ERP gantries reduced traffic in city area!

Well, if everyone starts to take the trains because it is too expensive to drive, then the cost of public transport is going to increase again.

The same old song will go... "We need to put more trains to handle the additional capacity. Activate more people to direct human traffic. Cos have increase thus. So we must increase fares!"

But it never once cross their thick numb skull that the sheer number of increase in ridership will more than offset their increase in deploying more resources.

It is always a one sided affair when they are increasing the fares.
Out of ten application by the service operators to the board for increase, nine of them will be approved.
Even though the increase may not be much, but they add up!
And it is no small sum, mind you!

I am not angry. Well, not exactly. More of frustrated. Cos this would mean some of my weekly shopping trips to some of my favorite stores is going to cost more due to the charges.

But I am more amused than angry. Like I said, having been slapped with higher charges, drivers will naturally avoid that stretch of road in the first few weeks, seeking alternative routes. Once all alternatives are exhausted, they will naturally go back to the same route, bearing the extra cost due to one reason or another.

So to pad oneself on the back for lower traffic usage on the first day, is... well, DUH~~~~!!
Give it a month or two without tweaking the existing rules and pricing, and if the traffic remains the same, then you can pat yourself in the back. no?

I have got nothing against the ERP and its implementation.
I have no qualms about having tolls to go into the city.

Living here is not that bad. It is just that, somethimmes the way the policies are implemented, and how they pat themselves on the back after the implementation that amuses me.

To increase from the existing 60 to 90?!? So many gantries? Well, I feel, too much. If you are in the city, you are in the city. If it is so important to segregate them, then follow the French design of Paris! Where there are rings around the city center and you only pay one charge to travel within that same ring. You cross the rings, then you pay.

But here, the ERP is like all over the frigging place.
Sigh~~~ I wonder what goes on in the minds of these people who are designing the allocation of the gantries.

I have got nothing against the ERP and its implementation.
I have no qualms about having tolls to go into the city.
And I do know what you mean about the horrendous traffic. Cos I ever chalked up a $10 meter fare waiting in the cab that is stuck in traffic along this stretch of road.

What amuses me is this:
It is always human nature that having been slapped with higher charges, drivers will have the knee jerk reaction and naturally avoid that stretch of road in the first few weeks, seeking alternative routes.

Only all alternatives are exhausted, they will naturally go back to the same route, bearing the extra cost due to one reason or another.

So to pad oneself on the back for lower traffic usage on the first day, is... well, DUH~~~~!!

And also to create so many gantrys for the various area is also, well, I feel, too much. If you are in the city, you are in the city. If it is so important to segregate them, then follow the French design of Paris! Where there are rings around the city center and you only pay one charge to travel within that same ring. You cross the rings, then you pay.
But here, the ERP is like all over the frigging place. no?

well i can only hope it's not a knee jerk reaction. i do consciously avoid certain places during certain hours. i don't so much try alternative routes. with petrol prices now, it's more expensive to take detours.;o

so in a way, yes i either go off work earlier or i'll just hang around town before heading home. it's easier since i've got direct train home from work. so i can meet my partner at home too.;p

Well, I am sure when the traffic starts to pick up, the media will not be so quick to report it.
With so many gantries being up on the major roads, most of the small roads are getting congested. And due to that, what use to take 40 mins to get to work on the smaller roads, now takes up to and hour and a half or more just to travel the same route.

I am sure it is a matter of time before these congested small roads (which was the result of those knee jerk reactions to avoid the ERP gantries) will also have gantries of their own to "regulate" traffic.

Sigh~~~ it is a vicious cycle!