To be fair, offer early-bird free rides at all MRT stations
The Pre-Peak Travel scheme, which encourages commuters to travel during off-peak hours, benefits some people who do not have to change to their travel hours. TODAY file photo
I refer to the report “Free MRT rides for early birds extended to June next year” (June 24).
Under the Pre-Peak Travel scheme, commuters exiting at 18 selected MRT stations are given a free ride before 7.45am or a discount before 8am.
The incentives have managed to shift only 7 per cent of commuter travel to the morning off-peak hours. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) pays for the free rides and discounts using taxpayers’ money.
More than 65,000 commuters benefit daily from the scheme. Do we know the number of these commuters who have made an effort to move from peak hours to off-peak hours and thus help to ease the peak-hour crowd on trains?
Do we also know the number of these commuters who were leaving these stations before 8am even without the incentives, owing to the nature of their work?
The scheme is intended to encourage the first group of commuters to change their travel hours. However, it also benefits the second group, who are not required to make any change, as they are already travelling early.
By giving the latter free rides and discounts, the Land Transport Authority inadvertently discriminates against commuters who exit other MRT stations before 8am without the benefits, which should be offered to all early birds to be fair to all commuters.
