Reallocate car COEs to motorcycles

About eight years ago, the certificate of entitlement (COE) quota for motorcycles was more than the demand, resulting in its bidding price sliding to as low as $2.

This resulted in the Land Transport Authority (LTA) reallocating some motorcycle COEs to the category for cars.

Now that the demand for motorcycle COEs has crept up, to the extent that the COE price is more than the price of most motorcycle models, perhaps it is time for the LTA to return the COEs to the motorcycle category ("Have more COEs for motorcycles" by Mr Ong Khoon Keat; June 12).

Another reason to reallocate the COEs is that some drivers have switched to riding motorcycles because of the high car COE prices and, hence, are now competing with lower-income people who may need a motorcycle out of necessity.

If even a motorcycle is beyond the reach of those in the lower- to middle-income group, who may be dependent on motorcycles for work, our national productivity would be seriously affected.

Seah Kian Chong

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on July 01, 2015, with the headline Reallocate car COEs to motorcycles. Subscribe