Published: 18.12.2018
Every time I chuckle when the announcement comes on the MRT. Of course, it actually says "Berhati-hati di ruang platform" and is Malay for please mind the gap.
The MRT in Singapore runs every 5 minutes and is always on time. This is also because they do not have a driver. For children, it is especially exciting to look out the front window and pretend to drive the train (even for me!).
Most people have an EZ-Link card. You load money on it and check in at the station, go through the gate, and simply check out at the end of the journey. Each time, you can also see how much the trip cost and how much credit you have left. Really cool.
Overall, the entire MRT system, like everything else in Singapore, is very precise. There are signs everywhere telling you how to behave, or should. More of these signs would be nice in Germany too....
It is also great that the platform displays how crowded the next train will be. Or how the people are distributed inside the train, so that you can already think about whether to board at the front, middle or rear. The train always stops at the same marking, so that the doors are located on the lines that indicate that you should not stand in front of the door and let people exit first. (Please do this for Germany too!!!) Everything is also constantly monitored with multiple cameras. Not only in the MRT stations, but also everywhere else (sometimes people ride around with camera helmets). Because, after all, you are not allowed to throw trash, but also not eat or drink on the trains and buses. (With Jakob we just make an exception. Let them mess with us)
I have only taken the bus once so far, it is a bit difficult with a stroller due to the cramped space.
Overall, most people here use public transport or walk. Some also have super fast electric scooters that they are allowed to ride on the bicycle path. Because in Singapore, licenses for car ownership are very limited. You can bid for them, but currently there is a stop and you can only buy a car (if you can afford it) when another one has to go to the car graveyard.