Heavy rain affects businesses at bike rental shops, hawker centres
By Maggie Chong & Lynda Hong, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 23 November 2009 2122 hrs

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SINGAPORE: Heavy rain over the past weeks from the northeast monsoon has had different effects on businesses this rainy season.

While some car workshops benefited from vehicles damaged by last week's floods, other trades have not been so lucky.

Business at bicycle rental shops at East Coast Park has dropped by more than half.

A shop owner said only about 50 bicycles were hired during the evening peak period on Monday, compared to about 300 on fair weather days. And despite giving school holiday promotions, business has still not improved.

Nearby food centres have also taken a hit, with hawkers at the East Coast Lagoon Food Village saying that as people do not visit the park on rainy days, their business has been bad.

- CNA/yb