetal,1998).choiceofmodes,aswellasafort-. able,convenient,reliable,andattractive

　　

【正文】 anxiety and boredomwhile waiting for a train.Travel information system(RATIS) Display panels are installed atstation platforms, concourses, entrancesand interchanges to display message.Traffic information like arrival timesfor the next two trains, service interruptions, delays and last service at thestation allow muters to make informed decisions on their journeys.Electronic Travel guide The ElectronicTravel guide is like a public transportjourney planner. It is a web based userguide that will provide muters withinformation on the bus routes and faresas well as the schedules of bus, LRTand MRT services. The informationwill enable muters to plan their travel based on several criteria such asfares, number of transfers and theshortest traveling time.LRTThe LRT system is a smaller scale version of the MRT, covering a smallerarea. It is reliable and fortable. Itis quieter than the MRT, as the LRTtrains have rubber tyres running alongconcrete surfaces (refer to Figure 4).Viewpoint: Muhammad Faishal IbrahimFigure 2 Singapore MRT and LRT route. Source: adapted from Metropla (2020)Figure 3 Covered linkway connecting muters to bus interchange and mercialdevelopment (author)The train operation and control systemis fully automated, hence reducinghuman error. Also, the LRT trains arefitted with special “misting windows”to protect the privacy of residents inapartment blocks close to the LRT guideway. Two liquid crystal display(LCD) panels near the doors provideinformation on how to use the LRT210system, how to check the status of tickets and can also be used to displaymercials and advertisements.The Bukit Panjang Light RapidTransit (BPLRT) system is the firstlight rapid system in Singapore. The 8km BPLRT is a feeder system that linksBukit Panjang New Town, Teck WhyeEstate and Ten Mile Junction to theMRT station at Choa Chu Kang, andprovides seamless connections formuters transferring between theBPLRT and MRT. All the 14 stationsare within 400 m from most apartmentblocks at Bukit Panjang and Choa ChuKang. Although the stations areunmanned, there are at least eightclosecircuit television (CCTV) cameras situated at strategic locations ateach station concourse and platforms.The operation of the LRT in Bukit Panjang and Choa Chu Kang has not beensmooth. There were many instances ofbreakdown which have caused disruptions and inconvenience to the muters (Karamjit, 2020). This hasreduced public confidence of the LRTsystem.The Sengkang LRT system, prising the East Loop and the West loop,is mencing operations shortly afterthe start of the operation of the NorthEast MRT Line in 2020. There willbe 14 stations along the km route.In 2020, the km Punggol LRT system will begin service with 15 stationsalong its route. Due to the many technical problems of the Bukit Panjang andViewpoint: Muhammad Faishal IbrahimFigure 4 LRT station and residential neighbourhood (author)Choa Chu Kang’s LRT system, thetesting of the Sengkang LRT systemhas been thorough, to ensure asmoother operation (Khaw, 2020).TaxiIn the past, taxi service was characterised by the existence of “pirate taxi”drivers who started their business byusing old vehicles bought at scrapvalue (Tan, 1976b). Like the earlierbuses, the service level was “decrepit”(Pek, 1988). As such, it was monto have individuals and paniesowning fleets of taxis with no propermanagement control for an efficienttaxi service. However, the “piratetaxis” were eradicated by July 1971.Concurrently, the situation began toimprove with the formation of NTUCCOMFORT taxi cooperative in 1970,to help member taxi drivers to owntaxis legally.Currently, there are four taxi servicesorganisations, namely, Comfort Transportation Pte Ltd, CityCab Pte Ltd,TIBS Taxis Pte Ltd, YellowTop CabPte Ltd and a group of individual yellow top taxi owners (PTC, 1997/98),maintaining a positive petition climate. Currently, there are altogether18,825 taxis (Ministry of Transport,2020). Similar to the bus service, manyinitiatives have been introduced toimprove the level of taxi services inSingapore. Some of the notable measures are listed below.Training course for taxi drivers Inorder to ensure a good level of service,211all taxi drivers are required to undergoa training course before they arepresented with a vocational licence.Occasionally, they are also required toattend new and refresher courses.Taxi performance scheme In 1996, theLTA implemented a new taxi performance scheme to encourage taxi panies to improve their services. Thescheme uses five indicators in measuring the operational and service petency of taxi panies. They are theaverage engaged mileage per day pertaxi, average utilisation rate per taxi,radiophone response rate, accident rateand rate of plaint.Shareacab In June 1997, a new costcutting and time saving scheme toenable passengers heading towards thesame direction to share a cab was introduced. The scheme is currently operational at 10 taxi stands.Premier taxi service This service caters for those muters who wish tohave a superior taxi service and are prepared to pay a higher fare.Enhanced taxi booking system Withthe encouragement of LTA, a few taxipanies have adopted the use of theGPS for booking and dispatching oftaxis. Under this system, satellites trackthe location of every taxi and a passenger’s request for a taxi is automaticallyassigned to the nearest taxi. This isparticularly aimed at reducing the muters’ waiting times.Taxi Order Terminal (TOT) TheNTUC COMFORT became the firsttaxi pany to implement an automatic, coinoperated cabbooking system. Under this system, the mutersslot $1 in coins into the Taxi Order Terminal (TOT). Follo