Travelling by Taxi in Singapore

Other than the MRT and bus, taxi is one of the main forms of public transport here in Singapore. It is also the more convenient transport, since taxi can bring you anywhere in Singapore. But as expected, it is more costly than the rest of the public transport.

Photo from laughmakesfun.com

Generally there are about 8 taxi companies in Singapore, each had almost the same pricing for taxi fares and they are readily available on the road. You can board a taxi by hailing one by the road, or board one at designated taxi stands. Alternatively, you can book taxis online or through the phone with additional surcharge.

Taxi stands are designated areas for taxi to pick up passengers at convenient locations. Every MRT station or shopping malls will have a taxi stand.

Pic from http://fuchsia.com.sg

All taxis can be identified with the roof panels and you can tell if the taxi is available or not. Most taxis today have LED panels with some standard codes on it:

• “TAXI” – Green in color, meaning available for hire
• “HIRED” – Red, meaning taxi is carrying passengers at the moment
• “BUSY” – Red, meaning taxi is unavailable for hire
• “CHANGE SHIFT -- Area” Green, meaning the taxi is heading to the displayed area as the driver will be changing shift soon.
• “ON CALL” – Red, means taxi is on the way to a booking

Some older taxis may just have a lighted panel displaying the word “TAXI” on it, meaning it is available. If the light is off, then it is not for hire. It is hard to tell whether it is lighted or not in the day, but not worry you can still flag at the taxi and see if it stops! Well, these older versions are not as common today.

Taxi fares are charged through the taximeter found in the control panel of the taxi. The taxi driver will start the meter when you have boarded the taxi and confirmed the hiring. The meter will stop when you alight at your destination and that will be the basic fare you will need to pay, and on top of that are additional surcharges like peak hours surcharge, CBD  charges, standard booking fee or location surcharges (eg. Changi Airport etc). The main form of payment is by cash, and other forms like credit card payment is available in some taxis. You can also asked for a receipt from the driver.

Travelling by taxi in Singapore is safe, as the taxi drivers go for regular refresher course on road safety and traffic rules. Taxi drivers also have their identification document and registration number displayed prominently in the taxi. Fare charges are also included, usually by the window or doors.

Taxi may be the most convenient of all, however it may not be the fastest when you encounter short, intermittent traffic jams along the roads with more traffic like Orchard Road or expressways on peak hours. Many locals preferred the MRT as it is a more consistent and fast mode of transport.