During the pandemic, the trip cost S$14 to S$18, but in the few months since the Covid-19 restrictions were eased, it's roughly doubled to around S$30 or more.
As ride-hailing firms operate on surge-pricing models, where the fare increases when demand is strong, the higher passenger demand is the key factor driving fares up.leaving the industry In response to queries from TODAY, a Grab spokesperson said the ride-hailing firm has introduced a"temporary driver fee" of S$0.50 per ride running from April 1 to July 21 that will go fully to its drivers to offset their higher operating costs.
Ms Yeo Wan Ling, Advisor to the National Taxi Association and National Private Hire Vehicles Association, said business for drivers has returned to about 80 per cent of pre-pandemic levels, as a result of the easing of the Covid-19 restrictions. For account manager Toh Tee Kai, the peak hour surges meant that he has resorted to taking public transport as much as he can in recent months, even cycling on some occasions. He used to take private hire rides about five to seven times a week.
TODAY has also reached out to taxi firms SMRT, Premier Taxi and Prime Taxi to ask how the firms are supporting drivers as fuel costs rise.Experts told TODAY that while it is no surprise thatare contributing to the attrition of private-hire and taxi drivers, it is the sudden surge in demand for rides as Singapore emerges from the pandemic that is the main cause of the price increases.
On the supply side, many drivers are also leaving the trade, or driving fewer hours, the experts said. "I have heard private-hire car drivers complaining about rising prices, and shortening the time they are on the roads to cut down dead mileage, but not quitting," he said."If they shorten the time they are on the roads, the supply decreases."
If more people are choosing to take private hire car to work, than this should mean a drop in the number of people taking public transport compared to precovid times but is ridership on public transport dropping?
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