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CAB WOES: Taxis waiting for passengers at the four bays at this taxi stand outside Sri Mariamman Temple. Despite the new rule, some taxis were still picking up and dropping passengers off illegally. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE
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THE recent rule that restricts where taxis can pick up and drop off passengers in the Central Business District (CBD) is frustrating not just cab drivers and passengers, but also residents and businesses in the area.
They want the rule eased, at least for elderly and disabled passengers, and tourists with heavy luggage in tow.
For real estate executive Nicholas Ng, 30, who lives in Smith Street in Chinatown, the nearest taxi stand is across an overhead bridge at the People's Park Complex. His wife - who has just given birth - and his elderly grandmother both take taxis to the hospital for check-ups.
He said: 'Working executives and fit citizens can be made to walk. But what about old folk, the handicapped, pregnant women and women carrying babies? What happens if it rains?'
In this case, calling for a cab will not help because passengers have to board from a taxi stand.
Besides residents, businesses in Chinatown are also up in arms.
Jalan Besar GRC MP Lily Neo, whose ward covers the Kreta Ayer-Kim Seng area, said at least two restaurant owners have brought up their concerns with her, saying that 'their elderly customers find it difficult to walk to find a cab, so they don't come back to eat at the restaurant'.
Businesses in areas away from main trunk roads, like Club Street and Ann Siang Hill, are also having a tough time. For them, the nearest taxi stands are at South Bridge Road or Cross Street - at least a five minutes' walk away.
Mr Jack Sim, restaurant manager at The Screening Room in Ann Siang Road, said: 'Some customers think we are being lazy when we tell them we can't ask cabs to drive in here.'
Mr Peter Douglas, who runs financial research firm GFIA in Club Street, said the regulation has inconvenienced his staff and foreign guests.
'It doesn't kill anyone to walk a few hundred metres, but you pay extra for a taxi because you want the convenience.'
This problem is replicated at hotels in the CBD that do not have taxi stands or driveways. Patrons of Hotel 81 Chinatown, at the junction of New Bridge Road and Upper Cross Street, would have to cross the road to Chinatown Point to take a cab.
Hotel manager Peter Chua said the hotel has written to the Land Transport Authority (LTA) to ask that the rule be re-evaluated.
However, hotel staff might have reason to cheer soon: the LTA said that, where possible, it will build taxi stands at the side lanes of hotels that do not have the stands.
At Bencoolen Street, American tourist Jermiah Golmen, who was trying to flag down a taxi, was incredulous when four cabs with no passengers in them whizzed by. He said: 'I did not know about this (rule). There should be signs.'
Despite the rule, some taxi drivers continue taking the risk of stopping along the road. The Straits Times observed at least 10 taxis picking up and dropping off passengers at Club Street and Keong Saik Road over a period of about one hour.
Tampines GRC MP Ong Kian Min, deputy chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Transport, said a middle- ground approach should be taken in implementing the rule.
'There should be some flexibility. Taxis probably should not stop along main trunk roads, but they should be allowed to at side roads like Club Street.'
ghimlay@sph.com.sg
aprilc@sph.com.sg
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