|
THE TAXI stand rule was meant to help improve road safety in the Central Business District (CBD), but it is raising the hackles of both commuters and cab-drivers, as well as residents and businesses in the area.
They want the rules eased, at least for the elderly and the disabled who have trouble getting to taxi-stands on foot.
Hotels and restaurants in the area also bemoan the inconvenience to patrons since the rule which restricts where taxis stop in the CBD took effect on March 1.
Especially affected are tourists who have difficulty getting to hotels with luggage in tow, and foreign businessmen dropping in on offices in the area, said cabbies.
Cabbie Leong L.H., who is in his 50s, said: 'The foreigners who are here on business, and even locals, get lost when they have to find their way to an office building along places like Robinson Road. I try to direct them but it's hard to find the buildings.'
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) wants cabbies to pick up and drop off passengers only at taxi-stands between 7am to 10pm from Mondays to Saturdays.
It now has 105 cab stands in the area stretching from Shenton Way to the Orchard Road district and are planning to install more taxi stands where possible, especially on sidelanes leading to hotels, said an LTA spokesman.
Businesses in the Club Street and Ann Siang Hill area are up in arms over the new ruling.
The bustling nightspot, home to more than 30 restaurants, pubs, shophouse offices and retail outlets, does not have a taxi stand of its own.
To take a cab, commuters would have to go to the taxi stand in front of Sri Mariamman Temple at South Bridge Road or walk to China Square - both at least five minutes away on foot.
This roundabout way of getting a cab has upset business owners in the area.
Read the full story in Thursday's edition of The Straits Times.
| 
