Singapore Expats

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Even though I have a car I still take the bus to work every day. There's a bus stop outside my place in Siglap which has a direct bus to outside my office in Bugis, takes 25 mins and costs $1.21 each way, that's how efficient it is.

In the OP's case it's not the public transport that's inefficient but the OP's inefficiency to find somewhere to live that is convenient for the Changi Business Park.

Couldn't agree more.

I think Singapore transport is excellent...but have been living in three places now I always pick where I will live that will provide convenient transport. I'd rather pay up for a prime location than own a car. I figure a car is at least $1,000 a month all in when you factor all the costs. I was living in district 9 and commuting to Changi Business Park and found the commute pleasant on MRT (always can sit down).

Oh yes, I have a motorbike too and thats the best way to get around in Singapore (weather permitting). Cars are just too expensive to be practical unless you have a family with little children and live without convenient access to bus or MRT.

compare with zimbabwe, singapore public transport is first class!

Saint wrote:Even though I have a car I still take the bus to work every day. There's a bus stop outside my place in Siglap which has a direct bus to outside my office in Bugis, takes 25 mins and costs $1.21 each way, that's how efficient it is.

In the OP's case it's not the public transport that's inefficient but the OP's inefficiency to find somewhere to live that is convenient for the Changi Business Park.

Most houses close to CBP are condos and we dont like them because they are far off from amenities and you need a car.

The HDB estates close to CBP are Simei, Tampines, Bedok. Simei is the closest but it quite expensive and most HDBs are 3 bedroom. We are a couple and need a 1 bedroom. 2 bedroom itself is a big. 3 bedroom, we dont want to create a football field in our house. So there you go Singapore doesnt even have enough houses of the right size, which is a 1 bedroom.

As I have already said Tampines is 5 kms away and the best place to live if you are working at CBP and it shouldnt take more than 15 mins if transport was efficient.

As far as calling me in-efficient is concerned, I really pity you for the fact that you are unable to use your own car due to probably high parking fees

revhappy wrote:

Saint wrote:Even though I have a car I still take the bus to work every day. There's a bus stop outside my place in Siglap which has a direct bus to outside my office in Bugis, takes 25 mins and costs $1.21 each way, that's how efficient it is.

In the OP's case it's not the public transport that's inefficient but the OP's inefficiency to find somewhere to live that is convenient for the Changi Business Park.

Most houses close to CBP are condos and we dont like them because they are far off from amenities and you need a car.

The HDB estates close to CBP are Simei, Tampines, Bedok. Simei is the closest but it quite expensive and most HDBs are 3 bedroom. We are a couple and need a 1 bedroom. 2 bedroom itself is a big. 3 bedroom, we dont want to create a football field in our house. So there you go Singapore doesnt even have enough houses of the right size, which is a 1 bedroom.

As I have already said Tampines is 5 kms away and the best place to live if you are working at CBP and it shouldnt take more than 15 mins if transport was efficient.

As far as calling me in-efficient is concerned, I really pity you for the fact that you are unable to use your own car due to probably high parking fees

I must apologies on behalf of the Singapore Government that they haven't built enough total useless 1 bed HDB flats in a convenient location to CBP, how very unthoughtful of them.

The reason I don't use my car for work is because as I've mentioned I have a very effecient bus service. If you used a car to get to the CBP it would only take you 10 mins, oh sorry, you haven't got one, what a pity!

Sold both of my cars back in 91 as they were no longer an efficient means of transport on the island as the cost/km couldn't touch public transport and even after factoring in the time/convenience element, it didn't change moch because during rush hours traffic isn't slower the public transport especially if working in the CBD and have to secure parking at outrageous premiums. Or public parking at long sweaty walks from the office. which by the time you actually time home front door to desk its about the same.

Nah, cars are only for those with lots of very small children. Absolutely no reason for a young person/couple without kids to own a car here unless it's purely for the "look at me - I can afford a car" syndrome - Oh, sorry, I meant the Singaporean Syndrome.

sundaymorningstaple wrote:
Nah, cars are only for those with lots of very small children. Absolutely no reason for a young person/couple without kids to own a car here unless it's purely for the "look at me - I can afford a car" syndrome - Oh, sorry, I meant the Singaporean Syndrome.

I am a Singaporean but are you generalising all Singaporeans as such?

Just arrived in SG about 3 weeks ago from Chicago. Compared to Chicago, public transportation is about the same. But that's US public transportation, which I think is pretty bad in general. The only real thing that is good about SG public transportation is that it's relatively cheap.

However, compared to cities like Hong Kong, London or Tokyo, the system is really crap. For a city that prides itself on cleanliness, I was surprised that I could not find any trash cans anywhere.

And a side note regarding the quality of service in Singapore, it's pretty bad. I was a little appalled by the speed at which shop assistants work. It was just somewhat unexpected given that Singapore is considered an alpha city. Anyways, I digress.

Transportation efficiency in Singapore is at its best for those who benefit from it. And for the rest, do have all the taxi booking numbers programmed into your phone, comes in handy. And on rainy days, remember to use the sms booking system instead of calling.

ilovemexmany wrote:Just arrived in SG about 3 weeks ago from Chicago. Compared to Chicago, public transportation is about the same. But that's US public transportation, which I think is pretty bad in general. The only real thing that is good about SG public transportation is that it's relatively cheap.

However, compared to cities like Hong Kong, London or Tokyo, the system is really crap. For a city that prides itself on cleanliness, I was surprised that I could not find any trash cans anywhere.

And a side note regarding the quality of service in Singapore, it's pretty bad. I was a little appalled by the speed at which shop assistants work. It was just somewhat unexpected given that Singapore is considered an alpha city. Anyways, I digress.

yes i find HK and Tokyo subways better, but seeing the MRT plans in the coming years it seems it will get better here. check it out in wikipedia.

as for buses, mixed reaction on this. really depends where you live and how convenient the bus routes for you are. and also depends how good a driver the bus captain is, some drive very slow and some drive fast but do sudden brakes. these past 2 years the timing is also not that good, i find a lot of late buses these days. then these same numbered buses arrive at the same time, sometimes 2 or 3 in a row then wait 30+ minutes for the next.

The bunching of buses has always been a problem here. But it has nothing to do with the bus companies at all. It has everything to do with LTA and the city traffic planners. For some reason they have never managed to get the "green wave" figured out here. That and the other problem of the average inconsiderate car drivers here who tend to refuse to give way to allow buses out of the bus bays. Although that is changing with the insertion of more draconian laws (read that as fines & points) to allow the buses to exit from the bays. What happens is through the course of the journey, as the buses get held up by either traffic lights or inconsiderate drivers, the buses behind tend to catch up a bit at a time until they hit the CBD. Then they get gridlocked and eventually when they exit out of the CBD they are on each others bumpers. However, they all leave the bus terminals at 7 to 15 minute intervals (depending on the route and density of the populations along those routes).

Saint wrote: I must apologies on behalf of the Singapore Government that they haven't built enough total useless 1 bed HDB flats in a convenient location to CBP, how very unthoughtful of them.

Single bedrooms flats are very useful! New couples without kids do not need to rent a 2 bedroom and living with roommates as a couple is pretty inconveniencing. Might be part of the reason the fertility rate of Singapore is so low.

Hugo_R wrote:

Saint wrote: I must apologies on behalf of the Singapore Government that they haven't built enough total useless 1 bed HDB flats in a convenient location to CBP, how very unthoughtful of them.

Single bedrooms flats are very useful! New couples without kids do not need to rent a 2 bedroom and living with roommates as a couple is pretty inconveniencing. Might be part of the reason the fertility rate of Singapore is so low.

Hahaha.. That was funny! Actually 2 bedroom apts are also ok its just one extra bedroom. You could dump all your unnecessary furniture there and if you have guests coming, they can be accomodated easily.

But, its really the 3 bedrooms and 4 bedrooms that are really an overkill. Some new HDB estates like Simei, Pasir Ris, Senkang and Punngol have minimum 3 bedrooms and some have 4 bedrooms! And cost like 1.8K to 2k in rent. But thats ok, as I guess they were made keeping Singaporean families in mind and not expats.