Activist Gilbert Goh Calls For Public Transport Boycott To Protest Fare Hikes, Asks S’poreans To Walk Or Cycle Instead

Gilbert Goh Wants Singaporeans To Boycott Public Transport If Unhappy About Hikes

The recent announcement of a 7% increase in fare hikes has bummed out many Singaporeans, who lament having to pay ever-growing fees in an unstable economy.

The majority will simply have to get on with life as public transport remains the cheapest form of travel, but activist Gilbert Goh thinks those unhappy can do something about it.

Even if that means doing so on a Sunday.

Boycott public transport on a Sunday

Goh, who contested in the 2011 and 2015 General Elections, was armed with a sign in front of a bus stop, calling for a boycott of all public transport on 20 Oct (Sunday) and to walk or cycle instead.

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Describing the boycott as “peaceful”, Goh called on Singaporeans to not stay quiet if they are dissatisfied.

While he admits that the boycott won’t change the situation by much, it is one of few peaceful ways in which individual Singaporeans can show their unhappiness.

Goh, who runs Transitioning.org, a platform for retrenched workers to get back on their feet in life, is no stranger to controversy but has seemingly mellowed over the years.

If nothing else, he has helped the poor and destitute around Singapore, even as little of it is publicised by the mainstream media.

Goh also pointed out the wisdom – or lack of – of making commuters pay for the LTA’s losses on Twitter.

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The LTA did post a deficit of 1 billion dollars in the last year, as reported in The Straits Times, and that’s no small amount.

Those working on Sunday may just have to walk to work

On a Sunday, not many people work, and in fact, many choose to stay at home and nua. So is there any wisdom in boycotting on a Sunday instead of, say, a week?

Someone commented on Facebook that he can’t participate in the boycott because he’s working that day, and others told him to walk anyway.

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Ultimately, we still need public transport and can’t afford to walk to work if our workplaces are an hour and a half away. This underlines our dependence on public transport and how much it’ll hurt whenever fares are raised.

We’ve reached out to Goh for comment.

Issue could be raised at rallies

Perhaps Gilbert is right in that we shouldn’t take things lying down if we aren’t happy.

Gilbert’s decision to take a stance on this issue is one that resonates, and with the election impending, we expect the transport issue to be a hot-button one at rallies and on campaign manifestos.

Do you think boycotting public transport on a Sunday is a good way to show your feelings about the transport hikes? Let us know in the comments.

Featured image adapted from Facebook and YouTube.