http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/new-app-may-make-taxis-in/2029416.html
Developed by Aspiring Citizens Cleantech, a clean energy start-up, PAIR Taxi is a free mobile app aimed at making taxis in the CBD more accessible during peak hours.
Commuters keen on sharing a cab can use the app to select a pick-up point from about 20 taxi stands in the CBD. For a match to happen, they must board from the same taxi stand.
The app then uses a cloud service to assign a taxi to a maximum of three commuters heading to destinations close to each other. Cabbies can also tap this service to check the demand at each taxi stand.
Aspiring Citizens Cleantech’s managing director Andy Zheng said: “All you need is five taps (on your phone), and you are in the taxi, going home, chatting with your (new) friends, who probably work in the same building.
“Our philosophy is that by making the drivers find the passengers quicker, we also reduce the queuing time for passengers.”
Each commuter will pay a separate fare which is guaranteed to be almost a quarter less than what he would have had to pay if he had taken a cab individually, said Dr Zheng.
The app, which will also suggest the order of alighting, automatically splits the fare based on each drop-off point. Each commuter pays his share upon alighting. “In total, what the drivers collect will be more than what the (fare) meter is showing. That’s why drivers can earn more from this,” Dr Zheng added.
PILOT PHASE
Apple and Android users can download the app within the next two to three months, when it enters a two-week pilot phase. During this period, some 300 cabbies will test the app on two taxi stands in the CBD.
When contacted by TODAY, a Land Transport Authority (LTA) spokesperson said PAIR Taxi has “shared its preliminary concept”, but added that its developers need to register and comply with the Third-Party Taxi Booking Service Providers Act when the law comes into force.
Apart from registering with the LTA, third-party taxi-booking service providers will also need, among other things, to disclose adequate and timely information on charges and fees.
Anyone providing an unregistered service is liable to a fine not exceeding S$10,000, or imprisonment for a term of up to six months, or both.
Dr Zheng said PAIR Taxi will gradually expand to include taxi stands outside the CBD, based on feedback from cabbies and commuters. The developers are also in talks with taxi companies in China regarding a possible expansion there.
Mr Gopinath Menon, a former LTA traffic engineer who was involved in developing major traffic-improvement schemes while with the authority, welcomed the “intelligent” app as it would reduce the hassle of sharing a cab.
“But whether it works depends on whether people are prepared to share. Some are not willing to share with strangers,” he added.
While welcoming the new app, cabbie Henry Tay, 45, cautioned that the app’s payment system could create disputes. “Both passengers must strongly agree about whether the fare (for each of them) is right,” he said.
Read the original TODAY report here.
- CNA
This concept of sharing personal rides and taxis will never take off in Singapore. There will only be limited success at best. So many iterations over the years and none really caught on.
I will never want my own children sharing a cab or sitting in a stranger's private car (even thru Uber or Grab). Its a no, no and NO!!
Pay in full for your own taxi and cut this money saving rubbish!!
Cabbies will always prefer fetching a SINGLE pax. If they have a fetish for fetching so many people, they would have become bus or train drivers.
Funny thing is this app allows the taxi driver to collect more than the meter fare and LTA allows ?
LTA nowadays so lenient ?
Would u wana sit next to a foreign ah neh?
Originally posted by getcarter:Would u wana sit next to a foreign ah neh?
How is uber compared with normal taxi?
Does any1 receive the incentive from grabtaxi for the month of July...
Or any1 any idea normally when the incentive will be credit
Well, normal taxis are to fetch on weekend.
Originally posted by f1taxidriver:Cabbies will always prefer fetching a SINGLE pax. If they have a fetish for fetching so many people, they would have become bus or train drivers.
Ya lah fetch so many pax kam lan. Want to fetch so many go drive bus lah. Buay song liao one shot all chase down also jin satki. Lol
Maybe next time drive taxi until sian liao go try SMRT bus. If pax too noisy one shot chase down. Dunno will tio stomp bo...
Originally posted by shrimpvit:Does any1 receive the incentive from grabtaxi for the month of July...
Or any1 any idea normally when the incentive will be credit
Thursday after midnight Friday morning I receive liao. POSB account. Hearsay UOB will be later.
Thank bro.hammer
Mine ocbc still haven receive,, BTW does the grab credit comes together with incentives
Originally posted by hammerhammer8888:Ya lah fetch so many pax kam lan. Want to fetch so many go drive bus lah. Buay song liao one shot all chase down also jin satki. Lol
Maybe next time drive taxi until sian liao go try SMRT bus. If pax too noisy one shot chase down. Dunno will tio stomp bo...
Yesterday take 1 promo job,gotta give $15 discount!cos SG50 celebrations. End of trip fare was $10.85+$3.30=$14.15,later I still gotta give pax back 85¢,wtf,pax get free ride plus money given by TD!luckily girl pax say keep the change.no more promo job for me!
Originally posted by foolsh_2000:Yesterday take 1 promo job,gotta give $15 discount!cos SG50 celebrations. End of trip fare was $10.85+$3.30=$14.15,later I still gotta give pax back 85¢,wtf,pax get free ride plus money given by TD!luckily girl pax say keep the change.no more promo job for me!
At least u can get a job yesday
Knn I bid get zero for nite shift lol
So many green lanterns
Tulan till close shop early
Originally posted by foolsh_2000:Yesterday take 1 promo job,gotta give $15 discount!cos SG50 celebrations. End of trip fare was $10.85+$3.30=$14.15,later I still gotta give pax back 85¢,wtf,pax get free ride plus money given by TD!luckily girl pax say keep the change.no more promo job for me!
Aiyo, no need to give pax 85ct lah, Just key into MDT discount $14.15, that's all. Then GT will pay you $15. W.t.f are you doing? Never attend training?
Originally posted by foolsh_2000:Yesterday take 1 promo job,gotta give $15 discount!cos SG50 celebrations. End of trip fare was $10.85+$3.30=$14.15,later I still gotta give pax back 85¢,wtf,pax get free ride plus money given by TD!luckily girl pax say keep the change.no more promo job for me!
if fare $14.15 less than discount $15,just treat as $15!!!where got give back $ wan!!
Uncle foolsh pick up slow la.....must give way lol
Originally posted by Alvin87a:if fare $14.15 less than discount $15,just treat as $15!!!where got give back $ wan!!
if the fare only $8, then he have to give $7 to the pax?
Wait long long lol
Now GT can now top up credit at Posb/DBS atm MC!just take 1 day but still minimum $30!
Beware of GrabPay!!
Did 2 jobs last week - Wed & thurs night. Till now, wallet not credited.
Call them, cannot get through.
Email them, still pending.
Whatsapp them, ask me to call
W.t.f??
Worst customer support in the entire industry.
Sometimes just keep a reference of ur transactions esp. Grabpay.so at least u won't get it wrong or accusing them.most of the time it's we make mistakes. But also happen before they wrongly top up my credit by $60!but later saw it deducted away,just when I thought GT giving me incentive!
