Collection of Ride-pricing Data to Assess Market and End-user Experience for Flat Fare Pricing and Surge Pricing
Ministry of TransportSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the Land Transport Authority’s (LTA) collection of ride-pricing and availability data for private hire cars (PHCs) and taxis. Dr Tan Wu Meng inquired how surge pricing affects the market and what channels exist for feedback on unreasonable charges. Second Minister Mr Ng Chee Meng stated that LTA monitors taxi fleet usage but has not yet collected availability data for PHCs. He explained that dynamic pricing facilitates supply-demand matching and noted improved commuter satisfaction with wait times and upfront fares. Second Minister Mr Ng Chee Meng concluded that while feedback is generally positive, the public can submit complaints through established LTA channels.
Transcript
18 Dr Tan Wu Meng asked the Minister for Transport whether LTA collects data on the availability and ride-pricing statistics of private car hire and taxi operators so as to assess how the market and end-user experience is shaped by novel pricing methods, such as flat fare pricing and surge pricing.
The Second Minister for Transport (Mr Ng Chee Meng) (for the Minister for Transport): Mr Speaker, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) collects data on the percentage of taxi companies’ fleets that are on the roads during peak hours as a measure of availability. However, LTA has not collected information on the availability of private hire cars (PHCs).
Dynamic pricing methods can facilitate the matching of supply and demand. They complement metered fares and provide commuters with greater choices. Our surveys suggest that commuters’ satisfaction with waiting time for both taxis and PHCs has improved.
Mr Speaker: Dr Tan Wu Meng.
Dr Tan Wu Meng (Jurong): I thank the Second Minister for his reply. I was wondering if LTA so far has received any complaints regarding surge pricing with the new pricing models for rides. Furthermore, what channels are available for members of the public to feed back about private hire platform operators if they feel that the surge pricing has been unreasonable?
Mr Ng Chee Meng: I thank the Member for the supplementary question. I do not have the specific information on whether there were specific complaints but, generally, in the different surveys that LTA has done, commuters have largely been positive about the whole set-up of PHCs as they like the lower fares and upfront charges that are made known to the commuters before they commit to the ride.
As per the second question, on what channels are available, the usual feedback channels to LTA are all available for such complaints.