Singapore promoting a cashless and car less society

This cashless society thing is a new thing the govt is promoting. Actually there is no need to promote this as this has been a reality for quite some time. Singaporeans' pockets are really and genuinely cashless especially those living in public housing. Maybe those in private properties are better off. The cash that Singaporeans have or used to have has been transferred to their properties and in the CPF. The little left over that some may still have would be transferred to the cars they are owning and that effectively made many cashless. So the govt need not have to sweat the small stuff urging the Singaporeans to become cashless. It is a fact that many are not talking about.

What many have forgotten is the govt's campaign to promote a car less society. This is an ongoing process and with the proliferation of bicycles all over the island, in the longkangs and bushes, yes bicycles growing in the bushes and floating in the longkangs as well, it must be a sure sign that bicycles have taken over the existence of cars. Bicycles are everywhere, for everyone, supplemented by e scooters and other personal mobile equipment.

And the main reason or justification for a car less society, other than being too expensive, not enough space as space is needed for more foreigners to come here to create jobs, while some say we need 10m population to sustain economic growth, is that we have an efficient public transport system that is the envy of the world. These are the basic assumption and premise for a car less society.

Well, how things have changed or not really. Boon Wan has been quoted in Parliament to have praise how the train services have improved over the years. Here is something quoted in thestatestimesreview.

Just earlier this week in Parliament, Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan attributed government statistics claiming rail reliability has improved three times:
“For our MRT network, it has improved significantly from 133,000 train-km in 2015 to 425,000 train-km this year. For years, it could not even reach 100,000 train-km. That is how far we have come. The improvement is real and significant and is experienced by all the 5 MRT lines, including the oldest North-South and East-West Lines.”

I dunno if anyone disagrees with him but this was what happened last night, 10 Nov, and reported all over the social media. Below is quoted from thestatestimesreview.

'SMRT saw it’s third and fourth breakdown in a week last night (Nov 10) and stopped all East-bound train services on the East-West Line (EWL). From 11.15pm until the end of service at midnight, the disruption happened after the first train fault occurred at Outram Park station.
Shortly after a service train was deployed to push the faulty train, the service train also broke down at Paya Lebar station, and SMRT deployed another service train to push the two faulty trains.'

What is pertinent is the breakdown of a service train that is being used to push the faulty train. A service train is like a backup, like a standby UPS or like the drainage pump in Bishan. The backup train or equipment is supposed to take over or to provide emergency services when needed and must be serviceable at the critical hours, like draining water from the flooded station in Bishan. They must be tested and kept in working condition. Looks like they may want to have a standard SOP to check and maintain these service trains as well.

I digress, didn't I? We are moving towards a car less society and this is only possible if we have an efficient, comfortable and reliable public transport system. It used to be, Boon Wan still believes so. Many commuters are cursing themselves for giving up their cars. One commuter tweeted that he thought he could leave his car at home last night only to be caught in the massive jams due to train faults.

The point is, how is Singapore going to be car less if the public transport system is unreliable and breaking down is the norm? For those heading to catch a flight at Changi and got caught in the jam at Tanah Merah, hope they did manage to get to the airport in time.

What is going on? Oh, they are not issuing more COEs to keep the car population from growing, and there is a reliable alternative public transport for those who could not afford the cars or have given up car ownership.