Saturday, February 1, 2014
Friday, July 23, 2010
YOG's Bus Lane & its implications
Someone asked in the ST Forum why is there a need for the special YOG lanes on some roads /Expressways.
So far, as of today- Sat 24th July, there is no "official" reply.
Strange that YOG buses with Speed Limit of 60kmph are designated to use the "2nd" lanes. Or am I to understand that these YOG Busesspeed limit of 60 kmph have been waived ?
This perhaps, answer indirectly, my observation that Buses and almost all heavy vehicles in S'pore just love to "hog" the 2nd lanes on our Expressways.
Some in fairness, do not "hog". They speed at either the speed lLimt of the Expressway or even higher !
As I have expressed in earlier posting, it is almost always smarter to use the leftmost lane on the Expressway. Yes, you have to signal and overtake the real/honest vans/heavy vehicles from time to time, but in Uniguely Singapore, the usual logic of a Right Hand Drive Traffic Rules will not get you any faster here !
So far, as of today- Sat 24th July, there is no "official" reply.
Strange that YOG buses with Speed Limit of 60kmph are designated to use the "2nd" lanes. Or am I to understand that these YOG Busesspeed limit of 60 kmph have been waived ?
This perhaps, answer indirectly, my observation that Buses and almost all heavy vehicles in S'pore just love to "hog" the 2nd lanes on our Expressways.
Some in fairness, do not "hog". They speed at either the speed lLimt of the Expressway or even higher !
As I have expressed in earlier posting, it is almost always smarter to use the leftmost lane on the Expressway. Yes, you have to signal and overtake the real/honest vans/heavy vehicles from time to time, but in Uniguely Singapore, the usual logic of a Right Hand Drive Traffic Rules will not get you any faster here !
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Swiss vandal sentenced: Hit&Run Romanian to be tried in Romaia
Heard that Romania will try the Hit & Run diplomat in his home country after all.
My prediction :-
The Charges will somehow be in-compatable with natural justices and will be either be thrown out or the accused will get a sentence that will be as good as setting him free as soon the judgement is pronounced. He has been remanded for quite a while already.
Whatever the outcome, Singapore FM will hailed it as justice served ! Case closed.
For the Swiss vandal, he is appealling. On what grounds, am not sure. As he has pleaded guilty, there is not much to appeal, as 3 strokes was the minimium. So was there some conspriacy ?....
I am silently grateful to him & his partner-in-crime for exposing a dire lack of security concern not only with SMRT but the warped logic with regards to National Security with no lesser political leader as the 2nd Minister for Home Affairs !
Another warped sence of indignity was the reported activation of Interpol to bring back the other suspect , a UK national from Hong Kong. A vandal or a terrorist ?
Strangely, it was reported that one of the charges against our Swiss artist was "stood-down". It concerned the cutting of the SMRT depot fence !
My prediction :-
The Charges will somehow be in-compatable with natural justices and will be either be thrown out or the accused will get a sentence that will be as good as setting him free as soon the judgement is pronounced. He has been remanded for quite a while already.
Whatever the outcome, Singapore FM will hailed it as justice served ! Case closed.
For the Swiss vandal, he is appealling. On what grounds, am not sure. As he has pleaded guilty, there is not much to appeal, as 3 strokes was the minimium. So was there some conspriacy ?....
I am silently grateful to him & his partner-in-crime for exposing a dire lack of security concern not only with SMRT but the warped logic with regards to National Security with no lesser political leader as the 2nd Minister for Home Affairs !
Another warped sence of indignity was the reported activation of Interpol to bring back the other suspect , a UK national from Hong Kong. A vandal or a terrorist ?
Strangely, it was reported that one of the charges against our Swiss artist was "stood-down". It concerned the cutting of the SMRT depot fence !
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Orchard Road Flood on 16th June 2010 Wednesday
Was in Orchards Road in the early afternoon after hearing over the radio that Scotts Road/ Orchard Road junction was impassable late morning.
Someone stated that PUB will have to look into the the cause of this latest " once-in-50 years" heavy rain/ flooding....
Another stated that the MRT Stations were designed to cope but here is the scary part -" some planners only had the worst of the last 30- 20 years records to work on !
Now we may finally know. Beside the very likily "newly discovered" choked drianage along Orchardd Road : ( There are now no open drains along Orchard Road= so who knows what has accummulated below ...), we will in the near future have a MRT
stoppage, or worst still trapped passengers/ drowned passengers.
And I thought Singapore gained full Independence more than 30 years ago !
Do not blame the Minister in Charge of Water Resources & Muslim Affairs alone .
Do not blame the Minister for Transport too. Just wait for tomorrow's MSM to
have some Minister put the blame on every Singaporeans not in the Government/ Civil Service. ( Have inkling that it will be the Law Minister / MM/SM)
Last year, it was the Bukit Timah/ Dunearn Road GCB area, now the tourist belt-Orchard Road.
Someone stated that PUB will have to look into the the cause of this latest " once-in-50 years" heavy rain/ flooding....
Another stated that the MRT Stations were designed to cope but here is the scary part -" some planners only had the worst of the last 30- 20 years records to work on !
Now we may finally know. Beside the very likily "newly discovered" choked drianage along Orchardd Road : ( There are now no open drains along Orchard Road= so who knows what has accummulated below ...), we will in the near future have a MRT
stoppage, or worst still trapped passengers/ drowned passengers.
And I thought Singapore gained full Independence more than 30 years ago !
Do not blame the Minister in Charge of Water Resources & Muslim Affairs alone .
Do not blame the Minister for Transport too. Just wait for tomorrow's MSM to
have some Minister put the blame on every Singaporeans not in the Government/ Civil Service. ( Have inkling that it will be the Law Minister / MM/SM)
Last year, it was the Bukit Timah/ Dunearn Road GCB area, now the tourist belt-Orchard Road.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
S'pore Law Minister believe MCYS should get in the act if Rules/ Act governing Charities/Religious Bodies are inadequate
The Minister for Law, said as much just days ago.
He was commenting on the City Harvest Church "investigations".
(Read my earlier post on my take of the CHC)
Note that it appeared now that a single complaint elicited a quick response.
Wonder who beside, you-know-who in Singapore had such impact !
Anyway, there are many other "complaints" that got no-where in this tiny island-state.
One recent and currently making and getting some MSM attention, at last, is the "Land Banking" issue. The supposed appropriate authority- MAS has not deem
it proper / appropriate at this junture to publicly comment or act.
One last comment :-
As I always wondered, do we need a Ministry of Law, in this new age of every Ministries proposing/ amending their Laws/Rules ?
Faster, Better, Cheaper- which ever way you put it, must apply to, yes , you guessed it, our Civil Service & the Government of the day as well !
He was commenting on the City Harvest Church "investigations".
(Read my earlier post on my take of the CHC)
Note that it appeared now that a single complaint elicited a quick response.
Wonder who beside, you-know-who in Singapore had such impact !
Anyway, there are many other "complaints" that got no-where in this tiny island-state.
One recent and currently making and getting some MSM attention, at last, is the "Land Banking" issue. The supposed appropriate authority- MAS has not deem
it proper / appropriate at this junture to publicly comment or act.
One last comment :-
As I always wondered, do we need a Ministry of Law, in this new age of every Ministries proposing/ amending their Laws/Rules ?
Faster, Better, Cheaper- which ever way you put it, must apply to, yes , you guessed it, our Civil Service & the Government of the day as well !
SMRT Train Depot breached & Train spray-painted
When it was first reported in the MSM many days ago. I just laughed to myself.
As comments get posted both on-lin and among kopi-kaki, it dawn upon me
that SMRT hardly thought it proper to gave any press statement. No one cares.
I could almost hear the "authorities".
The culprits need to be apprehended and punished. One is still in Hong Kong......
A few glaring "facts :-
1) the fence was cut.
No one noticed the breach until the video posted finally caught the "authorities" attention.
2) SMRT CEO believe that the public need to be viligant...
3) The Committee involved in the Public Transport Safety finally came back to
say something.....
4) Neither the Home Ministry nor the Transport Ministry thought it appropriate for either of them to comment or take charge ! ( Must be the PMO, then !More pointedly, the PM .)
Sad, but it is becoming standard wayang in Singapore.
1) Do not expect the Singapore Government to do everything !
2) National Security is private entreprises responsibilities as well,
3) Private Enterprises, including GLC expect private citizens to be part-time
police as well.
As comments get posted both on-lin and among kopi-kaki, it dawn upon me
that SMRT hardly thought it proper to gave any press statement. No one cares.
I could almost hear the "authorities".
The culprits need to be apprehended and punished. One is still in Hong Kong......
A few glaring "facts :-
1) the fence was cut.
No one noticed the breach until the video posted finally caught the "authorities" attention.
2) SMRT CEO believe that the public need to be viligant...
3) The Committee involved in the Public Transport Safety finally came back to
say something.....
4) Neither the Home Ministry nor the Transport Ministry thought it appropriate for either of them to comment or take charge ! ( Must be the PMO, then !More pointedly, the PM .)
Sad, but it is becoming standard wayang in Singapore.
1) Do not expect the Singapore Government to do everything !
2) National Security is private entreprises responsibilities as well,
3) Private Enterprises, including GLC expect private citizens to be part-time
police as well.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Our Expressways / Roads & Carparks
Have always found Singapore roads to be unique.
Not that I travelled a lot, but from TV , documentaries, I am amazed by what exist in Singapore :-
a) We drive on the right, but in may instances, especially on the Expressways, I
can usually travel much faster if I keep to the Leftmost lane. Even overtaking on the left , seem to be the smarter option even if I ran foul of the Law or is it the Traffic rules !
b) Too many road users are lost when they come to a Round-About.
c) Just as many, are ignorant of the reasons/ rules when there is a "Yellow Box",
d) There are "cameras" but I dare suggest that most are either dummies or unmaned or
simply allowed to record, till a pile-up or a Big-Shot complained.
e) Our Parking slots must be based on WW2 era teeny-weeny cars. Bet you, LTA will cite some World Standards.
f) Our SAF have a faily good system of getting ALL their vehicles to switch on their Headlights, even broad daylight. They only have one ridicules rules that limit most of their transport to go at 50 km per hour. Or is it 40 Km per hour !
g) We have drivers who switch on their Hazard lights whenever it rains. They just do not have consideration for others ! Who knows what their intentions are while they still move......
Even more frustrating are the "security escorts" whose drivers believe that they are on their grandfathers'roads. In a way, they are !
h) Then we have parents who insist that their young child do NOT need any Child restraints and can sit with mommy in the front passenger- seat.
i) Back to hazard lights- I have a habit of switching on my hazard lights when I am about to park; be it parallel park or reverse park. And yes, I always reverse park.
Why ? It is a quiker get-away. I can see more before I move out... Just my logic.
j) Another habit of mine: signally right, if I am joining the main road/ expressway from a slip road on the left of the main road. Why ? those behind you knows too well that you have been filtering to the left, but at the point of joining the main road, you can let
the left most lane drivers know that you are approaching, especially in the night.
k) It always intrique me that our Tinted Windows Standards are looser that Malaysia's. Maybe, we have more High-net-worth Individuals courtesy of the IRs.
l) In the end, what most of us would appreciate, are not more ERP gantries but more visible enforcement officers, who will wield thier big sticks without fear or favour.
Not that I travelled a lot, but from TV , documentaries, I am amazed by what exist in Singapore :-
a) We drive on the right, but in may instances, especially on the Expressways, I
can usually travel much faster if I keep to the Leftmost lane. Even overtaking on the left , seem to be the smarter option even if I ran foul of the Law or is it the Traffic rules !
b) Too many road users are lost when they come to a Round-About.
c) Just as many, are ignorant of the reasons/ rules when there is a "Yellow Box",
d) There are "cameras" but I dare suggest that most are either dummies or unmaned or
simply allowed to record, till a pile-up or a Big-Shot complained.
e) Our Parking slots must be based on WW2 era teeny-weeny cars. Bet you, LTA will cite some World Standards.
f) Our SAF have a faily good system of getting ALL their vehicles to switch on their Headlights, even broad daylight. They only have one ridicules rules that limit most of their transport to go at 50 km per hour. Or is it 40 Km per hour !
g) We have drivers who switch on their Hazard lights whenever it rains. They just do not have consideration for others ! Who knows what their intentions are while they still move......
Even more frustrating are the "security escorts" whose drivers believe that they are on their grandfathers'roads. In a way, they are !
h) Then we have parents who insist that their young child do NOT need any Child restraints and can sit with mommy in the front passenger- seat.
i) Back to hazard lights- I have a habit of switching on my hazard lights when I am about to park; be it parallel park or reverse park. And yes, I always reverse park.
Why ? It is a quiker get-away. I can see more before I move out... Just my logic.
j) Another habit of mine: signally right, if I am joining the main road/ expressway from a slip road on the left of the main road. Why ? those behind you knows too well that you have been filtering to the left, but at the point of joining the main road, you can let
the left most lane drivers know that you are approaching, especially in the night.
k) It always intrique me that our Tinted Windows Standards are looser that Malaysia's. Maybe, we have more High-net-worth Individuals courtesy of the IRs.
l) In the end, what most of us would appreciate, are not more ERP gantries but more visible enforcement officers, who will wield thier big sticks without fear or favour.
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