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Why hailing a Singapore taxi is about to get easier
The city's tight taxi rules can be confusing. Here's a quick rundown of the regulations, fares and a new law that comes into effect next week
Get in line. Passengers queue for cabs at a Singapore taxi stand. Singapore is famous for its rigid regulations, and taxis are no exception. Think you can just step off the curb and hail a ride, New York City style? Sorry.
If you're a first-time visitor to Singapore, you might find yourself cursing as you watch cab after cab ignore your attempts to flag them down, despite their illuminated green lights.
That's because before 10 p.m. in the central business district (CBD), taxi drivers are only allowed to pick up and drop off fares at designated stands, where queues can be painfully long during rush hour, and building driveways.
But new rules that come into effect next month will make it easier for people looking to catch a ride in the CBD.
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From March 1, taxis will be able to pick up and drop off passengers anywhere along roads in the CBD traveled by public buses between 8 p.m. and 7:30 a.m. Currently, the restriction for cabs is from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
That time restriction applies only from Monday to Saturday, and not on Sundays and public holidays.
Wee Boon Kim, the president of the National Taxi Association, told Singapore media the new rules would benefit both taxi drivers and passengers.
"It would make it easier and more convenient for passengers to hail a cab and alight near their destination," he said.
A rundown of Singapore's taxi fares and rules
Fare rules can be incredibly confusing for visitors to Singapore, as rates and surcharges depend on everything from the time of day and where you're getting picked up to whether it’s a public holiday or if you order in advance.
For instance, if you're catching a cab between midnight and 5:59 a.m., the surcharge is 50 percent of the fare. Getting picked up at Resorts World Sentosa? That will be an extra S$3. Traveling between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. on a weekday? That'll be a 25 percent surcharge.
If you know where you're going, try this handy fare calculator for a pretty accurate estimation of what you can expect to pay.
Despite the confusing fares, compared to cities like Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur, where taxis notoriously refuse to pick up tourists who demand they turn on the meter, Singapore’s taxis are a dream.
The city's strict requirements include a law that all taxis must be fitted with meters and serviceable air-conditioning. Drivers who fail to utilize their meters face steep fines, which police are quick to enforce.
For a full look at the surcharges, pick-up points, contact numbers and even a list of taxi smartphone apps, visit TaxiSingapore.com, which will tell you absolutely everything you need to know about catching a ride in the city.
