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'Uber, Grab slow growth' in public transport use
Record-low ridership increase last year due to surge in private-hire vehicles, say experts
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Last year's almost-flat public transport ridership growth came despite the opening of new rail lines and extensions, more buses being introduced and a continued shrinkage in the private passenger car population. As of the end of last year, there were around 47,000 chauffeured private-hire cars on the road.
ST FILE PHOTO
Public transport ridership climbed for the 13th consecutive time last year but the growth was the smallest on record, the Land Transport Authority revealed yesterday.
Rail and bus rides inched upwards by 0.7 per cent to 7.264 million a day, up from 7.214 million the year before. In 2016, the growth was 4.6 per cent, and since 2005, the increases had been averaging 5 per cent a year.
