What you need to know about the taxi fare hike shoved down our throats next week

Four out of five taxi firms set to revise fares
Trans-Cab, SMRT, Premier and Smart are also set to revise their fares after indicating that they are considering a fare change.

As for the fare revision. taxi operators have explained that as drivers' operating costs have risen since the last fare revamp in 2007, drivers need to have a higher level of income.

Here are the changes from 12 Dec 2011:

Flagdown fares are up by 20 cents for most taxis. If you flag a limousine, that's 70 cents more.

Meter fares are up by two cents per fare band -- but over a "slightly" longer distance, The Straits Times said.

Longer peak periods: The morning peak now starts earlier from 6am to 9.30am, compared to 7am to 9.30am now.

Evening peak hour surcharge is also extended -- from 6pm to midnight compared to 5pm to 8pm. It will also apply on Sundays and public holidays.http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

Remember the CBD surcharge of $3? It now applies on Sunday and public holidays too.

Booking fees will be 20 cents cheaper than currently. The fee for advanced booking however is higher -- $8 compared to $5.20 today.

Booking fees for a limo taxi will be increased by $2.

The $1 holiday surcharge will be scrapped.

Taxi fare hikes and what is wrong with the system
When Comfort was "NTUC Comfort", it operated the taxi service closer to that of a coorperative. Today, it is know as ComfotDelgro, a listed company that has to answer to shareholders for its bottom line.

I don't mind paying higher fares so that taxi drivers can live a better life but we know that the all past fare increases have been accompanied by rental and cost increases that take away the earnings of taxi drivers.

Today, we have to compete with one hand tied behind our backs by the high cost of living and the high cost exacted by rent, overheads and the people and entities that contribute the least to our competitiveness.

Cabbies worry about backlash
The very people who are expected to benefit from the latest taxi fare revision - announced by transport operator ComfortDelGro on Monday - are apprehensive about the move.

According to the Land Transport Authority (LTA), there are 26,970 taxis in Singapore as at October and ComfortDelGro currently operates 15,700 of them.

All six ComfortDelGro taxi drivers this reporter interviewed said they were worried about a potential backlash from commuters. They made reference to the previous revision in December 2007 - also during the festive period - when the number of passengers dropped after the fare increases were announced. A reduction in taxi rental fees or concessions for diesel would be a better long-term solution to increase their earnings, they added.

Cabbies stunned by backlash over taxi fare hike
Don't blame us for the fare rise, cab drivers say.

We're just trying to make a living like everyone else.

They're worried that fewer people will take taxis after the new fares kick in next week.

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