Free MRT rides?

The latest stunt move by the government this week? Free train rides for early birds! Kiasu Singaporeans like you and I who tap out at designated MRT stations in the city area before 7:45am on weekdays will pay nothing from 24 June. Wow! Isn't that a great deal? The early bird catches the worm. However, do remember that the early worm gets caught by the bird.

The benefits of saving a few cents every morning does seem appealing to the average worker who commutes to work by train. But, this one-year trial by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) is flawed in many aspects. The transport ministry seems to have made a hasty decision as it ignores many other factors.

First of all, the scheme is not extended to the whole train network. This is, in fact, the biggest flaw. Let me state an example. Imagine this guy, or do you prefer a female? Alright, let's say a lady, an office lady (OL) whose office is located at Harbourfront. The OL lives in Punggol. If she is willing to spare the time to save money, she can easily exploit this free ride thing.

After boarding the train at Hougang, she alights at Outram Park, tap out at that station before 7:45am. Then, she can tap in again to continue her journey while enjoying a discunted fare. What if more OLs and OGs (office "mother father" gentlemen!) did the same? Wouldn't the stations in the city area be crowded as well?

By designating the city area, what message is Transport minister Lui Tuck Yew trying to send out? White-collar workers, who make up the majority of the city's labour, deserve more benefits than their blue-collar counterparts? What about white-collar workers whose offices are in the wider areas like Woodlands, Tuas etc.?

The scheme will be less successful if employers do not implement flexible working hours. From a practical point of view, would a worker choose to start work earlier if he knows that he still knocks off at the same time? Office hours should be staggered where the time of one reaching the office is the time of another reaching the MRT station.

Companies can have working hours like 7-4, 8-5, 8:30-5:30, 9:30-6:30 to allow more adjustability. The government can also help by giving subsidies to organizations that cater transport for their employees. This will encourage more companies to provide shuttle buses for their staff as well as shuttle services of long distances.

Lastly, not trying to be xenophobic but I believe that Singaporeans and permanent residents should be the only ones who are eligible for this scheme. But then again, how the heck are you going to do that when Ez-link cards do not state one's nationality?