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Given the population density and limited land mass of Singapore, it is paramount that the government ensures free-flowing traffic allowing for the easy movement of people and goods. To facilitate such an endeavor, Singapore has developed an extensive public transportation system that is inexpensive and reliable, consisting primarily of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT), Light Rapid Transit (LRT) and bus services. Additionally, there are plenty of taxis that can be hailed anywhere in the city. The public transportation network is the primary mode of transport for the vast majority of the island's inhabitants, with approximately 1.2 million riders per day utilizing the MRT and LRT systems, and roughly 3 million people riding the buses. As fuel costs and taxi fares increase, train ridership in Singapore has been gradually increasing over the years.

To encourage the use of the public transportation system, a common card (EZ Link) is issued that can be used on the MRT, LRT and buses. The EZ Link cards also offer rebates on transfers. Fares for MRT trips and bus rides start at less than one dollar, and do not exceed SGD$2 per trip. MRT rides are between SGD$0.73 to SGD$1.77. Bus fares start lower, at SGD$0.64 for non aircon buses and $0.69 for aircon buses, and go up to SGD$1.65 for air con buses and SGD$1.40 for non aircon buses. (These fares come into effect from April 2009). Despite the relatively low cost of public transport in Singapore, public transport companies can revised their fares every now and then, causing some dissent.

While taxis in Singapore are relatively inexpensive compared to cities such as Tokyo or Amsterdam, there are several surcharges can add up your total fare. For examples, the Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) system applies to all vehicles, including taxis. Hence, you will be charged the rates accordingly, if your taxi ride passes under any ERP gantry, on top of the usual fares. There are surcharges such as a peak-hour surcharge (35 percent of metered fare), a midnight surcharge (50 percent of metered fare for rides between midnight and 6am), a booking fee surcharge for current / advance books (between SGD$2.50-SGD$5.20), a public holiday surcharge (additional SGD$1) and finally, location surcharges (for trips that start at locations such as Changi Airport (SGD$3-SGD$5) or Singapore Expo Center (SGD$2).

As for private transportation, there is no way to get around the fact that it is very expensive to own a car, and to drive around the island. While getting a drivers license is relatively easy (no need for the first six months with a valid foreign or international license - thereafter, it is cheap and easy to obtain a Singapore license), the issue of obtaining and paying for a vehicle is another matter.

To control the number of vehicles on the road, the government has a Vehicle Quota System that is designed to limit the number of private vehicles driven, thus reducing the amount of traffic and congestion on the roads. Under this system, an individual seeking to purchase a car must bid for a Certificate of Entitlement (COE), which can be very expensive and lasts for a maximum of 10 years. At that time, the owner would have to revalidate the vehicle by paying the prevailing quota premium, thus adding to the cost of owning a vehicle.

In addition to the COE and the actual cost of the car, there is an import duty, registration fees, additional registration fees (110 percent of the assessed open market value of the vehicle) and a road tax that can run into the thousands, depending on the engine capacity of the car to be paid. The government also imposes an Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) system to regulate the use of the car during peak times to ease congestion, which further increases the cost of driving. The ERP charges start at SGD$0.50 and go up to SGD$3.00 per gantry. In certain areas (e.g. downtown), the chances of passing through more than one gantry is high. In addition, parking in the city areas is costly. Hourly parking rates usually start at SGD$3 per hour. This makes the cost of driving into the city area during weekdays an expensive affair. If you work in the city area and intend to drive to work each day, expect to pay hundreds for a season parking coupon in the city area.

For those who do take it upon themselves to drive, cars in Singapore have right-hand steering and are driven on the left side of the road, just as in Britain or Ireland. Singaporean drivers can be impatient, and indicating your intention to change lanes or turn does not mean that you will automatically be given way. There are tough laws on drink driving – the traffic police are known to routinely set up roadblocks to check for drink-drivers.

For more on the transportation system and policies, you may wish to contact the Land Transport Authority of Singapore:

460 Alexandra Road

PSA Building #28-00

Singapore 119963

Tel: (65) 63757100

Toll-free LTA hotline: (65) 1800-3757300

Fax: (65) 63757208 (65) 63757200

Website: www.lta.gov.sg

Refer to this website for a street directory of Singapore managed by the Land Authority of Singapore.

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