Transport and the shape of the city in Singapore

MRT, buses and paying for them

The MRT covers the island densely and is being extended further, with LRT feeders in the newer towns and a bus network that fills every remaining gap. Fares are distance-based across a whole journey, so transferring between train and bus within a trip does not cost you extra. Payment has moved to account-based ticketing: you tap a contactless bank card or a registered transit card and the fare is calculated afterwards.

• Tap in and out with a contactless bank card, a phone, or a transit card registered to SimplyGo.
• Fares are distance-based per journey, with transfers included rather than charged again.
• Adult monthly travel passes exist for heavy commuters and cap the cost.
• Trains stop running around midnight; night buses and ride-hailing cover the gap.

Why a car is a luxury purchase

Before buying a vehicle you must win a Certificate of Entitlement at auction, valid for ten years, and its price is set by bidding rather than by policy. On top of that sit registration fees, duties, road tax, insurance and Electronic Road Pricing charges for entering priced zones at priced times. The result is that a modest car costs several times what it would elsewhere, which is exactly the intention.

• COE is bid for at auction and is a large part of the total cost.
• ERP charges apply on gantries by location and time of day.
• Parking in central areas and condominium bays is charged and often limited.
• Leasing or long-term rental is how most short-stay residents handle occasional car needs.

Taxis, ride-hailing and bikes

Grab is the largest ride-hailing operator, with others competing alongside it, and metered taxis still work well at ranks and airports. Fares are reasonable for the distances involved on a small island, and a car ride across town costs less than the equivalent in most large cities. Cycling has improved with the park connector network, though the heat and the rain limit its appeal for commuting.

Weather, walkways and the airport

Singapore is hot and humid every day of the year, with heavy short downpours, and the built environment is designed around that: sheltered walkways link many HDB blocks and stations, and the malls are connected underground in the centre. Changi airport is on the rail network and around half an hour from the city, which is one of the quiet reasons living here is easy.

• Covered walkway networks make the station walk viable in the rain in many estates.
• Changi is on the MRT and well served by taxi at any hour.
• A rail link to Johor Bahru is under construction and will change the cross-border commute when it opens.