HDB, URA carparks to charge motorcyclists per minute parking fees

By Sumita Sreedharan, TODAY, 10 Mar 2014

Motorcyclists will soon be able to save on their parking expenditure if they park at Housing and Development Board (HDB) and Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) car parks, with motorcycle parking charges set to be revised in the second half of this year.

They will soon be charged on a per-minute basis, instead of being subjected to the current flat per-entry rate of 65 cents, when they park at HDB and URA car parks that use the Electronic Parking System (EPS).

Motorcyclists are currently given a 10-minute grace period at EPS car parks before they are charged.

The HDB had earlier said that EPS car parks will be rolled out progressively at all suitable car parks within the next few years. Cars are already being charged on a per-minute basis at such car parks.

The move aims to help motorcyclists who use multiple car parks in a day, such as despatch or delivery riders, who may chalk up considerable parking charges. Authorities said that the revised parking charges will not exceed what the motorcyclists currently have to pay.

The Ministry of National Development will also introduce an enhanced Season Parking Ticket (E-SPT) that will allow motorcyclists to park in all HDB and URA car parks for a flat monthly fee. The HDB and URA are working out the details and will implement the changes soon.

Dispatch rider can save more with new pass
By Rachel Au-Yong, The Straits Times, 11 Mar 2014

DISPATCH rider Sam Lin visits at least 10 public carparks a day, six days a week. This means a monthly expenditure of at least $154 - in excess of a $100 parking allowance his company builds into his $2,400 salary.

"It's actually quite expensive to just drop off a document," the 25-year-old Chinese national said in Mandarin. "It's worse if you park illegally to save money. You might get fined."

A new monthly parking pass and charges on a per minute basis, instead of at a flat rate, will ease his expenses. National Development minister Khaw Boon Wan made the announcements yesterday.

It will benefit mainly dispatch and delivery riders, who currently spend 65 cents per session per carpark, even if they may only park for 10 minutes or shorter.

The new pass and rates are welcome news for Mr Lin: "Cheaper is good. Cheaper means more money to send back to my family."

His employer Xdel, a courier service provider, said the seasonal ticket will help both the company and the rider. "It's a big plus now that they can park anywhere on the island for a standard lower price," said sales director Eddie Lee.