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http://imcms2.mediacorp.sg/CMSFileserver/documents/006/pdf/20090929/2909VOC022.pdf
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgguQoBkQsgB1gREV6a4-D065-iwtc_SPhF_2L_kFTlJtC8W9ZwnQHKkB5_x6GU9bOjHb75IBWpnGbhIWvcKU9SoiVDhN3PRsd25pdIh1xtyqQO71n_YLEw_vDVpkJzIR6iFIiH4xexB2nf/s400/070824_blog.uncovering.org_ren-shanghai_1_big.jpg)
Picture is obtained from http://blog.uncovering.org/php/build_image.php? path=http://blog.uncovering.org/archives/uploads/2007/070824_blog.uncovering.org_ren-shanghai_1_big.jpg
Find more uses for ez-link cards
Letter from Ong L H
TEN years ago, I left Singapore to work in Shanghai. There, I discovered I could use their local version of what we know as the ez-link card not just on buses, trains and taxis, but also when paying for items at fast food outlets and stores like Watsons.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijuWXW_X-DA3k_zYgptD38wRYAHIv71xnyWVGgoA97LqGrNaSBwOw8sUG0c_qRb9cnaHFxL5FzgepBBSmC6j4g534sLTJ9UYzpUJgqWKPup3I05SBFsgiO7ck5Rl25LwoD6ZeaIMutzfs/s400/2089449881_7cb360aca3.jpg)
A decade later, I’ve returned to Singapore, but find our ez-link system hasn’t progressed at all in terms of usefulness beyond trains and buses.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy8eLECa7oDZ7w23X5HuYYH1Ll8ZC4x9AbGcWgQflzUCVKLBcYnRNNzEikZYbiG0tzEYlSJYWkUAJZRkcdh3WuwrXF1DjCzlIPvwhgp-e4LcjhMn02Y66Vc5AaHfazssnCv7y_wMaLQqWd/s400/070824_blog.uncovering.org_ren-shanghai_2_big.jpg)
You can no longer pay for a meal at McDonald’s with the card. That was about the only non-transport use of the card I can think of.
And even for taxis — a key form of public transport here — we continue to see cabs jamming up our roads because passengers have to fumble for cash to pay the fare.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyqm12NWCoA_7Cq_EQGZVPFBtkX3yaGubNDBJgiEqBqqL0ftweCyQaTBLBG4a4eepgqt2qCUDlmdsOXNTnbclSXhHVNaC3PVY2YlIxODd9FK2_05J_nsZSutGMUai08QiQnQfcLri_rNmU/s400/070824_blog.uncovering.org_ren-shanghai_3_big.jpg)
All other means of fare payment have proven unpopular because of the slow processing time and additional fees charged.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsWF2Z_Qsdi-tkbEu6JkH3qYwTYToFibjdfjYR27JMt1fYJLHRCdCthFfAC2jkxFcc2PQl5m12r1yrAAAAP6FZRVU_fcZ2_gVRSJO-dMqMW8zZapj3DtduTMD8cOEuxEPsi_UhFuNynNuO/s400/070824_blog.uncovering.org_ren-shanghai_6_big.jpg)
The ez-link card has potential for much wider, more efficient use. Taxis are an obvious starting point.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijuWXW_X-DA3k_zYgptD38wRYAHIv71xnyWVGgoA97LqGrNaSBwOw8sUG0c_qRb9cnaHFxL5FzgepBBSmC6j4g534sLTJ9UYzpUJgqWKPup3I05SBFsgiO7ck5Rl25LwoD6ZeaIMutzfs/s400/2089449881_7cb360aca3.jpg)
Picture is obtained from http://law.scu.edu/international/Image/Shanghai_night.jpg
A decade later, I’ve returned to Singapore, but find our ez-link system hasn’t progressed at all in terms of usefulness beyond trains and buses.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy8eLECa7oDZ7w23X5HuYYH1Ll8ZC4x9AbGcWgQflzUCVKLBcYnRNNzEikZYbiG0tzEYlSJYWkUAJZRkcdh3WuwrXF1DjCzlIPvwhgp-e4LcjhMn02Y66Vc5AaHfazssnCv7y_wMaLQqWd/s400/070824_blog.uncovering.org_ren-shanghai_2_big.jpg)
Picture is obtained from http://blog.uncovering.org/archives/uploads/2007/070824_blog.uncovering.org_ren-shanghai_2_big.jpg
You can no longer pay for a meal at McDonald’s with the card. That was about the only non-transport use of the card I can think of.
And even for taxis — a key form of public transport here — we continue to see cabs jamming up our roads because passengers have to fumble for cash to pay the fare.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyqm12NWCoA_7Cq_EQGZVPFBtkX3yaGubNDBJgiEqBqqL0ftweCyQaTBLBG4a4eepgqt2qCUDlmdsOXNTnbclSXhHVNaC3PVY2YlIxODd9FK2_05J_nsZSutGMUai08QiQnQfcLri_rNmU/s400/070824_blog.uncovering.org_ren-shanghai_3_big.jpg)
Picture is obtained from http://blog.uncovering.org/archives/uploads/2007/070824_blog.uncovering.org_ren-shanghai_3_big.jpg
All other means of fare payment have proven unpopular because of the slow processing time and additional fees charged.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsWF2Z_Qsdi-tkbEu6JkH3qYwTYToFibjdfjYR27JMt1fYJLHRCdCthFfAC2jkxFcc2PQl5m12r1yrAAAAP6FZRVU_fcZ2_gVRSJO-dMqMW8zZapj3DtduTMD8cOEuxEPsi_UhFuNynNuO/s400/070824_blog.uncovering.org_ren-shanghai_6_big.jpg)
The ez-link card has potential for much wider, more efficient use. Taxis are an obvious starting point.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6JK6r78zfMDT88Q3bgLqQrA79RjSub-3Tj1U_uKJsdx4j7-vjQHHUw8KuxYwNuUqnJBocvk2_houCf4NHzYoZUS6w8e5yz4uBLSSL-bK7Mpl633gb7tEBZf64UZgEB-AfmFT2ZbmmexY/s400/1728593481_364cdfa600.jpg)
Reference
- TODAY, Tuesday September 29, 2009, VOICES, page 22
- http://imcms2.mediacorp.sg/CMSFileserver/documents/006/pdf/20090929/2909VOC022.pdf
- http://blog.uncovering.org/php/build_image.php? path=http://blog.uncovering.org/archives/uploads/2007/070824_blog.uncovering.org_ren-shanghai_1_big.jpg
- http://blog.uncovering.org/archives/uploads/2007/070824_blog.uncovering.org_ren-shanghai_2_big.jpg
- http://blog.uncovering.org/archives/uploads/2007/070824_blog.uncovering.org_ren-shanghai_3_big.jpg
- http://blog.uncovering.org/archives/uploads/2007/070824_blog.uncovering.org_ren-shanghai_6_big.jpg
- http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2224/1728593481_364cdfa600_b.jpg
- http://law.scu.edu/international/Image/Shanghai_night.jpg
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