Those carparks with ERP parking

[mechwira]

Another one from me

 

I sent the following letter to HDB:

 

Dear Sir/Mdm

 

Ref: Inconvenience of ‘ERP-type’ carparks to motorcyclists

 

I am a motorcyclist who regularly parks my bike at many of your public carparks. I understand that HDB is implementing gantries using the ERP unit of vehicles to charge for parking at some of the carparks in place of the conventional parking coupons. I would like to highlight two problems I faced as a motorcyclist in such carparks:

 

•The barriers of these carparks are very inconveniently placed for motorcyclists.

•These systems, intentional or otherwise, increase parking charges for motorcyclists.

 

In particular I would like to use one such carpark that I have experienced as an example: Blk 303 multi-story carpark along Choa Chu Kang Ave 4.

 

The first problem I would like to highlight is the inconveniently placed barriers. In the above mentioned carpark, the exit barrier is placed several meters down the slope from the second floor, with the scanner further back, several meters before the slope. At such a location, if a motorcyclist were to ride down the slope towards the barrier only to realize that the barrier would not raise either due to some fault in the system or a fault in the motorcyclist’s own ERP unit, it would be impossible for the motorcyclist to reverse his motorcycle back up the slope to rectify the problem. This is because motorcycles are not equipped with reverse gears, nor is it possible to make a U-turn in such narrow and steeply sloped confines. Pushing the motorcycle backwards up the steep slope would be very, very difficult, and might even require more than one person to do so for heavier motorcycles. A lone motorcyclist therefore would be stuck in such a situation.

 

It is not unthinkable that a motorcyclist would be caught in such a situation, for I myself was very nearly caught in one. When the system was first implemented in the above mentioned carpark, I was unaware that motorcycles were also subjected to payment via the ERP units. Previously, motorcycles used coupons for payment and subsequently squeezed past the barrier via the narrow gap on entry as well as on exit. On exiting the carpark that day, half of my motorcycle had already gone down the slope before I braked abruptly upon realizing that there was no gap in the barrier for me as before the new system was implelemented, and that instead I had to insert a cashcard into my ERP unit. Even if I could insert my cashcard on the spot, the scanner was behind me and therefore I could not avoid having to reverse my bike up the slope. Fortunately, only half of my motorcycle was on the downward slope, and therefore it was possible for me to push my bike back up the slope, albeit with much difficulty. Had I been fully on the slope, I fail to see any solution to such a predicament.

 

I believe that motorcyclists can easily be caught in such a predicament: they could be unaware of the system, or they may experience faults in their cashcard or ERP unit, or they might simply have ridden past the scanner and down the slope without realizing that the scanner had failed to pick up their ERP unit. Given such factors, I feel that for such carpark systems, the barrier should be placed on flat, level ground with plenty of space for motorcyclists to maneuver in the event that they experience difficulties with the system.

 

The second problem that I would like to highlight is that in such carparks, motorcyclists are made to pay more for parking as compared to using the conventional coupons. With these coupons, one 65c coupon may be used between 7.30 am to 10.30 pm, regardless of how many carparks the motorcyclist visits within this stipulated time frame. With these new ERP carparks, however, the motorcyclist would have to pay 65c each for every such carpark visited, rather than a single 65c payment throughout the day. In the above mentioned carpark, I have never experienced a shortage of motorcycle lots. As such, why is there a need to increase charges for motorcyclists, if supply is more than adequate to meet the demand? As a motorcyclist, therefore, I would much rather be made to pay with the coupons as in the previous system because it would be cheaper.

 

To conclude, I would like to re-iterate that such ERP carparks increase the parking charges for motorcyclists without there being any apparent reason to do so. Furthermore, the barriers in such carparks (especially in the carpark mentioned) are very inconveniently placed. Reverting to the previous system of making motorcyclists pay via coupons, and thus providing gaps in the barrier for motorcyclists to enter and exit, will save motorcyclists from plenty of troublesome predicaments. At the very least, if indeed there is a very pertinent reason for implementing such a system, the barriers must be placed on level ground with plenty of space for the convenience of motorcyclists.

 

Thank you for your time, and I look forward to hearing a reply.

 

Regards,

 

i hate that carpark....... didn park there anymore.........

[madman]

bro, for bikes, the erp system have grace period not? If no, that means short term parking for bikes will be more expensive than cars. You shd write this in if it's like that.

 

awaiting their reply, but most likely is the standard template reply type...

 

I like this system, but only when I drive car, on bike, always find alternative place to park, if dun have, park alongside the road if short period like buy makan...

[Guest nE0]

What about bikes with no ERP unit?

 

Not everyone likes to have a huge money sucking machine sticking out like a sore thumb right infront of his/her face all the time.

[BuZZBeaM]

some bikers dun mount erp unit, cant enter

some mount erp unit under pillion seat, cant enter

 

shld just put those machine tat we can insert cashcard in...

kinda outdated though

[mechwira]

eh?!?!?!

July 30 i posted, didn appear tot wat happened, decided not to bother, skali today onli come out? haha moderators scrutinize every part of my post before granting consent?

 

anyway, i received reply long time ago already:

 

Feedback: Inconvenience of 'ERP-type' carparks to motorcyclists

 

 

Thank you for your email of 30 July 05.

 

2 The management of the multi-storey car park (CK21) at Blk 303

Choa

Chu Kang Ave 4 has been outsourced to the Service Provider (SP), Wilson

Parking (S) Pte Ltd since 3 July 2005.

 

3 Prior to the implementation of the ERP parking system on 13 Jul

05,

we carried out a study on the locations of the barriers. To provide an

effective communication between the IU number of the motorcycle and the

antenna of the ERP parking system, the current locations of the

barriers

are found to be most suitable. The SP has also drawn yellow markings

on

the surface of the car park to guide motorists to keep right of the car

park so as to facilitate access using the IU. We will continue to

explore

with the SP to improve the parking operation.

 

4 The parking charge of $0.65 for motor cycle for the use of the

outsourced car park at CK21 is similar to HDB's parking charge under

Coupon

Parking System. Hence there is no increase in parking charge for

motorcycles. Under the ERP Parking System, motorcyclist using the same

car

park will be charged only $0.65 once between 7.00am amd 10.30pm

regardless

of the number of entries and exit within the period. The same payment

procedures also apply for night parking between 10.30pm and 7am the

following morning.

 

5 Thank you for your feedback.

 

 

 

Yours sincerely

 

XXX XXX XXX

HIGHER ADMINISTRATIVE EXECUTIVE

HOUSING ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT

 

 

there you go. i not happy they insist that the scanner and gantry is so-called 'optimum location'; i mean, really will cause trouble for us bikes wat.

 

but then they explain that you can enter that carpark as many times as you want within 7.00am-10.30pm or 10.30pm-7.00am stipulated period as in normal coupons, and will ony be charged once. as you can see, the letter did not explain if this applies to if you enter a different erp carpark, or onli the same erp carpark. actually i think the erp carparks rite now so few and so far apart they dun yet have an integrated system whereby you can enter any number of these carparks and charged onli once within the stipulated period. i do expect that as they make more and more of these carparks in future, it will eventually become feasible to have such an integrated system, but perhaps not yet now.

 

as for bikers without IU..... LPPL buzz!

 

but i still dun use that carpark since. still bloody stupid location for gantry and scanner, and i rather use coupon which can be re-used at 99% of other carparks. in future if all carparks like this in one integrated system, then ok.

[madman]

I told you it's a standard reply already mah.

 

The qns they dont wanna answer, they will simply ignore it and not answer, as if it dont exist at all.

[yaphui_gts]

My bike IU Unit is spolit and I always park at pavement or park at carpark which doesn't require entry using IU unit but as more and more ERP gantry and ERP car park, Had to LPPL replace my IU unit with a 2nd hand IU Unit.

I wrote to LTA about the possibilty of having lifetime warranty for IU unit and they did call back and state that they will consider my suggestion to the manufacturer. Hope that this will be true

[maberick]

y didnt u ask them for those bikers who bought season parking coupon.. how do they enter? muz pay oso is it.. If like this.. dan wat for they inplement season parkin coupon..

[jinhanz]

actually u can put ur cash card into the machine.

[R11S]

i see the reply ans in numbers hehehe

 

y not u post them again w numbers for each quest....n ask them to reply every single numbered questions.....

 

if possible bold every quest

 

c if they can act blur or not tis time......

[Geezer]

write to the papers..ST or new paper,blow up the issue.those ppl will juz try to act professional in replying ur letter but did not even reply to most of the contents.hope if write to the papers will respond better cos many ppl will read

[StingRhea]

i dun bring iu unit. and the reply doesnt state that if u go other carparks, u still have to pay 65¢ more, insterad of one coupon serves all.

[Kaoiwas]

Mechwira,

 

Pls do follow up on their reply with the question about mulitple entries at different carparks. I'd do it myself but since you can just follow up then y not?

 

I was doing some despatch thing and skipped all the ERP carparks. Seriously gonna flee this country man... Not that I'm not willing to pay, but more like y should I since almost all legal implementations benefit 1 side only. Stating convenience for consumers is just plain BS. I think I can do 100x better a job of advisor to these organisations... sickening...

[Arch]

Read wat they reply and felt totally sick with thier answer. Totally pushing the topic aside and giving crab answers. ERP carparking Lots

[kahhwee]

Think those answers are computer generated one. Sometime like press 1 for this phrase, 2 for that phrase. Just nice answer ya questions le. those without quality answer questions will not be answered. This is what they call quality ma.

[gracile]

I was having some prob in getting the IU unit detected by the ERP parking system.. dunno why the system just cant detect my IU properly. everyday i have to spent at least 3~5 mins at the barrier.. pushing my bike forward and backward...

 

after searching tru SBF and troubleshooting.. i found that the prob was actually caused by the service reminder sticker pasted on my IU (those metallic type)..

 

after i remove the sticker, it works fine now..

[konsandy]

i think hdb trying to maker more $$ or wat if u park at normal carpark it is 65 cents for whole day but the erp one is double chargin eg if u go to toa payoh libary 1 u pay 1 time u go to the next 1 at ocbc u pay again sucks!! also the erp alway got jam

[Guest selphie]

Are they going to do this for all HDB carparks in singapore in future? What abt season parking? How does it work?

 

As for the 65c coupons, it is true that it can be reused in different carparks at different areas from east to west, north to south, as long as it's within the stipulated time.

Hmm...

They only want to earn more $$, i think.

 

And who the hell let loose these "private people" on our land!!!!!????

[FREDDY]

Originally posted by BuZZBeaM@Sep 20 2005, 07:46 PM

some bikers dun mount erp unit, cant enter

some mount erp unit under pillion seat, cant enter

 

shld just put those machine tat we can insert cashcard in...

kinda outdated though

not a good idea to use th machine to put cash card oso

 

i am working in simlimsquare but there was oni once when i really enter the basement cardpark..

my iu is under my pillion seat so cannot detect ok nvm

i saw a sign board writen VEHICLE WITHOUT IU INSERT CASHCARD

so i insert my cash card in

 

after work happily go to the exit insert cash card again

$17plus

becoz they detect us as car

 

then i make a u turn go to the parking office

the auntie say y i insert the cash card at the 1st place

i told her the board writes vehicles without iu insert cash card

then i ask he motorbike not vehicle meh?

[madman]

wahahaa...that's beri cheap parking leh...

 

anyway, the erp system got flaw one...hahaa...

[bigman_185]

Originally posted by |FREDDY|@Nov 10 2005, 02:36 AM

not a good idea to use th machine to put cash card oso

 

i am working in simlimsquare but there was oni once when i really enter the basement cardpark..

my iu is under my pillion seat so cannot detect ok nvm

i saw a sign board writen VEHICLE WITHOUT IU INSERT CASHCARD

so i insert my cash card in

 

after work happily go to the exit insert cash card again

$17plus

becoz they detect us as car

 

then i make a u turn go to the parking office

the auntie say y i insert the cash card at the 1st place

i told her the board writes vehicles without iu insert cash card

then i ask he motorbike not vehicle meh?

Can park without coupons for 1 whole day at a parking lot and still save $1 after receiving 2 parking tickets.

[Guest clef]

i got a thought...

 

would MP be able to help? coz it seems that HDB is not being very helpful...

 

i personally tink that if they wana go ahead with ERP parking than the $0.65 should be broken down into hourly charge...meaning now we put 2 $0.65 coupons can park whole day 24 hour so the hourly charge should be $0.65 * 2 / 24...which works out to $0.055/hr...

 

but dun really have enough gd english to write to MP...

 

haiz...

[jkaiser]

is there a clause that says bike coupons can be reused? i mean right now i see it as a loophole cos nobody can check.

[Meteor_Rider]

Originally posted by jkaiser@Nov 12 2005, 01:59 AM

is there a clause that says bike coupons can be reused? i mean right now i see it as a loophole cos nobody can check.

the serial no on the bike coupon can be detected by machine used by the carpark attendant. if happened to be caught reused i guess is quite a serious offence.

[josefcaballero]

maybe u should mention that such erp gantries on an upslope would cause danger and u might hurt yourself trying to u turn or reverse in the case the gantry is faulty or your IU is faulty and you would not hesitate to sue them for such mishap.

That will make them up