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With the soaring costs of car ownership in Singapore, it is fortunate that taxis can be hailed with a wave of the hand. As long as you are not at a bus lane during peak hours or obstructing traffic, taxi drivers are happy to pick you up from the kerbside.
The CBD is a different story, however. Getting into and alighting from cabs has to be done at designated stands. But not to worry, almost all buildings have one. Locals address taxi drivers as Uncle (or Auntie). Perhaps that just makes the transaction seem more human and the ride more pleasant. Incidentally, Uncles and Aunties also sell food in markets, man cashiers, clean toilets, clear tables at food courts and work on your children’s school buses!
Are You Gonna Go My Way?
So you've pulled off the impossible - hailing a cab during rush hour. Only to find that the taxi Uncle refuses to take you! All taxis have an LED display on their roofs. The ones showing green displays are vacant and are highly likely to take you to your destination. Red is not a good sign - either the cab is taken or the driver is changing shifts. Taxi owners usually find relief drivers to recoup part of the rental or cost of the vehicle. Hence the need to "change shifts" or drive to a certain location to "pass the baton". You're in luck if you are travelling in the same direction!
The Price Of AÂ Ride
Flag down fares for taxis range from $3.20 to $3.90 depending on the make of the vehicle. Subsequent metered charges are standardised across providers. Surcharges are either time-based (peak hour or midnight) or area-based (originating from places like the airport or CBD). The Land Transport Authority's link spells out the nitty-gritty on getting a taxi in Singapore.
Tipping is not customary in Singapore and this applies to taxis. All drivers go by the meter, so no worries about haggling either.
Need to call a cab? You can do so by phone, text or download mobile Apps provided by taxi companies or third parties. Aside from the ubiquitous Uber, locals like Hailo, ComfortDelgro and GrabTaxi which incur minimal booking fees and should help you grab that cab when the taxi queue is enormous and it’s just started to rain! A good guide can be found HERE
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