S’pore takes tough measure to keep cars off roads

SINGAPORE, Nov 20 (AFP): In the battle against the car, space-starved Singapore has deployed road tolls, massive spending on public transport, and a licence fee that bumps the cost of an average vehicle to over $80,000.

But urban planners looking for solutions to gridlock may find the draconian measures hard to replicate in other less-compliant cities.

Singapore has gone further than any other major city to avoid the monster jams that have blighted Asian metropolises such as Jakarta or Manila.

The tough approach has been possible as Singaporeans are used to strict control - with media closely monitored and harsh punishments for minor crimes - and are fearful the city-state will be flooded with vehicles without the curbs.

However the model faces mounting criticism thanks to rush-hour jams that have frustrated commuters, surging vehicle prices after a freeze on car numbers, and public transport breakdowns. "I think the system can be made better and fairer," Joel Lee, a 28-year-old technician, told AFP.

He said authorities should make "a distinction between those who need cars, be it for work or family commitments, and those who just want more cars as a status symbol".