17 million calls and no cab

You might have noticed an inexplicable proclivity toward news-article posts here. It’s a phase I believe. But I digress. Anyone who has had to hail a cab in Singapore would, dare I say, experience frustrations in flagging one. I have a big problem when Singapore’s largest taxi company attributes the spike in bookings to a ‘stronger economy’ and to the extent of crediting its ‘improved taxi booking system’!!

Now we all know how the booking system benefits the company, although I don’t have the hard facts at hand. A quick Gooooogle of taxi related news would throw up results such as technological advancements in ‘real time bookings’ and ‘WAP collaborations with our very own National Computer Systems’. And herein lies the problem.

Candid conversations with cab drivers provide interesting insights. The classic few put the blame on Singaporeans’ penchant for calling cabs. Which in turn causes the complacent attitude in cab drivers and their pickiness when it comes to street fares. Which frustrates commuters. Which gives them no real alternative but to call for cabs. And the vicious cycle perpetuates. And which taxi companies gladly misconstrue as ‘we need to make our booking system better to handle more calls’.

I live about Chinatown and I’ve seen tourists (without the benefit of a cell phone) desperately trying to get a cab to get back to the hotel presumably. Little do they know about the curious phenomenon – the disappearance of cabs at 10pm especially in the city zone. Or why every single cab displays the ON CALL sign. Or why empty cabs are whizzing past without stopping. Or even why empty cabs stop by the roadside away from the taxi Q.

To understand the psyche of cab drivers better, I’ve tried to discuss the effectiveness of a scheme brewing in my mind. I propose taxi companies to scrap phone bookings altogether, except for advance bookings and a separate call-booking limousine service. So cabs won’t have the luxury of sitting and waiting for calls but to actually get out there to fight for fares. What do you think?

And don’t even get me onto the topic of uneven service cab drivers provide.

Text highlights are made to the original writing for commentary purposes.


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ComfortDelGro reports total of over 17 million bookings in 2006
By Tan Kar Wee, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 04 January 2007 1754 hrs


SINGAPORE: Singaporeans are calling for cabs more often.

ComfortDelGro received more than 17 million bookings for its Comfort, CityCab, and Yellow-Top taxis in 2006 - 20 percent more than in 2005.

Singapore's largest taxi company says a stronger economy has brought more business for cabbies as people are willing to pay more to have a taxi at their doorstep.

It also credits its improved taxi booking system for bringing in more customers.

On average, commuters who call in only have to wait for 30 seconds to confirm a taxi, and are picked up within 6 minutes.

The highest number of calls was received on April 28, which was one of the wettest days of the year and the beginning of the Labour Day weekend.

There were 76,500 calls which were 53 percent more than the usual average of 50,000 a day.

The month of May was the busiest with more than 1.6 million calls, 14 percent more than the monthly average.

Recently, the heavy rain also boosted numbers, pushing calls up by 15 percent in December, compared to the same month a year ago.

ComfortDelGro says it will continue to fine-tune its booking system and find ways to cater to more calls, especially when demand surges during wet weather.

Current booking fees are S$2.50 during off-peak hours and S$4 during peak hours.
The number two company, SMRT Taxis, has also reported 30 percent more bookings last year from 2005.

Peak hours for bookings are from 7am to 9.30am and 5pm to 11pm on weekdays, while weekends and public holidays are classified as off-peak. - CNA/so