Integrated public transport in Singapore and Hong Kong

Integrated public transport has received particular attention in recent years as a means to improve public transport services and reduce reliance on car travel. Cities such as Singapore and Hong Kong already have high modal shares in public transport (63% and 90% of all motorised trips, respectively). The high population densities in these cities naturally help promoting travel by public transport, but the high quality of transport services is also another key factor. High modal shares and good service levels still require extra effort to integrate the services across all modes. This paper describes the activities in integrated public transport in Singapore and Hong Kong. These activities are in the form of physical, network, fare, information and institutional integration. The paper discusses the issues involved, including those related to an ageing population problem. In car-based Australian cities, improving public transport systems alone may not be effective in reducing car travel. The investment required to effect significant modal shift will be high. Apart from good public transport services, Singapore also relies on high car ownership and usage costs and Hong Kong on road congestion and carparking control to maintain a low car-ownership rate. The introduction of complementary measures such as more bus and transit lanes and even congestion pricing may be necessary to reduce car use in Australian cities.