MRT: Bane or Boon?

By Arynah Bte Aminuddin Many people think that advances in technology are nothing less than a lifesaver. It lets us do a little less work, travel a little faster, get things done a little quicker. A great example would be our Mass Rapid Transit (MRT). However, Alias Bin Marzuki, 78, longs for the days before the MRT existed. Granted, the MRT helps him travel faster. Hour long bus rides are reduced to 30 minute trips, and he has a higher chance of getting a seat as compared to taking a bus. Yet, strangely enough, he prefers it when public transport was much simpler. Before the MRT started operating in 1987, buses were his main mode of transport. At that time, there were no bus stops and one had to tell the driver to stop in order to alight. The buses were not air-conditioned, and long trips would often see him leaving the bus with sweat-stained clothes. Prior to that, he rode rickshaws to places that were not too far from his home. Middle-aged or elderly men pulled the rickshaws, big enough to carry two people at a time. Through rain or shine, they would tirelessly transport him and his children to the desired destination. As a child, he enjoyed riding the rickshaws to school. We would be moving quite fast but somehow he could brake quickly, he said. I was always worried he would not be able to stop in time and would fall into the river. He recalled when Singapore had trams. The trams ran on electricity flowing through the cables suspended above the tram. The furthest trip on a tram would be from Arab Street to Geylang, and would cost a maximum of 25 cents. There were times when the cable would snap, said Alias. Ive seen it with my own eyes The tram continued moving and collided with the tram ahead. Blackouts would mean that the trams were immobile due to the lack of electricity. Eventually, the trams were upgraded and no longer required electricity to move. The tracks were also removed as wheels were added to the new model of trams. Bound by the limitations of public transport, he frequently travelled by foot. When the MRT was first introduced, he was pleased at the prospect of travelling

further in a shorter time. Residing in Bedok, he rarely ventured to the west of Singapore where some of his friends lived. As he had never owned a car, he was looking forward to a better experience with public transport. When the MRT system was extended, I went to parts of Singapore that I had never been to, recalled Alias. As time went by, the MRT system got more complicated. More lines were added and the stations had plenty of platforms and exits. Confusing instructions on the new standard ticket for a trip made things worse. That was when Alias realised that the MRT could be more of a bane than a boon. Just a few weeks ago, Alias and his wife visited a friend. Alighting at the Paya Lebar station, they needed to change to a bus to get to their destination. However, they spent nearly twenty minutes trying to find the right exit that would lead them to the bus stop. With four levels and multiple exits, they were completely lost. Finally, unable to find the right exit, they resorted to hailing a taxi. When its underground, everything is much more confusing, he said. One would be unable to tell where he was by looking at their surroundings. His tip on exploring the station never tap out unless you are absolutely sure where to go. Perhaps the ever-changing MRT system is useful for people of this generation who could easily navigate themselves around the labyrinth that is our railway system. Meanwhile, others like Alias plan on staying with the simpler modes of transport. The train is more convenient, he said. But given the choice, Id stick to the buses and taxis that I grew up with.