Many buses along Orchard Road serve only alternate stops along the road. However, this means a bus not serving a stop often has to wait unnecessarily behind one that is – especially during peak hours.

The waiting bus could leave the bus lane and overtake but, in heavy traffic, this is practically impossible.

This is why the Land Transport Authority (LTA) is trying out a bus priority box – that will allow buses to cut out of bus lanes – at two stops along the road.

The boxes will be operational next Monday at the stops opposite Mandarin Orchard and at Midpoint Orchard.

They will be the first stops without bus bays in the city to be in the Mandatory Give Way to Buses scheme.

When contacted, the LTA explained in an e-mail: “The Bus Priority Box will help buses to overtake the bus queue and exit the bus stops more quickly.”

The Straits Times saw the problem during a visit to the stop opposite Mandarin Orchard last Friday evening from 6pm to 8pm.

A total of 138 buses stopped there during that time, but only 28 managed to filter out of the bus lane.

The rest remained in the lane and some were stuck behind buses waiting at the next stop: Midpoint Orchard.

It was also observed that motorists outside the bus lane did not slow down to allow buses to filter in.

One motorist, Ms Cheryl Tan, a 29-year-old public relations manager who drives along Orchard Road regularly, said: “When I see these buses signal to filter in, I usually just keep going as they are already in a bus lane. I don’t see why they need to move to another lane.”

Next Monday will also see the full-day bus lane scheme operating until 11pm instead of 8pm. About 23km of bus lanes will be affected, mostly in the city centre.

The LTA said these roads have high bus and traffic volume beyond the evening peak hours especially along stretches where there are office and commercial buildings.

The authority said: “By extending the operating hours… we can shorten travel times for bus commuters and make bus journeys smoother.”

One of the affected roads is Eu Tong Sen Street which The Straits Times visited on Saturday at 8.30pm.

The road was packed with both buses and cars. Buses were also impeded by cars cutting in front of them at stops after the bus lane operation hours ended at 8pm. The situation eased only at about 9.30pm.

Mr Jonathan Chee, a 45-year-old businessman who drives to his workplace in Chinatown daily, said: “Extending the bus lane hours may make my journey by car longer but it’s after peak hours when traffic isn’t as bad and hopefully, it will also encourage more people to take public transport.”

This article was first published on March 18, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

Eligible Singaporeans will not need to apply for the Silver Support Scheme – for those aged 65 or older – when it is launched this year, as they will receive their quarterly cash payments automatically.

The scheme, to help cash- strapped retirees cope with living expenses, is the latest to join the growing list of financial help programmes in which recipients are automatically included.

The Silver Support Scheme was first announced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the National Day Rally in August 2014.

When the law was passed to implement the scheme last August, Manpower Minister Lim Swee Say said in Parliament that about 150,000 Singaporeans will receive a quarterly payout of $300 to $750 this year.

Asked for an update this week, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), which is spearheading the scheme, would say only that the details are still being worked out.

But a spokesman disclosed that those who are eligible “will automatically receive payouts as long as they remain eligible”.

“All eligible recipients will be notified in due course,” she added.

MOM would not say when or how eligible recipients would be notified, but the spokesman said: “We are finalising the eligibility criteria and operational details of the Silver Support Scheme.

“More information on the scheme will be announced during Budget 2016.”

Mr Lim had said in Parliament previously that the Government will consider factors such as lifetime wages, the level of household support and housing type to determine if a person qualifies.

The scheme is one of the most highly anticipated government programmes of the Budget, which will be unveiled next week.

During campaigning in the general election last September, PM Lee described the scheme as one that helps seniors to “have a pension in old age”.

It is part of a broader package that includes the Pioneer Generation Package and Central Provident Fund top-ups to give seniors greater peace of mind in their golden years, Mr Lee had said.

Mr Patrick Tay, who chairs the Government Parliamentary Committee for Manpower, welcomed the auto-inclusion scheme.

“This will make it seamless for all who qualify,” he said, adding: “There may be Singaporeans who may be unaware or fail to apply for it for a variety of reasons.” He said there should be provisions for those who do not meet the criteria to be able to appeal.

Besides making it more effective to implement, the auto-inclusion scheme has other emotional and psychological benefits too, said Mr Seah Kian Peng, who chairs the Government Parliamentary Committee for Social and Family Development.

He said: “The seniors who are eligible for these schemes know they are being cared for by the Government. It adds to our quest to build a more caring and inclusive society.”

This article was first published on March 18, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

Singapore exports posted an unexpectedly strong showing last month, but economists say it is not yet time to celebrate.

Last month’s increase was largely due to a low base in February last year, they noted.

Non-oil domestic exports (Nodx), the main measure of shipments, rose 2.1 per cent last month from a year earlier, a much better reading than the 0.8 per cent contraction economists were expecting.

This was also a dramatic turnaround from the 10.1 per cent contraction in the preceding month.

Nodx of electronics products ticked up 0.7 per cent in February over the same month a year earlier, while non-electronic Nodx expanded by 2.7 per cent, led by shipments of pharmaceuticals, non-monetary gold and jewellery.

Buyers of Singapore exports in the European Union, Hong Kong and Japan contributed most to Nodx growth last month.

Economists said last month’s surprisingly good performance was largely the result of a low base in February last year.

DBS economist Irvin Seah noted that the Nodx reading in February last year had been the lowest for the whole year, as well as the lowest since January 2009.

“(It) was essentially comparable to the levels recorded during the global financial crisis period,” he said. “With such a low comparison base, last month’s Nodx number coming in at a mere 2.1 per cent higher isn’t that great after all. So don’t pop the champagne yet.”

UOB economist Francis Tan called February’s number a “one-month wonder”.

Despite last month’s positive surprise, Nodx has shrunk 4.7 per cent so far this year, he noted.

Shipments are likely to return to contractionary territory this month and the next, he added.

Trade agency IE Singapore expects Nodx growth of between zero per cent and 2 per cent this year, while total trade is forecast to come in between negative 1 per cent and 1 per cent.

Last year was a dismal one for trade – Singapore’s Nodx slid 0.1 per cent while total trade fell 9.5 per cent amid the weak global economic outlook.

This article was first published on March 18, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

Users of motorised bicycles could soon be required to register their bikes, if recommendations made by an expert advisory panel are taken on board by the Government.

The move is designed to aid enforcement against errant riders and those who illegally modify their electric bicycles. It comes at a time when the numbers of electric bike users and accidents involving these devices are on the rise.

The 14-member advisory panel released its recommendations on rules to govern personal mobility devices yesterday.

The panel chairman, former Parliamentary Secretary for Transport Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, said registration would be an extension of the Land Transport Authority’s current approval process under which bikes have to meet weight and power limits that cap their top speed.

“We find this way, the person who buys an e-bike would know that we have their details and this might deter them from illegally modifying (their e-bikes),” said Dr Faishal. The scheme, if adopted, would rely on retailers to administer at least part of the registration process.

The panel also suggested that the use of all personal mobility devices except e-bikes – devices ranging from e-scooters to hoverboards and motorised wheelchairs – be allowed on footpaths, and cycling and shared paths.

E-bikes are restricted to the roads, and cycling and shared paths.

There will be strict speed limits that apply regardless of device – 15kmh on footpaths and 25kmh on cycling and shared paths. The panel also specified the physical criteria that any device – except mobility aids such as powered wheelchairs – has to meet to be used in public spaces here.

They must have a maximum speed of 25kmh, and cannot exceed 20kg in weight and 70cm in width. The rules were calibrated to reduce damage in the event of a collision.

Dr Faishal said the panel sought to strike a balance between the needs of various users, and added that it is not possible to “maximise everyone’s interests and space” in a small island such as Singapore.

He said: “The panel focused on developing a set of rules and a code of conduct which we believe are practical, clear, fair and, most importantly, safeguard the safety of all users.”

But observers say the devil is in the details, particularly how these proposed rules would be enforced.

Mr Chris Kuah, owner of A-Tech Bike Supply, said: “If these devices can reach 25kmh but the speed limit is 15kmh, who is going to make sure they keep to the limit?”

He added that, while requiring retailers to register e-bikes might sound good in theory, the paperwork could be complicated.

Non-Constituency MP Dennis Tan, who has raised safety concerns over electric bicycles in Parliament, said that the rules need to be backed by enforcement and education.

“If there is no effective, islandwide enforcement, these well-intended measures will never be adopted by many cyclists and accidents on footpaths will likely increase,” said Mr Tan.

dansonc@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on March 18, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

Ultra chic bicycle

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

AFP