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Singapore has a quota system for vehicles. The cost of a 10-year vehicle license under their auction system can exceed the value of the vehicle: https://en.wiki

by imurray 12y ago

Singapore has a quota system for vehicles. The cost of a 10-year vehicle license under their auction system can exceed the value of the vehicle: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Certificate_of_Entitlement https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Certificate_of_Entitlement The situation isn't the same as your hypothetical situation though. The licenses aren't perpetual or (for the most part) transferable. Incidentally, the traffic flows pretty well there.

michaelochurch 12y ago
Singapore is a different case, because it's such a small country. Between the size of the island and the climate (hot/humid) they can't afford uncontrolled growth of car usage. It's also a place (like Manhattan) where you don't need a car. Frankly, I think car usage should, ideally, cost 2-3 times what it costs in the U.S. to account for all the externalized costs. (Those taxes could be used to modernize the train system and public transportation.) That wouldn't be practical, unfortunately, as the country is set up now.
- hiharryhere 12y ago
  Public transport and trains don't do anything to help the many folks living outside cities. Singapore is very different to downtown Texarkana. Try telling bill the farmer that his truck is gonna cost 3x more to run this year to help fund light rail in The city. Singapore and the US is an apples to pork chops comparison.
  - xmodem 12y ago
    Australia has a system whereby "bill the farmer" (and miners) can claim a tax credit for fuel excise taxes, whereas inner city drivers can't. The UK has a system where inner city drivers have to pay congestion taxes. Both of these systems make some progress towards limiting congestion and subsidising public transport in dense areas without hurting those outside the cities. Personally I think they should both go a lot further.
- waps 12y ago
  Plus there are many ways the Singaporean government gives advantages to the very wealthy. Providing them with roads that everybody pays for but they don't have to share is but one of many.
johansch 12y ago
My primary memory of my first Singapore visit a few years ago is how nearly impossible it was to find a taxi in the afternoon/evening. Ended up spending an hour walking back to the hotel instead.
CamperBob2 12y ago
It flows pretty well in Pyongyang, too.

by imurray 12y ago

michaelochurch 12y ago

Singapore is a different case, because it's such a small country. Between the size of the island and the climate (hot/humid) they can't afford uncontrolled growth of car usage. It's also a place (like Manhattan) where you don't need a car. Frankly, I think car usage should, ideally, cost 2-3 times what it costs in the U.S. to account for all the externalized costs. (Those taxes could be used to modernize the train system and public transportation.) That wouldn't be practical, unfortunately, as the country is set up now.

hiharryhere 12y ago
Public transport and trains don't do anything to help the many folks living outside cities. Singapore is very different to downtown Texarkana. Try telling bill the farmer that his truck is gonna cost 3x more to run this year to help fund light rail in The city. Singapore and the US is an apples to pork chops comparison.
- xmodem 12y ago
  Australia has a system whereby "bill the farmer" (and miners) can claim a tax credit for fuel excise taxes, whereas inner city drivers can't. The UK has a system where inner city drivers have to pay congestion taxes. Both of these systems make some progress towards limiting congestion and subsidising public transport in dense areas without hurting those outside the cities. Personally I think they should both go a lot further.
waps 12y ago
Plus there are many ways the Singaporean government gives advantages to the very wealthy. Providing them with roads that everybody pays for but they don't have to share is but one of many.

johansch 12y ago

My primary memory of my first Singapore visit a few years ago is how nearly impossible it was to find a taxi in the afternoon/evening. Ended up spending an hour walking back to the hotel instead.

CamperBob2 12y ago

It flows pretty well in Pyongyang, too.