The National University of Singapore Students’ Union (NUSSU) recently submitted a proposal to the Public Transport Council (PTC) to request that the transport authorities make two changes to the Tertiary Student Concession Card scheme.
They are asking for a 20 percent or more decrease in the prices of monthly passes and a cost cap for single trips.
Currently, card holders can choose from three concession schemes — $45 for up to four train trips per day (Train Concession Pass), $52 for unlimited bus rides (Bus Concession Pass) and $97 for a combination of both (Hybrid Concession Pass).
NUSSU president Goh Ren Kai said the union is targeting the price of the hybrid pass as not many students make enough trips to reap significant cost savings.
After the 20 percent cut, hybrid passes will cost $77.60 instead of $97.
NUSSU argues that monthly passes can be cheaper without the public transport operators having to shift the cost to other groups of commuters. According to the proposal, the price cut will instead encourage students to take public transport more frequently.
Similarly, the cost cap on single trips will make travelling more affordable for students who frequently embark on long trips.
NUSSU’s proposal came after the PTC approached them for feedback. They seized the opportunity to engage the PTC as public transport pricing is a concern of many tertiary students.
On Sept. 8 and 9, the union conducted an online student survey and found that 83 percent of the respondents felt the hybrid pass is unreasonably priced.
NUSSU argues that monthly passes can be cheaper without the public transport operators having to shift the cost to other groups of commuters. According to the proposal, the price cut will instead encourage students to take public transport more frequently.
The National Technological University and the Singapore Management University have endorsed the proposal.
Goh said the proposal would be disseminated to NUS students after NUSSU receives a reply from the PTC.
“We will look into the sort of data we can get from students after PTC replies,” he added.