Car-Lite - Is it really for you?

So, the car-lite topic was brought into the spotlight once again a fortnight ago due to the gazetting of car-lite neighbourhoods across Singapore.

What do you think of the car-lite concept?

To me, public transport is by itself inherently inconvenient. Its very nature requires more physical effort and necessitates more inconvenience in your commute compared to driving.

Of course, unless your life is a bed of roses such that you do not need to move or transport any bulky items from place to place. Think about all the times when you had to lug huge bags of groceries back from the supermarket on a regular basis.

Or the occasional trip to IKEA to stock up on DIY furniture. Or indulging your whim of a road trip up north any time you want, all of which are barely possible but impractical and inconvenient on a long-term basis with any private-hire ride.

But is the high cost of owning and maintaining a car in Singapore really justified? The answer really lies with the individual. For me, in order to attain the lifestyle I crave for, I'd certainly think that a car is necessary anywhere in the world I live in. That's what we all work so hard for, right? Of course, not everyone thinks so. At least, many people in Singapore, both locals and foreigners alike, do not concur with me, judging from the many interviews in the media on this topic.

Granted, many public amenities in Singapore such as covered walkways and well-maintained pavements do make things a little more pleasant. And I’d agree that safety is something we sometimes take for granted in Singapore, given our low crime rates and relatively safe environment. But last-mile connectivity remains somewhat of a bugbear in the Singapore public transport system. Not everyone has instant access to trains or buses that run at 5-minute or less intervals (that's how I define 'convenient'). And if you have to go out, you have to go out, rain or shine. Not everyone has the privilege of being under shelter from their transport stop all the way back home too. Many public and private transport policies in Singapore, in my opinion, are just simply far from ideal.

So then, this begs the question. Are we really destined to work our fingers to the bone just to get that elusive, ridiculously-priced piece of paper that entitles us to buy and own a car for 10 years?

I'd love to know what you think. Drop me a line or leave a comment below!

Image credit: The Straits Times, 6 Oct 2022