Parking spaces, congestion and taxi service

Do we have too many or too few parking spaces in the CBD? There is disagreement on this issue. Read this article. http://www.todayonline.com/Commentary/EDC120116-0000003/The-CBD-has-too-many-parking-spaces

Two points are not in dispute:

• Our roads are too crowded in the CBD
• The taxi service is poor, i.e. costly, unavailable at busy times

These points are connected. If we have an efficient and affordable taxi service or some form of local transport, there is no need for so many people to drive into the CBD, and no need for more parking spaces.

What is a local transport service? It is my description of a service involving small buses and taxis that ply within a town or the CBD. As they do not travel outside of their zone of operation, the licensing requirement can be relaxed. They can pay a daily fee and be exempted from ERP and other charges. 

If we tackle the problem of local transport. we will have the framework to solve the larger issue of transport in Singapore. I hope that the Ministry of Transport will seriously consider this suggestion - to improve local transport.