You Only Pay A Flat Rate Of $5
Getting around in Singapore if not for public transport, can be one expensive affair. With the surge in transport prices and other surcharges, even the occasional promo codes Grab and Uber offer do not help us save on transport costs. .
If you are one who is always strapped for time or just plain lazy to use the public transport, perhaps this on-demand ride-sharing app will literally help you to save money .
Called SWAT, it is a locally developed app that only charges a flat fare of $5 – no matter the distance of your ride. It’s been in the market for a few months now, but has yet to gain enough traction to rival Grab and Uber.
The Downsides
They have their own SWAT credit system, which you will need to purchase through a credit/debit card. It’s not as direct as just leaving your card details in the app itself.
Here’s the catch; the rides need to be booked at least 30 minutes in advance and pre-booked the night before by 10pm. Also, you might need to walk a distance (less than 300 meters!) since the 13-seater Toyota Hiace Roof vans have designated pick-up points which could be bus stops, taxi stands and other landmarks. This is a small drawback, as you are only paying a small sum for the ride. The greater the distance travelled, it would make more economical sense to use this app for a ride.
Sadly, the service is only available during the morning peak hours between 7am-10am on weekdays – which makes perfect sense since it is during peak hours that it is hard to get any transport and at the same time avoid any surge in fares.
For now, pick-up and drop-off points are also limited to a zone that covers the North, Central and South. This stretches from areas such as Ang Mo Kio to Kallang, Orchard, Raffles Place, and Tanjong Pagar and Marina South at the other end – which practically cover most of Singapore anyways.
There’s also an upside. Unlike Grab and Uber where you are at the mercy of drivers, Swat drivers do not get to accept or reject a ride. It definitely makes for a more efficient system.
The chatbot design of the app also makes the driver-passenger communication much easier; you don’t have to exit the app and the chat will help determine pick-up locations.
It’s definitely a better option than say waiting for buses or having to pay an exorbitant $41 for an Uber ride thanks to the surge pricing, but be warned, arriving late at your pick-up location is frowned upon. A penalty will be imposed – in the form of credit deductions.