Transport
UNCHANGED:
Some common public transport such as vintage cars, bicycles and trishaws remained unchanged as seen from the sources. With reference to Source B - "Trishaw, which consisted of a bicycle with a sidecar attached for a fare-paying passenger, replaced the former rickshaw", we can deduce that trishaws were being used before and during the Japanese Occupation.
CHANGES:
When the British controlled Singapore, the locals were free to use whatever transport they wanted if they could afford to pay for the ride or vehicle. When the Japanese took over Singapore, their choice of transportation became limited.
From Source B, "(2) They forced many motor vehicles to run on coal gases or inferior petrol made from vegetable sources. Public vehicles dwindled and cars ceased to be available for almost all other than the Japanese.", we can see that only the Japanese had the luxury to use the cars. However, before the Japanese Occupation, all locals who could afford to buy cars could ride in them. The locals were not allowed to use cars and were left with bicycles and trishaws to travel as they were cheap and convenient.
We can conclude from Source B, " However, the lack of spare parts, or technical skills, or both, made the fleet diminish rapidly to a deplorable state so much so that it almost faded by the time the Japanese surrendered.", that there was a decrease in the car fleet as the Japanese did not have the expertise to repair and maintain the cars. The decrease was also due to the control they had over the local's car usage.
Some common public transport such as vintage cars, bicycles and trishaws remained unchanged as seen from the sources. With reference to Source B - "Trishaw, which consisted of a bicycle with a sidecar attached for a fare-paying passenger, replaced the former rickshaw", we can deduce that trishaws were being used before and during the Japanese Occupation.
CHANGES:
When the British controlled Singapore, the locals were free to use whatever transport they wanted if they could afford to pay for the ride or vehicle. When the Japanese took over Singapore, their choice of transportation became limited.
From Source B, "(2) They forced many motor vehicles to run on coal gases or inferior petrol made from vegetable sources. Public vehicles dwindled and cars ceased to be available for almost all other than the Japanese.", we can see that only the Japanese had the luxury to use the cars. However, before the Japanese Occupation, all locals who could afford to buy cars could ride in them. The locals were not allowed to use cars and were left with bicycles and trishaws to travel as they were cheap and convenient.
We can conclude from Source B, " However, the lack of spare parts, or technical skills, or both, made the fleet diminish rapidly to a deplorable state so much so that it almost faded by the time the Japanese surrendered.", that there was a decrease in the car fleet as the Japanese did not have the expertise to repair and maintain the cars. The decrease was also due to the control they had over the local's car usage.
Source A:
Extracted from:
'Seafarers' Singapore - http://express205.rssing.com/chan-7861006/all_p4.html' dated 29 March 2013 |
Source B:
"... Mr. Kuppusamy recalls bicycles being widely used as mode of transport during the Japanese reign. So much so that even after the Japanese surrendered, he and the other villagers working in the Sembawang Shipyard used bicycles as means of transport to travel to work. Trishaw, which consisted of a bicycle with a sidecar attached for a fare-paying passenger, replaced the former rickshaw. He stated that the Japanese bicycles had only thin solid rubber tires. He also recalled in the interview to have seen the Japanese use a few cars. Some historians state that there must have been thousands of vehicles, most of which were new. This great fleet of transport fell to the Japanese as booty, when they captured Singapore. However, the lack of spare parts, or technical skills, or both, made the fleet diminish rapidly to a deplorable state so much so that it almost faded by the time the Japanese surrendered. Transport was a big problem for the local people throughout the Occupation. (1) The Japanese were in control of the world’s rubber and many oil fields. (2) They forced many motor vehicles to run on coal gases or inferior petrol made from vegetable sources. Public vehicles dwindled and cars ceased to be available for almost all other than the Japanese."
Extracted from: 'Life During The Syonan - to Period from an Indian Man's Experience' By Vigneswari D/O Baskaran dated 18 October 2003
"... Mr. Kuppusamy recalls bicycles being widely used as mode of transport during the Japanese reign. So much so that even after the Japanese surrendered, he and the other villagers working in the Sembawang Shipyard used bicycles as means of transport to travel to work. Trishaw, which consisted of a bicycle with a sidecar attached for a fare-paying passenger, replaced the former rickshaw. He stated that the Japanese bicycles had only thin solid rubber tires. He also recalled in the interview to have seen the Japanese use a few cars. Some historians state that there must have been thousands of vehicles, most of which were new. This great fleet of transport fell to the Japanese as booty, when they captured Singapore. However, the lack of spare parts, or technical skills, or both, made the fleet diminish rapidly to a deplorable state so much so that it almost faded by the time the Japanese surrendered. Transport was a big problem for the local people throughout the Occupation. (1) The Japanese were in control of the world’s rubber and many oil fields. (2) They forced many motor vehicles to run on coal gases or inferior petrol made from vegetable sources. Public vehicles dwindled and cars ceased to be available for almost all other than the Japanese."
Extracted from: 'Life During The Syonan - to Period from an Indian Man's Experience' By Vigneswari D/O Baskaran dated 18 October 2003