[Transport] Singapore Trishaws

My Personal sketch of a Singapore Trishaw

三轮车，跑得快，

上面坐个老太太。

要五毛，给一块。

你说奇怪不奇怪。

Trishaw, riding fast,

In it sits an old lady.

If you want 50 cents,

You’ll have to give a dollar.

Isn’t all this weird.

I'd always thought that the song 三轮车 (San Lun Che) was from Singapore, since I've been singing this children song from don't know when. But from research, it seems like the song actually originated from Taiwan. 

In truth, Trishaws could be seen along the roads of many Asian countries and some non-Asian countries, though how the trishaws are shaped do differ from country to country. This is also the case amongst ASEAN countries.

Trishaws with their passengers' seated in front 

Cambodia and Vietnam - Cyclo (See-Clo)

Trishaws with their passengers' seated at the back

Thailand - Samlo

Trishaws with their passengers seated at the sides

Brunei

Philippines - Trisikad (Sikad or Padyak in short)

Myanmar - Saika 

Singapore - Trishaw; San Lun Che

Malaysia - beca (sees both passengers seated in front and at the side)

Indonesia - Becak (Sees both with passengers seated in front and at the side)

Singapore's Story

When the community offers little in terms of support, innovation comes alive. Jobs were scarce in the 1900s and especially so during and after the Japanese Occupation of Singapore. I remember seeing stories of young boys saying that they would like to own a trishaw when they grew up.

It cost anywhere from $500 to buy a trishaw - that's an exorbitant amount in those days. So many took to renting the trishaws.

As a child, I remember taking the trishaw a couple of times. It was definitely cheaper than taking a taxi but still, I believe that my family was concerned about safety and the other reason that I could remember my family saying was that we felt bad for the uncle who needed to trade his peddling strength for money.

References

Hop on a Trishaw for that Traditional Feel when Exploring a Town or City in Southeast Asia. (2011, January 10). Exo Travel. Retrieved from https://www.exotravel.com/blog/en/southeast-asia-trishaw/

Koh, R. Q. V, Han, J. 2014, 19 November. Trishaw. Singapore Infopedia. Retrieved from https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_932_2005-01-24.html

[Transportation] Road Tax disc: 3 things that you may not know about this piece of paper

In today's news report, the Land Transport Authorities (LTA) has rung the death kneel on Road Tax Disc. Come February 15 next year, motorists will not be required to display road tax discs on the windscreen of their vehicles. (1) For years, this is one piece of paper that had accompanied all road worthy vehicles in Singapore. Failure to display a proper road disc, or putting up an expired one, had seen fines being meted out to these motorists.

Soon, motorists can keep their windscreen clear of clutter. If not, at least one lesser piece of paper to be pasted on the windscreen. But what are the interesting facts about this small but important piece of paper?

1. Where are road tax discs positioned on the windscreen?

It is by law that road tax dics are positioned on the left of the windscreens.

In a forum reply dated January 11, 1969, the secretary of the Automobile Association of Singapore brought up the Road Traffic Ordinance - Motor Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) Rules Part II, No.28 where it reads "The licence shall be carried...on the left side of the vehicle facing towards the near side of the road." (2)

The rule was updated in 1972 to ensure that the wording as to how to place the disc clearer.

"The road tax should be placed at the left lower corner of the windscreen facing forward so as to be clearly visible from the front at all time whether the vehicle is moving of stationary". (3)


2. Were there instances where motorists were fined for not displaying the road tax disc?

Indeed. In 1971, a Mr Tan was fined S$20 for not displaying his Registry of Vehicle (ROV) tax disc (4)  while in 1970, a Mr Quek was fined S$30 for driving with an expired road tax disc. (5) Both of the men were caught in 1968. It seemed that after more than two years, the courts had wanted to get hard on these motorists and to show the importance of displaying the road tax disc in a proper manner.


3. Did the rule of displaying the road tax disc on the left of the windscreen worked for everyone?

Well no. In 1969, a motorist questioned this decision as at that time, there were left-hand drive cars. The motorist said that it would obstruct the view of drivers if the road tax disc was displayed on the left. (6)   



References

1. Road tax disc to be phased out from February next year. August 29, 2016. Channel News Asia. http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/road-tax-discs-to-be/3081860.html
2. Right place for that 'tax disc. January 11, 1969. The Straits Times. P16.
3. Her tax disc was too high. december 1, 1975. New Nation. P5.
4. Tax disc fine. April 28, 1971. The Straits Times. P9.
5. Road tax fine. October 6, 1970. The Straits Times. P8.
6. Untitled. January 15, 1969. The Straits Times. P10.

[Transportation] Singapore Traction Company: A Bus Company That Served Singaporeans

Three different-valued STC bus tickets that I'd purchased previously

"You must have not taken a STC bus before", said an elderly man who was waiting patiently behind me to board a re-modelled Singapore Traction Company's (STC) public bus. Indeed, I had not had a ride in one as I was a 1973 baby. STC went into debt and was sold off in 1971. (1)

Boarding a STC bus

Frontal View of the STC bus

Four circled-round lights; Rivets used to hold the shell of the bus together; a singular gear stick; The re-modelled bus was painstakingly put together by the Singapore's statutory board - the Land Transport Authority.

In the past, the assembly of such buses was taken on by local companies such as Lee Kiat Seng Private Limited. (2)  This company was previously located at 50, Kallang Pudding Road. (3) They have been building the bodies of buses since 1924. (4)

Inside of the bus

View from the driver's seat

In the past, the driver's role was just as their designation suggests - drive. The conductor job was then to help to collect the fare. I'll always remember how the conductor will use the ticket puncher to tap on the metal ticket holder, signifying that he's about to collect the fare.

Where people once smoked on board buses

There were also a number of old notices that were included in this STC bus. One, to warn passengers against smoking and the hefty fine that would come along with it. The other notices include one that advised passengers not to stand on the steps (Many still did) and the other was about an emergency door.

Fine specimen of a bus, I'd say.



References

1. Singapore Traction Company begins operation. History.sg. Accessed on April 3, 2016. http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/history/events/51e3da00-2cdf-43a2-a548-5581d2db3e64

2. Assembly of Singapore Traction Company Nissan bus body at Lee Kiat Seng Private Limited. National Archives of Singapore. Accessed on April 3, 2016. http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/photographs/record-details/341a0d3e-1162-11e3-83d5-0050568939ad

3. Advertisement, Column 2. July 6, 1962. The Straits Times. P6.

4. Agents appointed for tube investments. June 16, 1964. The Straits Times. P13.

[Singapore Islands] Pulau Ubin: Tranquil Island

Pulau Ubin - An island that is a stone-throw away from Singapore's mainland but it is so different in every way. Stepping onto the island seems to zap you into history. Nature, houses on stilts, tall coconut trees. All of which are not commonly seen on the island of Singapore.

I'd wanted to bring my family to Pulau Ubin over the weekend but the rain scuppered our plans. Also, I'd wanted to see how we can spend the least amount of money while gaining maximum enjoyment.

We started off from the Changi Point Ferry Terminal. In the past, we just waited at the pier the boatman would just call out to you to board his bumboat. Unlike now, there was no police checks or scanners. We just climb across adjoining bumboats to get to the one that was departing for Pulau Ubin.

The cost of the bumboat ride was S$2.50 per pax. It does not matter if my son was just 2 years old, as long as he can crawl, they will charge. Fair dinkum I'd say. The kids enjoyed the bumboat ride to Pulau Ubin.

It took us merely 30 minutes to get to Pulau Ubin and off we went for our walk. We took in the sights of the the Sensory Trail where different plants are grown along the trail. We even saw a well. Something that we in Singapore do not get to see anymore.

Before we head back to our beloved little red dot, we chose to fill our stomachs with some island food. So off to Pulau Ubin Seafood Restaurant we went.

Nothing fancy, we had fried rice, hor fun, a plate of vegetable and kampong chicken. All in all, we spent less than $60 for the entire trip. Good family bonding; Good value!

First published on November 30, 2011. 

A Ride Through the Years

Wonderful bus exhibition by the Singapore School and Private Hire Bus Owner Association

Today in Singapore Trails, I visited the bus exhibition at Pek Kio Community Club. I read about this exhibition and I thought back to those years where my parents brought me and my sisters around via public transport. 

The Leyland brand of public buses, ticket clipper and bus sign

Frankly, public buses has been a part many people's lives. I remember the bus brand - Leyland. I remember the thin-rod gear stick that sometimes, the bus drivers found it hard to engage. I remember the bus conductors using their ticket clippers to knock on their ticket holders to get the attention of those who have yet to pay their fare to pay up. I remember the fogged-up bus windows whenever it rained and where we were forced to shut all windows, barring those that were stuck. I remember my first bus ride, bus number 62 that brought me to my school in Geylang. That was also a time that I bawled my eye out as I could not reach the bell because I was way too short to press the red bell strip found on the ceiling of these buses.

Trolley buses

Trolleybuses used during the Japanese Occupation

There were pictures of trolley buses used during the Japanese Occupation. During that time, electricity would have been at a premium and thus a ride in these trolley buses would not be within reach of the common man.  It was also shared that charcoal buses (Burning of charcoal to power the buses) were also used.

After the war, the Singapore Traction Company started its trolley bus service in 1946. The last of the trolley bus service was taken off the road in 1962. So no more ugly-looking overhead wires. (1)

Bus Tickets
 

Bus tickets from the different bus companies

The bus tickets were all so colourful. Different colours signifying the different prices that one paid based on the planned distance travelled. There are the single coloured bus ticket for students, while the adults have the tiered-pricing tickets based on distance. I used to collect heaps of these.

Different tickets and the old bus ticket stamp

Bus Signs

Hand-written signs placed on both the front and side of the bus

Updated: November 20, 2016


References

1. Off for good: S’pore trolley buses (December 16, 1962). The Sunday Times, p. 15. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.