VIDEO: The reality of hailing a taxi in Bangkok on a rainy night

By Coconuts Bangkok 

 

Screenshot: Facebook

 

Late last night, when Bangkok suffered from heavy rain and flooding, some people who tried to get home amid the summer storm found it took even more effort than usual to catch a taxi.

 

A video of Thais lining up to hail taxis — with all of them getting rejected by different drivers — has received over 1.6 million views since last night.

 

 

The video was posted by Facebook page “This is my way of doing things,” which shares local news and viral videos, with this caption, “The generosity taxi drivers have for their fellow Thais at 10pm on a rainy night.”

 

Full story: https://coconuts.co/bangkok/news/video-reality-hailing-taxi-bangkok-rainy-night/

 

-- © Copyright Coconuts Bangkok 2018-04-03

 

 

Definitely staged. Just a cheap gimmick to make Thai taxi drivers look bad. 

27 minutes ago, Emmess said:

Definitely staged. Just a cheap gimmick to make Thai taxi drivers look bad. 

I assume you're being sarcastic.  That's an awful lot of people to be involved in your conspiracy theory.  I think most Bangkokians are aware how the taxi drivers cherry-pick fares they can scam during large rainstorms.

I can't be by chance that on my rare occasions in Bangkok I was stunned/angry about the behavior of these "fine drivers".

And that was not on a rainstorm, just on a morning trying to get to an embassy.

In the end my wife and I walked about 3 km.

 

After the Chinese lady crapped in a taxi last week maybe they are a bit more cautious who pick up.

Try getting a taxi from paya thai to sai thai mai bus station afternoons,they all want 500 baht and no meter.

Can they not get into the cab, and then tell the driver where they want to go and for him to put the meter on?

1 hour ago, Emmess said:

Definitely staged. Just a cheap gimmick to make Thai taxi drivers look bad. 

Ha! Bangkok taxi drivers don't need any help in looking bad.

Meaby they all have to go to road there was flooded and the nice taxi no meter drivers said sorry can not 

Tomorrow we will hear about another nice driver there turn in lost money 

 

1 hour ago, wgdanson said:

Can they not get into the cab, and then tell the driver where they want to go and for him to put the meter on?

 

Yes they can and should by the written regulations but not always advisable and especially if it's a woman alone at night.

 

Because your now sitting in the back seat and the door closed means nothing to the errant drivers who, if they don't want to take you will just order you out and possibly with some colorful language.  

 

Yes they are breaking the taxi operations regulations by not taking you wherever you state as the destination  but they don't care. 

 

 

 

1 hour ago, scorecard said:

 

Yes they can and should by the written regulations but not always advisable and especially if it's a woman alone at night.

 

Because your now sitting in the back seat and the door closed means nothing to the errant drivers who, if they don't want to take you will just order you out and possibly with some colorful language.  

 

Yes they are breaking the taxi operations regulations by not taking you wherever you state as the destination  but they don't care. 

 

 

5

Indeed - it cost my friend a punch in the nose after him being told to get out and my friend refused claiming that the taxi driver had to take him... 

 

They even introduced 'new taxis' with a green light... these have 'panic buttons' and Internal Camera's which supposedly means they have to follow the regulations... but, they just don't bother stopping for you instead...

 

Grab remains the viable option (now UBER is selling to Grab). There is still, of course, a number of reasonable taxi drivers, but, by simply flagging down a taxi you increase your odds of an annoying if not distasteful encounter. 

 

5 hours ago, Emmess said:

Definitely staged. Just a cheap gimmick to make Thai taxi drivers look bad. 

I doubt very much if it is staged. I have experienced exactly the same several times around Asoke.

 

Some months ago there was a problem with BTS and Asoke station was full. I decided to pop down on to Sukhumvit and take a taxi to Thong Lor. I had about 10 taxis refuse or ask for 300 Baht. Some foreigners next to me wanted to go to the Emporium. They were quoted 150 to 200 Baht. The amazing thing was to see the taxis keep stopping and then refusing customers. Many of them must have driven most of the way along Sukhumvit without passengers.

With due respects, it was a bad try at humour. Been living in Bangkok for more than 20 years I do know most of the taxi drivers will take advantage of any situation where they stand to make a bit extra. A bit can be sometimes a lot as experienced by me many times. 

 

Cheers

Even on clear weather, at dawn or dusk, the Bangkok Taxi's are just rascals !!.....I know why I always use either the BTS, or the UBER app (now become GRAB)....

10 hours ago, zaphod reborn said:

I assume you're being sarcastic.  That's an awful lot of people to be involved in your conspiracy theory.  I think most Bangkokians are aware how the taxi drivers cherry-pick fares they can scam during large rainstorms.

Well Zaphod, I've been living here since '98 and it was 35 Baht to start way back then.

 

As one driver stated, many trips just aren't worth the time & effort.

 

I think 50 - 60 Baht is what the "flag-fall" should be now, I use taxis most days & don't want to have to argue the price every time.

 

I have a few rules for using taxis here:

 

1, Never try to use a taxi that's parked-up.

2. I always expect to pay more that the meter, sometimes double.

 

For example , my regular trip is 2 km and is 47 Baht on the meter, I always give 'em 60 Baht, mindful that they've saved me a 25 minute walk where I'm melting in the heat by the time I get home.

Cabbies fined 1,000 baht each for refusing to accept passengers

By Thai PBS

 

 

Two taxi drivers in Bangkok  were fined 1,000 baht each and ordered to undergo behavioral training course for three hours after they refused to accept passengers.

 

The two cabbies were summoned to the Land Transport Department on Tuesday to meet with the chief inspector of the department, Mr Sukree Charuphum, after they were accused by passengers of refusing to accept them.

 

The incident took place in front of Siam Square shopping district in Bangkok on late Monday night when it was raining. One of the passengers who was rejected by the cabbies posted in the social media, saying there were several passengers waiting for taxies and there were several taxies with the “vacancy” light switched on, but none of them accepted the passengers.

 

Full story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/cabbies-fined-1000-baht-refusing-accept-passengers/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2018-04-04

i would rather die than take a taxi in Bangkok.

 

except from the airport. that seems to be sorted out.

 

 

15 hours ago, Emmess said:

Definitely staged. Just a cheap gimmick to make Thai taxi drivers look bad. 

you think they need to stage ????? to make Thai taxi drivers to look bad? 

14 hours ago, PatOngo said:

After the Chinese lady crapped in a taxi last week maybe they are a bit more cautious who pick up.

People asking to be taken to a service station bathroom are being rejected outright.

14 hours ago, wgdanson said:

Can they not get into the cab, and then tell the driver where they want to go and for him to put the meter on?

It seems like the logical thing to do - perhaps the driver keeps the doors locked until he 'accepts' the passenger!

DLT should get number of blue taxi in video and fine him heavily for each time he refused customer see if that doesn't sort out the taxis.  Oh hang on it's early morning what am I thinking

I assume you're being sarcastic.  That's an awful lot of people to be involved in your conspiracy theory.  I think most Bangkokians are aware how the taxi drivers cherry-pick fares they can scam during large rainstorms.

Same as baht bus drivers in Pattaya turn into taxis during heavy rain and cherry pick

These people are scum. Why can't a handful of police book these pigs, it's not hard work!

Uber/Grab are going to distroy the taxi business. And frankly, I hope they do. BK taxis are the worst and deserve the fate for which they are destine.

1 hour ago, NCC1701A said:

i would rather die than take a taxi in Bangkok.

 

except from the airport. that seems to be sorted out.

 

 

I am curious how you get to the airport.

1 minute ago, elgenon said:

I am curious how you get to the airport.

by the train.

by the train.

Just did it and it was a nightmare. It's getting similar to trains in India but without passengers on the roof but that could change

And god forbid you're not going in the right area, or have a young child, or something that would have to go in the trunk, or traffic is heavy, or, or, or.. They cherry pick all day, it's good to use public transit, but the taxis make it pretty frustrating.. And the later it is, the worse it gets.. Don't like it, tough....

15 hours ago, wgdanson said:

Can they not get into the cab, and then tell the driver where they want to go and for him to put the meter on?

You have never hailed a taxi in Bangkok, have you?

11 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

by the train.

BTS from bkk to suvarnabhumi

 

this is not news, in all the time i've been here getting a taxi during heavy rain has never been easy; demand and supply

 

i take taxis a lot and taking taxi's has never been an issue for me, i think many of the problems people experience are due to the way they behave and/or dress. some easy, and common sense, ways to stop taxi hassles;

 

- never engage with a taxi driver that is hanging around waiting for passengers, especially at a hotel or in a tourist area, and never engage with a taxi driver that approaches you on the street. in short always hail a passing taxi

 

- be clear and confident in your destination; if you're a tourist do some research and find out how to pronounce the place you want to go to and/or get a thai (at your hotel) to write the destination down

 

- if a driver wont use the meter close the door and walk away, if you are in the taxi get out at the first opportunity; remain calm and confident.

 

- dont look and behave like a tourist.