Poll: If the baht bus fare was doubled to 20 baht would you ride them any less?

[Jingthing]

OK, I realize this poll will annoy some people.

How dare you bring up the subject of DOUBLING the baht bus fares and suggest that maybe it wouldn't change the volume of passengers.

It might give those rascals at the Baht Bus Cooperative some ideas.

Like they're way too dim to consider the idea of raising the prices after 10 or 20 years themselves.

Those self sabotaging farangatans spreading such dangerous ideas! The nerve.

 

Realizing all that, I think it's time to ask this question. 

 

How many more DECADES do you think the fare will or can stay at 10 baht?

Sure it could be raised to 15 baht but that's an oddball number involving paying with at least two coins or needing change.

So 20 baht is the logical next step. 

I guess a reason against it is that it would be too high a spike for some local Thais but then that might entering the double pricing zone that used to prevail here (5 baht for Thais, 10 for foreigners). Which would be nasty.

 

So anyway, here is this poll. Like it or not. I think it's a fair question to ask. 

Edited November 17, 2019 by Jingthing

[bmanly]

We have had a good run for the last 2 decades of it being only a 10 baht trip. If everyone pays the same then it is fair. If it goes up then we as farangs have no say in the matter anyway. Either way it wouldn't change my usage of them.

[RedPill]

50 Baht note better ... would be on par for the loss of 2 decades charging 10 Baht only. Just joking ...

 

Actually, I was always wondering why it stayed so long on 10 Baht? Especially after taking a tuk tuk in Phuket one night ...

 

 

 

Edited November 17, 2019 by RedPill

[Pravda]

I will have to reconsider buying Elite Visa

[sunnyboy2018]

I would use them about the same which is infrequently these days. I would use the baht buses more often if people were not packed like sardines full of, smoking drinking ill tempered russian with babies in prams,  jabbering indians bent double in the aisle and men of all nationalities manspreading, exhibiting yellowed toe nails and varicose veins and armpit hair. The baht buses are now dangerously overcrowded, uncomfortable and undignified. I would prefer to pay 50 baht for a properly regulated service with a maximum of 6 people on each bench seat and only two standing on the back rack. Reform of the baht buses would put them all into public service and extend their routes. Currently they function as private taxis with dozens waiting on Cozy Beach Road hiring  out to the highest bidder and the largest groups. The scenes at the queue at the Pattaya Tai/Sai song police box are like a scene from hell reminiscent of WW2 german cattle trucks...all we need now is the use of viscous dogs to herd people into the cramped death traps. The once free wheeling fun transport system has been reduced to third world hell.

Edited November 17, 2019 by sunnyboy2018

[balo]

Sorry but I think its not hard to predict the outcome of this poll

If you need to visit the mall, bars or whatever you still need transport, right? And if you live near the baht bus route, what are the other options? Walking? Buy a bike? 



 

[sunnyboy2018]

16 minutes ago, balo said:

Sorry but I think its not hard to predict the outcome of this poll

If you need to visit the mall, bars or whatever you still need transport, right? And if you live near the baht bus route, what are the other options? Walking? Buy a bike? 



 

Taxi, motorsai taxi, bicycle Grab car...anything rather than the dreadful baht bus

[RedPill]

19 minutes ago, sunnyboy2018 said:

Taxi, motorsai taxi, bicycle Grab car...anything rather than the dreadful baht bus

Not sure about that ... as long as I can remember, the Baht bus in Pattaya was always very easy to use to get around on a night out.

 

I couldn't really say anything bad about it.

 

It definitely is a great way to move around for 10 Baht ... as long as it may last for that price.

 

 

Edited November 17, 2019 by RedPill

[SheungWan]

I would ask the driver if I could travel half the distance for a 50% discount.

[jacko45k]

Hardly ever use them these days. Faster to walk down some roads. Would rather get on a WIN and set off immediately other days. 

[Grumpy John]

3 hours ago, sunnyboy2018 said:

I would use them about the same which is infrequently these days. I would use the baht buses more often if people were not packed like sardines full of, smoking drinking ill tempered russian with babies in prams,  jabbering indians bent double in the aisle and men of all nationalities manspreading, exhibiting yellowed toe nails and varicose veins and armpit hair. The baht buses are now dangerously overcrowded, uncomfortable and undignified. I would prefer to pay 50 baht for a properly regulated service with a maximum of 6 people on each bench seat and only two standing on the back rack. Reform of the baht buses would put them all into public service and extend their routes. Currently they function as private taxis with dozens waiting on Cozy Beach Road hiring  out to the highest bidder and the largest groups. The scenes at the queue at the Pattaya Tai/Sai song police box are like a scene from hell reminiscent of WW2 german cattle trucks...all we need now is the use of viscous dogs to herd people into the cramped death traps. The once free wheeling fun transport system has been reduced to third world hell.

Had to laugh at that!  It's been 5.5 years since I lived there and you reminded me of the festive nights we chose to leave the pick-up and scooter at home. ????

[Henryford]

Would encourage me to walk more i need the exercise. Only time i use is when i am <deleted> late at night.

[JaiLai]

i would rather walk than ever get on a baht bus - despise them.

 

other drivers will understand where i'm coming from, they are the worst!

[Percy P]

If 50% of the people decided not to use the buses the money coming in fron the other 50% paying 20Baht would be the same before the rise .Less people using the buses same income.

[Tagged]

Baht busses is genious, but I so far never used one in Hua Hin (overcrowded), but in Krabi and Pattaya, frequently used them when been in the area. And just imagine if they where running in Phuket. 

[Peterw42]

6 minutes ago, Percy P said:

If 50% of the people decided not to use the buses the money coming in fron the other 50% paying 20Baht would be the same before the rise .Less people using the buses same income.

Thats an excellent point, and could be applied to many things in the Thai economy.

[Andrew Dwyer]

1 minute ago, Peterw42 said:

Thats an excellent point, and could be applied to many things in the Thai economy.

Yes , the 800k could be increased to 1.6m , what with half the expats leaving !! ????

[DannyCarlton]

5 hours ago, sunnyboy2018 said:

I would use them about the same which is infrequently these days. I would use the baht buses more often if people were not packed like sardines full of, smoking drinking ill tempered russian with babies in prams,  jabbering indians bent double in the aisle and men of all nationalities manspreading, exhibiting yellowed toe nails and varicose veins and armpit hair. The baht buses are now dangerously overcrowded, uncomfortable and undignified. I would prefer to pay 50 baht for a properly regulated service with a maximum of 6 people on each bench seat and only two standing on the back rack. Reform of the baht buses would put them all into public service and extend their routes. Currently they function as private taxis with dozens waiting on Cozy Beach Road hiring  out to the highest bidder and the largest groups. The scenes at the queue at the Pattaya Tai/Sai song police box are like a scene from hell reminiscent of WW2 german cattle trucks...all we need now is the use of viscous dogs to herd people into the cramped death traps. The once free wheeling fun transport system has been reduced to third world hell.

Smoking is banned on baht busses.

[Jingthing]

3 hours ago, balo said:

Sorry but I think its not hard to predict the outcome of this poll

If you need to visit the mall, bars or whatever you still need transport, right? And if you live near the baht bus route, what are the other options? Walking? Buy a bike? 



 

Yes, I agree.

 

I did predict that riding them as frequently or nearly as frequently would "win" this poll.

But there are some factors where people might reduce riding or stop.

For example I notice many people ride them for a few blocks or a distance that would take 5 or 10 minutes to walk.

I don't do that unless perhaps if it was raining and I didn't have an umbrella or carrying heavy packages.

So some people would probably reduce those "discretionary" rides due to higher fares.

I suppose some people that depend on the baht buses as their main form of transportation may be nudged into buying a motorbike due to a fare increase. But 10 to 20, I don't think very many.

I can imagine that it would hurt some poor Thai workers but that isn't a demographic reading this forum.

But otherwise clearly most people would keep riding the buses for longer rides as there is no affordable alternative (without a bike). 

Normally businesses push prices up when rising them won't hurt demand. 

So why hasn't the baht bus cooperative raised prices?

Not that I'm complaining. I'm happy to keep paying the 10 baht.

 

Here's a restaurant example of the power of pricing. 

I have a current favorite restaurant that is kind of expensive for my budget. But it's so good that I keep going there, like twice a week, even though the check bin is kind of painful. So for me anyway, this place has priced perfectly.

 

Now IF they suddenly DOUBLED their prices, I don't think I would go there ever again. 

 

For most people, 10 baht is seen as a bargain, and 20 isn't even painful. They would need to go higher than that to lose many riders. 

Edited November 18, 2019 by Jingthing

[Jingthing]

15 minutes ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

Yes , the 800k could be increased to 1.6m , what with half the expats leaving !! ????

Yes, but that's serious money. 10 to 20 baht isn't. 

[scubascuba3]

Thais would use it less, some use the bus just to go a few hundred yards

[DannyCarlton]

Just now, Jingthing said:

For example I notice many people ride them for a few blocks or a distance that would take 5 or 10 minutes to walk.

As I have a car, if I'm visiting in or around Soi Buakhao, I tend to park my car in the car park opposite Bake 'n Brew (also very fattening 555) or opposite the market on Tuesdays, Fridays. I then use the baht busses to travel to my destination on Soi Buakhow. Sometimes my journeys are just a couple of hundred metres. Why? Hate walking along Soi Buakhao due to the traffic and safer than a win. rarely use them at any other location.

 

20 baht, in some ways, would be better for me. I hate loose change in my pockets and never have a 10 baht coin. Always carry plenty of 20 baht notes.

 

20 baht for a short journey? Am I bovvered? Is my face bovvered?

[Tagged]

11 minutes ago, DannyCarlton said:

As I have a car, if I'm visiting in or around Soi Buakhao, I tend to park my car in the car park opposite Bake 'n Brew (also very fattening 555) or opposite the market on Tuesdays, Fridays. I then use the baht busses to travel to my destination on Soi Buakhow. Sometimes my journeys are just a couple of hundred metres. Why? Hate walking along Soi Buakhao due to the traffic and safer than a win. rarely use them at any other location.

 

20 baht, in some ways, would be better for me. I hate loose change in my pockets and never have a 10 baht coin. Always carry plenty of 20 baht notes.

 

20 baht for a short journey? Am I bovvered? Is my face bovvered?

Just the smell in surten blocks keeps me from walking around as well, even I could walk 10 min. 

[DannyCarlton]

1 minute ago, sillyfool said:

you just said manspreading hahahah that's the best.

 

are you sure you couldn't lump more stereotypes in there ? 

 

maybe sir would rather a more appropriate mode of transport.....highness.

 

 

 

For 20 baht that would definately be my choice of transport. I'll wager that the OP would love it too! 555

[Cabradelmar]

I will say this...the buses are a nightmare...hot and uncomfortable with toxic air. Avoid at any cost

[ivor bigun]

Last time i used a baht bus ,they were horse drawn????

[gk10002000]

20 baht is OK.  Heck for many years, the few times a day I ride them, I tend to ride for a longer ride and not just a few hundred meters.  I most of the time gave them a 20 baht note and just considered it a tip.  The baht buses to me are a fantastically ginormously wonderful thing and a big draw when I go to Pattaya.  Easy to get around, easy on, easy off, very affordable.  I like the open air, able to look around as we motor down some streets.   

[Skallywag]

Too many baht buses in Pattaya early in the day/afternoon.  See so many empty driving on side streets, or parked somewhere along second road. 

Night time different story, many are full and make money.  Still too many IMO, especially those that just double park or cruise the streets looking for a "taxi fare'.  Not doing what they were designed for, have decided to just sit and wait or cruise empty until they get a 100-200 baht "fare" from a family or small group to take them directly to their destination (as a taxi would)  Also, driver is many times not the guy/girl on the taxi licence photo. 

 

Motorcycle taxi "stands" block street corners, drink at night, and are not dispersed well either. 

Think they give their orange vest to any friend who seems sober enough to drive you. 

I saw a small Honda Zoomer type bike with an old frail thai driver who had 2 indians on it and it was definitely an accident waiting to happen. 

[Jingthing]

37 minutes ago, Skallywag said:

Too many baht buses in Pattaya early in the day/afternoon.  See so many empty driving on side streets, or parked somewhere along second road. 

Night time different story, many are full and make money.  Still too many IMO, especially those that just double park or cruise the streets looking for a "taxi fare'.  Not doing what they were designed for, have decided to just sit and wait or cruise empty until they get a 100-200 baht "fare" from a family or small group to take them directly to their destination (as a taxi would)  Also, driver is many times not the guy/girl on the taxi licence photo. 

 

Motorcycle taxi "stands" block street corners, drink at night, and are not dispersed well either. 

Think they give their orange vest to any friend who seems sober enough to drive you. 

I saw a small Honda Zoomer type bike with an old frail thai driver who had 2 indians on it and it was definitely an accident waiting to happen. 

Usually people that complain about too many buses don't actually ride them. Of course the too many empty buses that are hustling for charters and won't act as a bus are definitely very annoying to riders.

[Regyai]

Once you've shared the roads with them for any considerable length of time

 

nothing short of neck-shooting the bastards is appropriate