Most People in Singapore Are Ready to Adopt Greener Transport Modes The transport system in Singapore is growing in capacity and usage and so does its environmental footprint. The transport sector currently accounts for nearly half of the fine particles (also known as PM2.5) in the air. The government of Singapore is planning to implement cleaner and greener transport by 2030. With the extensive planning by the government and amazing rail network, the people of Singapore have started to realise the importance of public transport and the need for a sustainable system. Here is how the government and people are getting ready to adopt grinder transportation: • The mass rapid transit (MRT) network is being expanded and will become a 360 km rail system by 2030. With the introduction of new rail lines and stations, now 8 in 10 households are within a 10-min walk of a train station. • The government is developing a comprehensive cycling network spanning more than 700 km, which will be completed by 2030. • More car-free spaces in housing estates and the city will be created. • Driverless vehicles will be introduced on a larger scale in Singapore • The electric car-sharing scheme is being worked upon to allow residents convenient access to electric cars without having to own one. • Leading transport operator SMRT is launching cleaner technologies like electric vehicles. The first batch of electric cars arrived in August 2021. The company will change its entire taxi fleet to electric vehicles within the next five years. • The government is conducting trials for autonomous mobility concepts, such as driverless buses. • Apart from the transportation system, the government is also working to create more intimate estates with a public green lung known as a “common green”. These estates will have a well-connected transportation system, commercial centres, and a continuous waterfront promenade. According to a survey, the public transport is the preferred mode of travel for Singaporeans. As new sustainable transportation technologies will be launched in the future, people are ready to start using them. In the recent Asia-Pacific (APAC) Railway Forum 2021 conducted by Huawei online, Kwek Hyen Chee, Head Digital Transformation and Business Innovation, SMRT Corp shared his observation that most people in Singapore have adapted their community lifestyle to adopt Greener transport modes. He said, “I feel the technology is ready, a challenge is how do we transform the workplace, the workforce and work processes accordingly.” People have understood their social responsibilities and are now supporting sustainability by taking public transport in a city environment.
Seah Moon Ming, SMRT Chairman, said, “We continue to contribute towards sustainable communities in our role as a public transport operator, by transporting commuters efficiently and making our network more inclusive for commuters. The Woodlands Integrated Transport Hub and SMRT Go-To initiative are recent examples. To better assist commuters with special needs, frontline staff receive training on inclusive service delivery conducted by partners such as Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) and Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (MINDS).” Conclusion The majority of Singaporeans use public transport to move around in Singapore. They know that using MRT and other public transport systems, they are able to reduce the environmental footprint and get to enjoy cleaner air and blue skies. The Singapore Green Plan sets a 2030 target to have all vehicles run on cleaner energy. People have already adapted their lifestyle and started using MRT over their own vehicles. People will continue to adapt to new cleaner technologies as they want Singapore to become a sustainable nation and live in a clean, green environment.
