Gib and its cars
DCC
of vehicles with a current renewable road tax licence stood at a staggering
22,655 at the end of last year. Included in that figure are 13,856 private
cars and 6,179 motorbikes, as well 2,620 commercial vehicles.
==========================
This does not sound pleasant! Forget the cars and bikes....just imagine all
2'620 commercial vehicles on the road at the same time. Hell!
I know I do go on about Singapore, but they do know how to do things here.
We have a strict quota system that keeps the vehicle population in check!
For those interested, visit the following site:
http://www.lta.gov.sg/motoring_matters/index_motoring_vo.htm
Extract: ====================================================
The Vehicle Quota System was implemented on 1 May 1990.
Under this system, LTA determines the number of new vehicles allowed for
registration while the market determines the price of owning a vehicle.
In determining the number of cars allowed for registration, we take into
account the prevailing traffic conditions and the number of vehicles taken
off the roads permanently.
The quota allocated to each vehicle category is in proportion to that
category's share of the total vehicle population. The vehicle quota for a
given year is administered through the monthly release of Certificates of
Entitlement (COEs).
Lynx
"DCC" <m...@home.com> wrote in message
news:ddutjd$u8d$1...@nobel.pacific.net.sg...
Unlike many countries, Singapore's public transport services meets the
demands of a modern society. I thought the Vehicle Quota System was
introduced well before 1990. Back in the early 80's, as I recall, you
already had even and odd restrictions tration plates restrictions in certain
parts of the city centre at given times. As far as I can recall there's
always been some form of control on vehicles in Singapore.
One point which is worthy of noting is, as Gore Vidal once said not so long
ago, that foreign investment in Singapore is ten times that of the whole of
the African continent. This observation merits discussion.
DCC
"Lynx" <M...@home.tranquilo> wrote in message
news:gyDMe.2498$FA3....@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
You know my friend that we are trend setters when it comes to such issues.
When Ken the Mayor was dreaming about his concestion charge, we were already
searching for the 'next generation' system. Looks like this will be GPS
based and will cover even more roads than today. Thankully today I live and
work in places that escape the current system. Not for long I suspect. It's
the price one has to pay for jam free roads.
As you also know, the alternatives, Tube/Buses/Taxis are tops except in
price.
Of course having a quota system is not a vote winner. But in a political
system like ours, that is not at the top of the list of consideration for
the politicians.
> One point which is worthy of noting is, as Gore Vidal once said not so
> long ago, that foreign investment in Singapore is ten times that of the
> whole of the African continent. This observation merits discussion.
Not much discussion needed. It's quite simple. If I have a dollar to invest,
it's smarter to do so where I am almost guaranteed that I can get one dollar
plus in return and not one dollar minus. In some places in Africa you are
guaranteed a minus. Thus no one should be surprised that Singapore
'proportionally' has a high inward investment in comparison.
Nevertheless, I find it hard to believe that today it is x10! It sounds
wrong. Africa is huge and full of opportunities. Singapore is tiny (although
huge by Gib Standards) and with no natural recourses except those that are
(normally) produced in beds by humans.
Lynx
Got to hand it to you, your country. There has been some talk about logging
in vehicles such as taxis, rented cars, etc into GPS for security reasons,
in these parts. But, as to be expected, there's been opposition. You know,
individuals' rights and privacy and all that.
Your transport system prices, as I recall and taking into account possible
price rises, are quite fair, and the service excellent. Over here you pay
upwards of $10.00 for a oneway tumbling ride to the city. Which is 15mins
drive and 1/2 hr's plus by rail. Our system's crap. I look at Spain's AVE
and inter-city railway services, which are second to none, and I wonder
where we're going.
> Of course having a quota system is not a vote winner. But in a political
> system like ours, that is not at the top of the list of consideration for
> the politicians.
We, in the west, are conditioned to beleive that our "democratic" system's
the best. Yet one look at the UK or our opposition, and you wonder what the
choice might be come election time. And then again, elections cost tax
payers dearly. It's a gimmick!
>> One point which is worthy of noting is, as Gore Vidal once said not so
>> long ago, that foreign investment in Singapore is ten times that of the
>> whole of the African continent. This observation merits discussion.
> Not much discussion needed. It's quite simple. If I have a dollar to
> invest, it's smarter to do so where I am almost guaranteed that I can get
> one dollar plus in return and not one dollar minus. In some places in
> Africa you are guaranteed a minus. Thus no one should be surprised that
> Singapore 'proportionally' has a high inward investment in comparison.
>
> Nevertheless, I find it hard to believe that today it is x10! It sounds
> wrong. Africa is huge and full of opportunities. Singapore is tiny
> (although huge by Gib Standards) and with no natural recourses except
> those that are (normally) produced in beds by humans.
Come to think of it, you're right, in as much that an investor expects some
return. But it is also true that Africa should not be stuck in the mud as it
is.