Driving in Singapore
May 15th, 2006, 11:39 AM
#1
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Driving in Singapore
I will be going to Singapore next month for work. Would you reccomend that I not drive over there? I would like to rent a car so I can go all over the island. Any suggestions?
May 15th, 2006, 01:04 PM
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Cars are right hand drive. Car prices and maintenance costs are high here. Consequently so will rental. Petrol is around $1.70 to $2.00 a litre.
Unless you would be driving a lot in the course of your work it would be cheaper to use taxis to get around. There's a pretty good subway system as well.
Singapore drivers are not the best but I find it easier than in some other Asian cities.
May 15th, 2006, 02:34 PM
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Singapore has excellent public transportation and inexpensive taxis. There is no reason for you to rent a car and struggle with finding your way around and paying for gas and parking. Much of the downtown area has restricted access to cars (only taxis or cars with a permit allowed). The island is quite small, and you'll have no difficulty going anywhere you want to go via the subway system and taxis.
May 15th, 2006, 06:16 PM
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The taxis and the light rail system are extremely cheap and reliable. I had no problems figuring out the light rail system and it was clean and fast. I would definately not rent a car or drive myself. The light rail system is the way to go!
May 16th, 2006, 03:58 AM
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There is no advanatage at all in getting a rental, it is very expensive and there are many zones where you pay to go thru ( tag on the car ). Parking can also be an issue. The SMRT trains and the buses and taxis provide cheap and efficient transport everywhere.
May 16th, 2006, 06:29 AM
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As a 5 year expat resident of Singapore, I totally agree with all of the above.
One additional challenge in renting a car is contending with the way people drive here. Taxi drivers have a unique way of driving in two lanes at once. We also get thousands of day workers who come over from Malaysia on motorbikes. They obey NO traffic laws. When they are out in force during peak hours, it's rather like having a swarm of angry hornets buzzing around your car. Best not to try it, if you have other options. Public Transportation is very good and very cheap.
One additional challenge in renting a car is contending with the way people drive here. Taxi drivers have a unique way of driving in two lanes at once. We also get thousands of day workers who come over from Malaysia on motorbikes. They obey NO traffic laws. When they are out in force during peak hours, it's rather like having a swarm of angry hornets buzzing around your car. Best not to try it, if you have other options. Public Transportation is very good and very cheap.
May 17th, 2006, 04:47 PM
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It's very expensive to rent a car in Singapore. Take the MRT/bus/taxi. The whole country is only about 254 square miles big...half the size of Los Angeles county and with easier non-car access to places. I've never had a car in Singapore. Happy Travels!
