Mommy why I am so tall for my age...

Stardate 7002.09.26 2149 hrs
Locale: Domicile Sector 000
Domestic-Dweller Designate 1972's log:

From “Today” newspaper 25 Sep 2007
Raise height limit? A tall order
Entire train network would have to be modified, costs would be huge.
Letter from Kathryn Lau - Assistant Corporate Communications Manager, TransitLink

We refer to the letters, "Raise minimum height on buses and trains" by Chng Guan Poh (Sept 14), "Review height limit on public transport" by Mumtaz Shaamel (Sept 24) and "China has done it, why can't we?" by Chong Kim Hwa (Sept 24).
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The travel concession scheme is a privilege granted by the public transport operators and administered by TransitLink. The original criteria for free travel applied only to infants in arms. When the MRT system was built, sensors were installed in the fare gates for the safety of commuters. The sensors prevent the gates from closing if a commuter is passing through. The sensors, installed at a height of 0.9m, detect only fare-paying commuters passing through the fare gate. Children below 0.9m may pass through safely and without having to pay a fare. Hence, the public transport operators later extended free travel to children who were up to 0.9m in height and were also accompanied by a fare-paying commuter.
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If the height limit is increased above 0.9m, there would be huge costs incurred (by SMRT/SBS whom will be upping the fares come October) in changing all the fare gates and sensors in the MRT and LRT network. This would adversely affect commuters who pay full fares.

Quirk: For those who travels via MRT, do you notice the huge LCD screens located in the stations, how much of the cost is pass to us? How much revenue it generated for the operators and how much is pass to us?

The height limit of 0.9m for children to travel free is in accordance with the height regulations gazetted for fare payments by children travelling on public transport.

Quirk: How long ago was this height limit regulation formulated? When the police worn shorts? Look at how tall our kids are below 39 months? Do they expect parents to stunt their own kids growth?

Children above 0.9m in height and below seven years old are eligible for travel concessions with a Child ez-link card. Hence, pre-schoolers, regardless of height, can enjoy travel concessions with this card. Based on the last Anthropometric Study conducted by the National Healthcare Group Polyclinics, boys who are 0.9m tall are generally between the ages of 21 months to 39 months, while girls are between 23 months and 41 months. This means that on average, children aged about three years and below would be able to travel for free on public transport.

Quirk: Oh please reveal the scope of this study to us public. We would like to know which stunted village in Singapore they took their studies from.

Public bus and train services in Singapore are provided on a commercial basis. Concessionary fares are effectively cross-subsidised by full-fare paying commuters.

Quirk: Why is TransitLink finding excuses for commercial companies? What is TransitLink’s duties? Whom does it look after? How come it is not LTA giving the reasons this round? Why does commercial companies have to justify their fare increase. All the reason they gave till date is so weak that it cannot withstand a ride on their own jerky bus/train rides (courtesy of lousy drivers or drivers with an attitude.

TransitLink and the public transport operators have to exercise prudence in granting further travel concessions beyond the present arrangement.

Quirk: Please stop using the term “public” transport. All are commercial transportation companies that needs to justify their business to their shareholders or investors are “private” transport. A contract between a traveler and the transportation company is only recognized when the traveller board the transport and pay the fare.

Note:
If the bus/trains comes late, you have a choice to not take it. Thus do not expect them to compensate you for being tardy.

If you happen to swallow a cockroach will traveling in that transport, firstly you have to pay a fine for eating on that transport, then you can sue the heck out of them.

If the bus/trains air-conditioning corresponds to the external weather, it is still within working limits. Eg. Windy, heavy rain, the aircon is sooooooooo cold that your pokimons will be considered as weapons, not the transportation operators fault. If the sun is at full blast and the wind is non-existent, if you happen to be short and happen to stand under the armpit of someone hanging like a monkey on the bars, you cannot claim the shampoo wash/dry you need to de-stink your hair.

More to come.

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