Date: 19 November 2008. Source: ST.
The other categories all ended much lower too
WHAT is thought to be impossible in an open bidding system has happened: COE has crashed.
At the close of the latest tender on Wednesday, COE premium for cars up to 1,600cc - the mainstay of car buyers - closed at an unprecedented $2.
(more)It's unbelievable. Cat A COE crashed to $2! 12 people didn't get it presumably because they bid $1 and there's only 11 left to go around.
Is the economy that bad already?
The previous time cat A COE was so low was in 2001, when it was $101.
Will this "save" a generation of cars, just like in 2001? Not yet, because the PQP is just 1/6 cheaper (average of 3 months COE).
I was following behind a car on a minor road when it came to a stop. It was not unexpected, as there were parallel parking lots beside the road.
The car started to reverse. I honked. The car continued to reverse. I tried to pedal backwards while continuing to honk, but I was too slow. The car crashed onto my bike.
(I had not expect the car to reverse as there was no lot for her to park.)
The lady driver alighted. To her credit, she asked me if I were alright before she took a look at her car. The bumper was crushed inwards. I told her it can be knocked back easily. Just as I said so, the bumper went back to its original shape!
The driver told me she did not see me. Did not see me? Did she check the rear mirror or not? (Speaking of which, I got deducted points during my TP parking test for relying only on the rear mirror and not turning my head to check. Now I see the point.)
Since there was no visible damage on both vehicles, we went our own ways.
My carpark entrance has potential for three kind of accidents:
I encountered the last one today. It's a good thing the driver slowed down to check for incoming traffic after he inched out slightly. Nevertheless, I braked hard to avoid hitting him (if he hadn't stopped).
I had let down my guard somewhat because I was almost "home free"!
Always slow down, be alert and give as much allowance as possible when crossing a row of parked cars. Safety cannot be over-emphasized.
A quote from the Internet:
If you ride a motorcycle often, you will be killed riding it. That much is as sure as night follows day. Your responsibility is to be vigilant and careful as to continue to push that eventuality so far forward that you die of old age first.
It's so simple that I have never even thought of it. It looks like I'm just not desperate enough to save $0.65/entry.
The ERP gantry is usually on the right. Stay on the left side and wait for a car to enter. When it does, pass through the gantry together. Do the same thing when you exit.
It works for busy carparks and for motorcycles only.
I was perplexed when I first saw a motorcycle waiting on the left hand side. It was only after he followed a car in that I had my hand-slapping-face moment.
Martin Luther King, 1963: "I have a dream".
Barack Obama, 2008: "Tonight, change has come to America."
(void *) &NHY;