Green-thumbed Thai cabbies turn taxis into gardens amid COVID-19 crunch

[snoop1130]

Miniature gardens are seen on the roof of unused taxis due to the business crisis caused by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic at a taxi garage in Bangkok, Thailand, September 16, 2021. REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - With demand for taxis drying up in Thailand and thousands of drivers leaving town, one Bangkok cab company has turned its vehicles into mini vegetable gardens, hoping to take the edge off the coronavirus crunch.

 

The Ratchapruek Taxi Cooperative has taken hundreds of cars off the road in the past year amid a slowing economy worsened by months of lockdown to prevent the spread of COVID-19, which has left many drivers with insufficient income to pay the lease on their vehicles.

 

A worker sprinkles water on vegetables planted on the roof of unused taxis due to the business crisis caused by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic at a taxi garage in Bangkok, Thailand, September 16, 2021. REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa

 

The cooperative grows vegetables on the roofs and bonnets of 300 of the disused cabs, providing its drivers and members with food to share while sending a message to the government to do more to help with the hardship.

 

"We discussed among each other and decided to grow vegetables to eat because there is no use for these taxis," said Thapakorn Asawalertkul, a business consultant for the company.

 

A worker plants vegetables on a roof of unused taxi due to the business crisis caused by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic at a taxi garage in Bangkok, Thailand, September 16, 2021. REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa

 

"They have become just metal as they've been parking for over a year now."

 

Thailand has recorded more than 1.5 million coronavirus cases and 15,600 deaths, 99% of those since April this year. Just 21% of the population has been vaccinated.

 

Workers plant vegetables on the roof of unused taxis due to the business crisis caused by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic at a taxi garage in Bangkok, Thailand, September 17, 2021. REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa

 

On hundreds of pink and orange taxis, chilis, eggplants, cucumbers and basil leaves sprout from soil contained in black plastic sheeting reinforced with bamboo or wooden poles.

 

Kamolporn Boonnitiyong, an administrator with the company, said though the gardens keep people occupied, they are only a temporary fix.

 

Miniature gardens are seen on the roof of unused taxis due to the business crisis caused by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic at a taxi garage in Bangkok, Thailand, September 16, 2021. REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa

 

"To a certain extent, it has helped with lessening our stress but it isn't really the answer," Kamolporn said.

 

"The government should also step in to help us too."

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-09-22

 

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[Gottfrid]

2 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The government should also step in to help us too.

I believe the answer is going to be. The government is giving away free seeds to all out of business taxi drivers.

[hotchilli]

13 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

I believe the answer is going to be. The government is giving away free seeds to all out of business taxi drivers.

Part of the greenification plan of Bangkok?

[Gottfrid]

2 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Part of the greenification plan of Bangkok?

As many taxi cars there is in Bangkok, this is going to have a huge positive effect on the whole photosynthesis. I guess people are going to die out of oxygen overload.

[dutchweller]

The cars should be scrapped and Recycled.
The amount of useable materials is Huge.
Sticking a Raised bed on the roof is just silly the same could be done on the ground the TAXIS have no impact or benefit to the gardens at all.
Recycle them all and remove any of the currently running rolling Scrapheaps that are still on the roads.
Get proper Driver Training!!!
Now is the time for Thailand to  improve the whole fleet and have safe, efficient, reliable, taxis not the rolling deathtraps we all have seen.

No seatbelts, no breaks, Clutches shot, AC non existent, full of trinkets and Stick on "GO faster" junk that 16 year old's would put on their first car.., Rusty, Panels held on with Duct tape.

[josephbloggs]

21 hours ago, dutchweller said:

The cars should be scrapped and Recycled.
The amount of useable materials is Huge.
Sticking a Raised bed on the roof is just silly the same could be done on the ground the TAXIS have no impact or benefit to the gardens at all.
Recycle them all and remove any of the currently running rolling Scrapheaps that are still on the roads.
Get proper Driver Training!!!
Now is the time for Thailand to  improve the whole fleet and have safe, efficient, reliable, taxis not the rolling deathtraps we all have seen.

No seatbelts, no breaks, Clutches shot, AC non existent, full of trinkets and Stick on "GO faster" junk that 16 year old's would put on their first car.., Rusty, Panels held on with Duct tape.

Seriously when was the last time you were in Bangkok and used a taxi?  Because you are just rambling nonsense.  Most taxis on the road are under five years old.  Can't remember ever having one that didn't have working A/C.  Never seen rust.

Did you just fancy a little bash for the sake of it?  Because it is obvious you have no idea what you are talking about on so many levels.  If real life experience is missing for you you can just look at the pretty pictures in the article - how many rusty old death traps do you see?

Driver training would be good though, yes.

[dutchweller]

1 hour ago, josephbloggs said:

Seriously when was the last time you were in Bangkok and used a taxi?  Because you are just rambling nonsense.  Most taxis on the road are under five years old.  Can't remember ever having one that didn't have working A/C.  Never seen rust.

Did you just fancy a little bash for the sake of it?  Because it is obvious you have no idea what you are talking about on so many levels.  If real life experience is missing for you you can just look at the pretty pictures in the article - how many rusty old death traps do you see?

Driver training would be good though, yes.

I live in Bangkok 
And there is Rust bucket heaps of sh** Taxi on the road all the time.
If you are talking about the FLEET leased taxis (The PINK, Yellow, Green/Yellow cabs.   yep probably reasonably well kept as they are fleet owned and operated.
BUT if you look at the PRIVETLY Owner operated Taxi that have 2 owners (Farther/son, Brothers etc running it 24/7  one day shift one night.
MOST are absolute heaps never maintained never repaired. 
and look like the attached images

I had one 3 days ago try and pick me up to take me to Immigration No AC, NO seatbelt, the gearbox and clutch was shot to Shi*  I told him to move along I will get another..


Did I hit a nerve on you and you get upset?