URA's reply, 17 Dec 2016
Adequate supply of new parking coupons
We refer to the recent letters on the sale and exchange of parking coupons.
We would like to assure the public that there is adequate supply of new parking coupons at authorised coupon agents such as all petrol stations, Cheers and 7-Eleven stores, as well as HDB Branches/Service Centres and The URA Centre. The new coupons have been available since 12 October 2016 but the sales rose sharply in only the first week of December, resulting in some outlets running low or out of stock at times. The situation has improved as stocks are being replenished regularly, especially at petrol stations with higher visitor traffic.
The volume of coupon exchange transactions has also stabilised after the initial surge in demand. In fact, motorists have till 31 January 2017 to exchange their coupons at participating petrol stations. There is also no cut-off date set for the exchange of coupons at HDB Branches/ Service Centres (except Tampines Branch where coupon sales and exchanges are not available) and The URA Centre.
For motorists who are unaware that the revised parking charges came into effect from 1 December 2016, we are extending flexibility during this initial period by issuing advisory notices to remind them to display the new parking coupons as the old parking coupons are no longer valid. We thank the writers for their feedback and suggestions. Eng Soh Seng Director (Car Parks) Housing & Development Board
Ong Kim Chwee Director (Car Parks, Administration and Policies) Urban Redevelopment Authority
Letter, 12 Dec 2016, The Straits Times
Allow pro-rated use of old parking coupons
One simple and effective way to resolve the problem of the inadequate supply of parking coupons and to do away with the hassle of exchanging the old parking coupons for the new ones would be to allow the use of the old 50-cent, $1 and $2 coupons, but at the new rates ("New parking coupon respite - but just once"; Dec 8).
Rather than parking for half an hour at the new rate of 60 cents, a driver could use the old 50-cent coupon and park for only 25 minutes.
For $1 coupons, which were previously valid for one hour, they would now be valid for 50 minutes, and so on.
This method should have been implemented in the first place.
The old parking coupons would then still be valid and drivers can use them legally.
No laws are being circumvented and concerns about the hoarding of the old coupons to effect a 20 per cent savings would be addressed as well.
It is still not too late for the Urban Redevelopment Authority and the Housing Board to adopt this solution.
Joe Chua Cheok Kwang Letter, 12 Dec 2016, The Straits Times
Innovation needed to avoid wastage due to parking coupon exchange
The failure to meet the demand for new parking coupons ("New parking coupon respite - but just once"; Dec 8) is a saga that could have been avoided if the agencies involved had shown some innovation. The Urban Redevelopment Authority and Housing Board have been dealing with parking long enough to know the issues and problems. Yet, they are still relying on old methods of requiring unused parking coupons based on the old rates to be returned for destruction, replacement coupons to be printed in time for exchange, and motorists to troop to HDB branches, petrol stations, convenience stores and so on to queue to make the exchange. The agencies' officers and counter staff are kept busy with stock-taking, cash collection and accounting. Such old ways of doing things is unfriendly to the environment and result in wastage, loss of productivity and stress, especially when motorists are told that the new coupons are out of stock. Motorists cannot be blamed for doing things at the last minute, as they would not know how many unused old coupons they will have until the deadline. Technology could have been used to avoid this saga. For instance, a way could have been found for motorists to pay for the shortfall through Internet banking or ATM machines, and the coupons' serial numbers captured and relayed to parking enforcement officers' handheld devices (with character recognition software). I am sure that the HDB and URA can come up with far better ideas than the one I have suggested, if the staff are prepared to step out of their comfort zone and walk the talk of innovation and productivity, which the Government has been promoting. By doing more of the same, the public officers have made the parking coupon exchange a costly one for the public.
Lim Mun Yoke Letter, 12 Dec 2016, The Straits Times
Agencies have to address parking coupon exchange issues
I am disappointed over the problems arising from the latest parking coupon exchange ("New parking coupon respite - but just once"; Dec 8). A number of petrol stations and shops have been reported to be out of stock for the new parking coupons. A common sight in carparks now is drivers asking other drivers for parking coupons. Despite the lack of new parking coupons, car owners face fines for not displaying their parking coupons or for displaying the old coupons. The authorities should have anticipated such an issue, which is harmful to Singapore's reputation for efficiency. Surely we can do much better. The relevant agencies must respond to the issue and present the actions they will take to address the problems. Adrian Ho Kok Wai Letter, 9 Dec 2016, The Straits Times
Why penalise motorists who can't get new coupons?
The report ("New parking coupon respite - but just once"; Dec 8) appears like a nice gesture on the part of the authorities. However, how can one be penalised for not using the new coupons when one cannot even get hold of them? The right thing to do is to allow all motorists to use the old coupons till they have no more. This way, it saves everyone a lot of hassle. I am not convinced the manpower involved in the exchange process is economical at all. Also, productivity suffers, as one has to make time and take the effort to trade the old coupons for the new. James Wong
Letter, 11 Dec 2016, TODAY
Use of old parking coupons could bring respite
It seems the switchover to the $1.20/hour parking coupons starting this month has caused some confusion and anguish among the motoring community, despite the notice given two months ago (“Higher parking charges kick in from Dec 1”; Nov 29, online). This could have been avoided if the authorities had allowed motorists to continue using the $1/hour parking coupons, albeit in proportion to the coupon’s face value, i.e. $1 for 50 minutes of parking and 50 cents for 25 minutes. It would have saved the hassle of exchanging old for new and given motorists more time to get the new coupons — a more productive use of people’s time as well as less stress on the system. This would still be a better alternative to voiding the old coupons, which is a waste of resources. Fok Kar Kee Letter, 9 Dec 2016, Lianhe Zaobao
新停车固本缺货带来不便
从11月30日起,笔者天天到附近的汽油站要更换旧的停车固本和购买新固本,但是都不成功。 笔者到过至少七间汽油站询问不少过10次,每间汽油站都说没存货。 笔者听到不少车主的抱怨,也给建屋发展局打过电话和写过电邮,但是都没回复。在此询问建屋局,为何出现新停车固本缺货的问题?何时我们才能买到新的停车固本? 林叔献
Letter, 14 Dec 2016, Lianhe Zaobao
兑换新停车固本的困扰
自从政府宣布从12月1日起上调所有公共停车场的收费后,像我这样平时非不得已不出门的驾车人士,立刻面对如何把手头上积存的旧停车固本兑换成新固本的问题。 我拿着旧固本到通常出售停车固本的油站或7-11便利店,以为可以完成兑换工作,结果我像无头苍蝇到处碰壁。便利店说他们没有兑换服务,要我到某某油站去,到了油站还是扑了个空。 由于没有新固本,因此有一回把旧固本当新固本用,撕了一张1元和一张5角的固本,当作一元两角用,以为多付3角应该没问题。第二天看《联合早报》12月9日的报道,才知道原来旧固本从12月1日起已作废,继续使用或像我这样多付钱也是违例,但首次违例者只会得到“提醒”的警告。后来我才知道,当局只规定几家指定油站可兑换新固本。 我以为,换不到新固本而违例,罪不在驾车人士。在新固本出炉前,当局理应先设想到新规定可能带来的困扰和不便,应开放让所有固本销售代理皆能兑换新固本,如所有油站和7-11便利店。 目前这种困扰和不便逐渐消失,只希望当局如再有类似新规定,应事先全盘筹划,把不便降至最低。 周全生