Whenever the subject of cars comes up in conversations with friends, the same thought always comes to my mind: Is it really necessary to be able to drive in Singapore?

Singapore is well-known to have an efficient and world-class public transportation system. Having spent my entire life relying on trains and buses to get around, I’ve always wondered why so many people complain about how expensive it is to own a car here, but yet still choose to spend thousands of dollars to earn a driving licence when they may never own a car.

Given how costly it is to undergo driving lessons and tests and how relatively affordable our public transport system is, obtaining a driving licence had never really been something I seriously considered.

However, recent events have prompted me to have a change of heart — even if I don’t plan to own a car.

NAVIGATING ‘ULU’ PLACES

Believe it or not, even on a tiny island like Singapore, some places remain relatively inaccessible for public transport users. 

I vividly recall an instance where I had to attend a social gathering event after work at a certain government building at Mount Pleasant. 

At first glance, the usually reliable Google Maps told me that it was only less than 10 minutes’ walk from the nearest bus stop. 

To my horror, the walk led me through an unforgiving uphill slog. It seemed never-ending, especially after spending more than eight hours in the office hunched over a desk. 

Just a few minutes into this trek, my laptop that I carried in my bag started to feel like it was made of solid rock. 

By the time I arrived at my destination, I was drenched in sweat. My thighs were aching for days after. 

Mount “Pleasant”? As if.

Hilly mini-route marches aside, even a leisurely visit to some of my favourite downtime destinations these days is still not easy or convenient. 

East Coast Park is one example, as there are no straightforward ways of getting there using public transport, especially on weekdays.

Sure, you can always get anywhere by hopping into a cab or pulling up a ride-hailing app on your phone. 

But it’s likely fair to say we all have our own nightmare experiences with surge pricing and difficult drivers who refuse to go the extra mile when asked nicely, or even cancel booked rides for no rhyme or reason. 

WHY BUY WHEN YOU CAN SHARE?

Cars bearing car-sharing brand logos are becoming more common a sight on our roads as well as in my own neighbourhood.

Even though I can’t use car-sharing, their prevalence has led me to do my own research into why more Singaporeans are turning to them.

Flexibility is one key pull factor for me — being able to use the services just for a short trip to a friend’s house at another ulu place or a full day spent running various errands.

Affordability is another. Since I would not be a regular road user, the overall cost of renting a car, as opposed to owning one, would be more in my favour. I wouldn’t need to bear costs for maintenance, insurance, taxes and so on.

Finally, there’s convenience. 

Most car-sharing services are accessible through mobile apps — a plus for me, as I already rely upon smartphone apps for most of my daily routine tasks, from setting my alarm, paying for meals and other purchases, to even grocery shopping.

ROAD-TRIPPING

Much like any young Singaporean, I love travelling once in a while to get away from the bustling cityscape.

I’ve been fortunate enough to witness the breathtaking landscapes of Iceland and Arizona in the United States, among other memorable trips.

One thing I’ve never been able to do is a road trip, driving for days on open roads through beautiful natural landscapes with incredible sceneries round every corner.

A destination high up on my road-tripping bucket list would be New Zealand. For me, it's just second to Iceland, which I had been to on an organised tour group that did not feel as satisfying as I'd anticipated.

I’ll admit: Listening to road trip stories of friends and watching travel videos on social media, the Fomo is starting to set in. 

Perhaps some places are much better off explored on the road by driving, instead of in a tour bus filled with 20 others.

CARPOOL SITUATION

When getting around different places in groups with family and friends, carpooling has been my go-to option most of the time. 

However, during Hari Raya visitations this year, I noticed the exhaustion setting in on the faces of the full-day drivers tasked with commuting the same group of people from one house to another — a total of seven destinations over at least five hours. 

Watching them fight off yawn after yawn, I felt a pang of guilt. 

I wondered: “Would it be better if I gave them a break and took over the wheel for a bit?”

While it’s true that situations like these do not occur too often, as I get older, I’m starting to think that it would be nice if I could, once in a while, offer some help with ferrying my relatives around for family events.

THINKING FORWARD 

Having tied the knot not too long ago, images of a possible future with kids in it have started flashing in my head. 

How would I get a toddler to daycare, and pick him up at the end of the day? Would I want to have my (potentially rowdy) kids running around on a crowded train or bus? 

If my family were indeed to get bigger, other necessities will also come into play — larger grocery loads, additional furniture, and more. Perhaps in this possible future, the increased practicality and convenience of private modes of transport would be well worth the additional monetary costs.

All this considered, it might just be time to step out of my comfort zone at last, and into the driver’s seat.

Here's hoping the numerous driving lessons that will be occupying my schedule for the next few months will be a good investment of my time and, more importantly, my money.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Sufiyan Samsuri is a journalist at TODAY.