Guideline questions for presentation group

What does it mean by urban sustainability? Why do we need to ensure a sustainable society? To what extend does a sustainable and effective transport system contribute to a sustainable society? What's the current situation about Singapore's local transport system( Pros and cons)? What needs to be done to further boost the efficiency of local transport system to ensure a more sustainable society?

How to reduce traffic congestion in Singapore?

Driving to work is what economists call a negative externality: an action taken by one person that affects the well-being of another To discourage people from driving, the government can to make commuting more expensive to better reflect its true cost.  In thgovernment often does not intervene in the market, maybe because individuality rules. As expected there are huge rush-hour backups in cities like New York and Los Angeles.  On the other hand, in Singapore, given its small size, urban planning is viewed as essential and has allowed the implementation of two programs designed to reduce traffic congestion, Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) and the Vehicle Quota System. About ERP: The ERP is an electronic system that charges drivers when they use certain roads at certain times of day The average commuting time in Singapore is 33.6 minutes. What drivers can do?: 1. Frequent change of lanes increases congestion. Drivers can try to remain in the same lane even when they are in hurry because change of lane actually make the speed of traffic flow slower.  What government can do to tackle the problem? The solution to this problem is clearly enforcement of the law. When police see a vehicle change lanes with no indicator, they need to at a minimum take the license plate number and issue a ticket. When a driver failes to give way when changing lanes, the same penalty should be applied. We have cameras all around Singapore catching people speeding and driving in bus lanes illegally (with some pretty tough fines resulting) - perhaps these same methods could be employed on the expressways.

Is it a cost-effective way to save land by building highways?

Cost will be inevitably incurred when a highway is built. Saving land I part of strategic development of a country. Hence, the benefits brought by the highway outweighs the cost. However, it must be noted that building highway is not necessarily effective in land saving because the main function is to diversify transport to solve problems such as congestion. Land saving is this thus only a side effect and not very effectively achieved through building highway.

Is it worth it to demolish Bukit Brown for a new highway?

Estimated to house 100,000 tombs in a vast landsize of about 0.86 square kilometers, Bukit Brown Cemetery has been abandoned since its closure in 1973. It was opened in 1922 by the Municipal Council (Municipal Council oversaw the supplies of water, electricity, gas, maintenance of roads, lighting and other administrative things in Singapore before 1965). Although abandoned as a cemetry, people all over Singapore still continue to walk through the entrance of Bukit Brown. Urban Sketchers can be found with pens in their hands, etching every detail of the tombs on to their sketch books. Bird watchers troop in early just to spot the many birds who rest in the cemetry. Almost one-quarter of the bird species in Singapore rest and nest here. These include the Great Racket-tailed Drongo, the Banded Woodpecker, the Long-tailed Parakeet, the Red-crowned Barbet, the Lanced Woodpecker, the Changeable Hawk Eagle, Nightjars, and the usual Myna, Pink-necked Pigeon, Starling, Swiftlet. Bukit Brown, is teeming with life. But, everything is going to be demolished for a new highway. Bukit Brown teaches anyone who enters living history. Learn the language of the tombs and understanding the lives of our pioneers becomes an easy task. Take a walk through the windy dirt paths and discover the rich diversity of life in the foliage. Imagine the greenery being replaced by a highway, countless of cars driving past it, adding even more pollutants into the air.Is a highway worth demolishing a living history textbook? A textbook thatmanages to capture the attention of any visitor.

What is the most popular type of transport in Singapore?

Bus is the most popular mode of transport in Singapore due to its convenience and extensiveness. Bus transport is one of the cheapest modes of transport in Singapore. There is a high density of bus stops in Singapore making bus travel convenient. Furthermore, buses cover a comprehensive network of bus routes. It is also comfortable to travel in buses. Most of the buses are equipped with cushioned seats and air conditioning. Night service is also available, making bus services available almost all day round. There are also several bus services which run parallel to MRT lines, giving consumers a choice on their mode of transportion. Also, buses are sometimes faster as they travel by expressways, making the travel distance shorter.

Is mrt sustainable?

http://www.uncrd.or.jp/env/4th-regional-est-forum/Presentations/18_BS5_Singapore.pdf All SMRT trains run on electricity and generate zero air polluting emissions. Regenerative braking technology converts kinetic energy to electricity, which powers other trains and stations. Travelling on our train network is more energy efficient and lowers your carbon footprint to 13.2g per passenger-kilometre. Singapore’s MRT network was built after a ten-year debate between consulting teams representing the pro-MRT and the pro-bus ideas, with a main focus on the cost-benefit associated with the proposed MRT (Richmond 2008). A decision was made by the government to launch the rail based MRT in 1982. This system was consequently built and put in operation in 1987. At the present, it has three lines in operation and the fourth line in construction The public transport network and the road system are designed in an integrated way with land use through careful coordination in physical planning, with macro level coordination between Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) lines and new towns, and micro level integration around MRT stations . physical networks of public transit are integrated using a hub-and-spoke structure. The hubs or town centres are linked by the MRT, while Light Rapid Transit (LRT) and buses connect the housing estates to the MRT stations.

How to improve the efficiency of mrt?

One suggestion I would like to bring up is that there ought to be more new bus services which goes from one MRT station to another MRT station which is of another different line, say from the North-South Line to North-East Line or to the Circle Line. So that this would give we the commuters another new alternative to think about how to change to another MRT line without taking all the way to a particular MRT interchange station as this particular interchange may seem too crowded to many or it may take too long to reach this particular MRT interchange.
maybe we can have a express line with only max 5 stop to build just next to MRT like eg: West will start from Boonlay ---> Queenstown ------> Tanjong Pagar ----- > Bedok ------>Pasir Ris (End east), this will shorten the route for those traveling far distance.

How to ensure that our transport system does not break down easily?

The recent MRT breakdowns have caused the public to be less trustful of our transport system. Findings have shown that the last time maintainence was carried out on the trains was 10 years ago. This has caused many to question if enough is being done for our transport system. To rebuild public trust and to ensure reliability, I have a few suggestions. Regular maintenance of the transport system is essential to ensure that the transport system is in good condition. However continuance maintenance of old machines would not work. Trains and buses should be upgraded to newer models periodically. This would ensure that our transport system would continue to be efficient. Another way would be to make sure that the transport system is working within its capacity. With growing population in Singapore, there is great pressure on our transport system. The strain on our transport system causes it to be more prone to breakdowns. Purchasing more vehicles would be a far sighted investment. Even though it would mean pumping in more capital in the short term, the vehicles would last longer conversely. I sincerely hope that the related agencies would step up their efforts on the maintenance of our transport system. Let us look forward to a better and more efficient transport system.

Pros and cons of buses/MRT/taxis/helicopters

Pros of buses: Buses are, by far, the most common form of public transportation in Singapore, followed by the MRT and taxis respectively. Public buses serve almost every part of Singapore, making it the most extensive form they transportation. the public bus is the most cost-effective way to travel in Singapore. Taking a bus is also probably the best way for you to see a wider cross-section of Singaporeans on a daily basis. Cons of buses For starters, there is the time spent waiting for a bus to arrive. In theory, each bus should not take more than 15 to 20 minutes to arrive at the bus stop. In practice, the waiting time can occasionally take over half an hour, depending on traffic conditions. To make matters worse, many buses tend to be packed, especially during peak hours. On such occasions, the uglier side of Singaporean behaviour might surface, and one such example would be when passengers refuse – despite much prodding – to move towards the rear of the bus in order to make way for more passengers to board. Pros of MRT MRT provides speed and efficiency, especially during peak hours. The greatest advantage that trains have over road transport is their ability to bypass traffic congestion. On top of that, the MRT and LRT are both very cheap compared to train services in most other countries in The world the trains are very clean and well-maintained, so it's very seldom a completely unpleasant ride. Cons of MRT Just like public buses, MRT trains can get incredibly crowded, especially during peak hours, in spite of the higher frequency of trains during such times. The major disadvantage is that the rail network is not yet as extensive as most would like it to be. Pros of taxis Taxis provide you with greater speed, comfort and of course, privacy. Although taxis are subject to the same traffic conditions as public buses, it has the major advantage of not being forced to run on a fixed route. Experienced taxi drivers know which roads to avoid during peak hours to evade traffic jams. The drivers also tend to be great sources of gossip and conversation! Cons of taxis Expensive and uneconomical Pros of helicopters Fast Cons of helicopters Noisy

Is transport an important part in the lives of Singaporeans?
1. Is the MRT system effective?
2. Is the MRT system sustainable?
3. How can we maintain public transport at affordable cost in Singapore during inflation?
4. How can we ensure that traffic does not break down easily/ Is MRT sustainable?
5. How can we sustain urban infrastructures?
6. Is the development of our transport system doing more harm than good?
7. What can be done to improve sustainability?
8. What are the pros and cons of MRT/Buses/taxis/planes/helicopters?
9. What can we, as students, do to help to solve problems regarding transport?
10. What is the link between transport and sustainability?