SINGAPORE: There was a time, in the not too distant past, when trying to get a taxi in Singapore during rush hour was a stressful experience, beset with doubt and uncertainty.
The percentage of taxis plying at least 250km a day had also increased, as had the daily utilisation of taxis, he said then."In short, more taxis are plying the roads, and more commuters are using them," said Mr Lui then. This drop saw some cabbies turn to food and grocery deliveries as a source of income amid the downturn.
Subsequently, the American ride-hailing giant’s exit from the region in 2018 seeing new players such as Indonesia’s Gojek and South Korean operator Tada making their debut. READ: From taxi driver to transport ambassador: How Singapore’s cabbies are navigating the COVID-19 downturn Figures from the LTA show that in February this year, there were 125,000 street-hail trips - which can only be done by taxis - compared to 471,000 ride-hail trips, which include both taxis and private-hire cars booked via an app.
He noted that this is why smaller companies have tended to be quicker in partnering with ride-hail companies, recognising it as one of the only ways to keep drivers renting their taxis.
Smart Taxis Of course.