Taxi drivers ask government to help

[Nereus]

While I agree that fares probably need increasing, many of the "mafia types", at least in Bangkok, have only themselves to blame if they are losing out because of better service from somebody else!
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Taxi drivers ask government to help

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... nt-to-help

A group of drivers representing taxi cooperatives in Bangkok have asked the government to help them when ride-sharing services are legalised as proposed by one of the 19 coalition parties making up the new government.

Bhumjaithai made legalising ride-sharing services one of its key election campaign pledges, alongside marijuana legalisation.

Party leader Anutin Charnveerakul had reportedly bargained for the transport portfolio, in addition to the deputy prime minister post, so he could implement the policy during talks to join the Palang Pracharath-led government.

Mr Anutin insisted earlier that a condition for his party to join the government led by Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha was that all of his party’s policies had to be adopted and implemented.

His party's presence in the new government has apparently worried taxi drivers. Around 30 of them who represent the network, led by chairman Vithoon Naewpanich, drove their cars to the Land Transport Department in Bangkok on Monday morning to submit the letter to the government through the department.

They also said they would go to Bhumjaithai's head office later in the afternoon to seek clarification on its plans.
The group, which claimed to represent some 40,000 taxi driver registered under the cooperatives and another 40,000 with their own cars, had four requests for the new government.

First, there must be remedies for them if the change affects their jobs. Second, legal action must be taken against current ride-sharing drivers.

Third, the Taxi OK programme, initiated a few years ago by the government to help them better compete with mobile application-based taxi hailing services by global players, must be reviewed since it has not been successful.
Lastly, fares must be revised to make them fairer and to reflect real costs.

A group of motorcycle tax riders also submitted a letter shortly after at the department on the same day in protest against the legalisation of ride-sharing services.

The presence of Singapore-based Grab, which provides hailing services for both car and taxi services on smartphones, has changed the industry.

Like their peers in large cities worldwide, traditional drivers have found it increasingly difficult to compete, especially with people who drive taxi part-time using their own cars, which are generally newer, cleaner and in better condition.

They also have faced numerous complaints. Chief among them are passenger refusals during rush hours and meter tampering, which drive more people to turn to ride-hailing services.

[handdrummer]

They also have faced numerous complaints. Chief among them are passenger refusals during rush hours and meter tampering, which drive more people to turn to ride-hailing services.


I deal with this every tine I go to Bangkok. That and exorbitant fares along with refusal to turn on the meter.

[Big Boy]

I've also read today that Chiang Mai's red songthaews intend bringing Chiang Mai to a standstill in protest.

[caller]

To be honest, I far prefer the taxi drivers in Bkk compared to the rip-off merchants in Hua Hin. I spend a fair amount of time in Bkk (currently there now although back tomorrow) and I have only had a handful of bad experiences compared to the much large number of legit taxi's I have used.

Most trips are fairly local, to and from the local BTS and other nearby areas, but some have been right across Bkk and even when I tire of catching the airport link and grab a taxi from the airport instead, I have never had any issues and yes, the fares are very generous. Which is why it irks me so much to add 500 baht on to the cost of my trip to Bkk just to get to the airport bus station at Hua Hin!

[buksida]

Taxi and motorcycle taxi drivers protest against legalization of Grab application
Representatives of Bangkok’s taxi cooperatives and motorcycle taxi-drivers separately demonstrated in front of the Land Transport Department on Monday morning to protest against the department’s plan to legalize Grab taxi and motorcycle taxi services.

Mr. Vitoon Naewpanich, chairman of taxi cooperatives network in Bangkok, told Thai PBS today that there are, presently, more than 40,000 taxies operating in the city and if Grab taxies, using private cars, are allowed to operate legally, conflict between the two groups of drivers may escalate as they fight for business.

One of the protesting taxi drivers, Mr. Thawatchai Bangba, said the Land Transport Department should come up with a set of rules to be applied to Grab taxies, such as dress code and to ensure the safety of the passengers.

He also complained about the shortcomings and high costs, about 30,000 baht per taxi, of the “Taxi OK” application, which is to be compulsory in all taxies with the exception of Grab taxies.

https://www.thaipbsworld.com/taxi-and-m ... plication/

Don't have a lot of sympathy for them, if they weren't so greedy in the first place and actually did their jobs properly people would not be flocking to better alternatives.

[Nereus]

B5,000 fine for cabbies rejecting fares

https://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/ea ... ting-fares

The Land Transport Department plans to raise the fine for cabbies who reject passengers from 2,000 baht to 5,000 baht, but a taxi drivers' leader insists it's sometimes necessary to turn away a fare.

Deputy director-general Thanee Suebrerk said on Monday the department had proposed the merger of car and land transport laws and that the amendment bill include an increase of the maximum fine from 2,000 baht to 5,000 baht for taxi drivers who reject passengers.

The increase was aimed at lifting the penalties for taxi drivers committing offences to the same level as those imposed on other public transport, such as passenger buses and vans, he said.

Taxis refusing to accept a fare is the most frequent complaint filed with the hotline number 1584 of the Land Transport Department.

However, Withoon Naewpanit, head of a network of taxi drivers in Bangkok, said cabbies sometimes have to reject passengers who want to go on routes where there are no other fares, or who want to make several stopovers. He said cab drivers earn low incomes and fares have been frozen for a long time.

[Big Boy]

He said cab drivers earn low incomes and fares have been frozen for a long time.

Yet Grab offer a better service, often for 50% of the fare. If your trip gets cancelled, I see they even offer a free ice-cream as compensation . Trying to flag down a taxi after 8pm in Bangkok is nigh on impossible. If you're lucky enough to stop one, they often demand triple fares.

Give me Grab any day. I've only had one bad experience, and Grab compensated me for that.