Bangkok taxi-meters: Fares set to rise - taxi drivers jubilant after 8 year wait

[webfact]

Picture: Siam Rath

 

Siam Rath reported that taxi drivers are jubilant that the authorities will be raising rates for rides in taxi-meter cabs in the Thai capital Bangkok.

 

Exactly how much remains to be seen but an official said that the increase would be in line with the increased cost of living and fair to both taxi drivers and the public.

 

While the head of the Department of Land Transport has said that taxi drivers will need to play ball - and stop refusing fares. 

 

The media reported that taxi fares have not increased from 2014 to this year despite many pleas from drivers to raise charges. Flag fall in Bangkok remains at 35 baht. 

 

They have been concerned by the increased cost of living and fuel in particular.

 

Sorapong Phaitoonpong from the Transport Ministry heads a committee that has comprised organisations such as the DLT, firms representing the drivers, various associations for consumer groups and the Thailand Development Reasearch Institute (TDRI).

 

A TDRI survey suggested that people were taking shorter and fewer taxi trips and the number of vehicles on the roads had dropped from 80,000 to 60,000.

 

Drivers were facing hardship as they had less custom and the rent of vehicles made up a larger proportion than previously. 

 

They concurred that there had not been increases for 8 years and that the cost of living had risen by 7%.

 

The DLT had been using the TDRI data, looking at cabbies' demands and taking into account the opinions of the public after comments made on the DLT site on Facebook.

 

Most agreed that the fares need to go up.

 

The taxi drivers want too much and the public too little - some middle ground that is fair to all needs to be found.

 

But the fares are definitely set to increase in a just capacity.

 

Jirut Wisanjit, chief of the DLT, said that when the fares do increase the drivers must stop refusing fares.

 

Or they will face points that could lead to their licences being suspended. 

 

Comments on the issue can be made to the DLT on Facebook on PR.DL.News.

 

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[Bluespunk]

7 minutes ago, webfact said:

Jirut Wisanjit, chief of the DLT, said that when the fares do increase the drivers must stop refusing fares.

Dream on...

 

8 minutes ago, webfact said:

Or they will face points that could lead to their licences being suspended. 

Yeah right...

[JoePai]

The cost of fuel/vehicle serving etc + the cost of living the taxi fares should be doubled

[SAFETY FIRST]

17 minutes ago, webfact said:

Exactly how much remains

Thailand.... Cheapest taxi's on the planet. 

 

Substantial increase required, far too cheap at the moment. 

 

Enforce use of meters.

This will be difficult, lots of bad eggs in the taxi industry. 

[EricTh]

How many taxi-drives in Thailand actually use meter? Almost none, all refused to use it when I asked in Bangkok.

 

So they have been overcharging customers for a long time now.

[PremiumLane]

10 minutes ago, EricTh said:

How many taxi-drives in Thailand actually use meter? Almost none, all refused to use it when I asked in Bangkok.

 

So they have been overcharging customers for a long time now.

Only times I have had them not wanting to use a meter was late at night in tourist hotspots, every other time they use them.

[nikmar]

31 minutes ago, EricTh said:

How many taxi-drives in Thailand actually use meter? Almost none, all refused to use it when I asked in Bangkok.

 

So they have been overcharging customers for a long time now.

never have a problem untill i go to touristy areas - where you hanging out???

[Andrew65]

25 years ago the flag-fall was 35 Baht. It should now be 50-60 Baht.
Ever wondered why the drivers are so reluctant to use the meter?????

[JCCR6]

Supply and demand, people aren’t using taxis because grab provides a better service with cleaner newer cars. 
 

Increase the cost of taxis and grab becomes even more attractive. 

[ExpatOilWorker]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

of vehicles on the roads had dropped from 80,000 to 60,000.

+100,000 Grab drivers.

[Andrew65]

2 hours ago, nikmar said:

never have a problem untill i go to touristy areas - where you hanging out???

In my 20 years in BKK I seldom had a problem getting the drivers to use the meter. One tip is to never try to use a taxi that's parked-up, they'll virtually always quote you a crazy price.

[Katipo]

Who still hails cabs in the street as opposed to using Grab or a similar service? Fixed cost and a driver knows where they are going vs. whatever lady luck throws at you.

[richard_smith237]

3 hours ago, Bluespunk said:

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Jirut Wisanjit, chief of the DLT, said that when the fares do increase the drivers must stop refusing fares.

Dream on...

 

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Or they will face points that could lead to their licences being suspended. 

Yeah right...

Exactly this....  Their behaviour of those refusing fares is inherent. Its not going to alter with a 5 baht increase in flag-fall rates.

 

Taxi drivers facing points !! ....   do they have licences and are they ever checked ???

 

 

I support the increase in flag fall fare for the taxi driver - its only fare. 

 

But to suggest this will improve any behaviour of the drivers who cheat, refuse to use the meter or run up the meter is ridiculous... the spots on those leopards are fixed.

 

 

 

 

 

[richard_smith237]

3 hours ago, PremiumLane said:

Only times I have had them not wanting to use a meter was late at night in tourist hotspots, every other time they use them.

It definitely depends where you are and what time you are using them. 

 

But, in the past I’ve been without a car for a few weeks, with my Wife and Son, trying to get around with Taxi’s and it was utterly ridiculous....  after a few weeks of this I had a horrible opinion of taxi drivers.

 

IF I am going to take a taxi today from Sukhumvit road I know that there is a 50/50 chance I’ll get a tool. 

[BostonRob2]

In Bangkok going anywhere except on a motorbike is pure folly. 

 

But take a change of clothes this week...

 

Rooster

[richard_smith237]

9 minutes ago, BostonRob2 said:

In Bangkok going anywhere except on a motorbike is pure folly. 

 

But take a change of clothes this week...

 

Rooster

Not really, if you know Bangkok, you know how, where and at what time to get around to avoid the worst of the traffic. 

 

But... IF you are trying to get somewhere between 5 and 6pm, expect gridlock

(5-8pm gridlock on a Friday at the end of the month !)

Travel anywhere between 9am and 4pm and you’ll generally be fine unless there is something going on (event / road closure etc).

 

 

[Classic Ray]

As I live 100m from an ARL station in Bangkok I use that and BTS/MRT if I’m not using my car. Used to use Grab when I was flying regularly

 

Rarely use taxis unless with my wife to stop overcharging.

[khunPer]

It's fair enough to raise the taxi meter-fare.

[alex8912]

4 hours ago, EricTh said:

How many taxi-drives in Thailand actually use meter? Almost none, all refused to use it when I asked in Bangkok.

 

So they have been overcharging customers for a long time now.

Why would you ever ask?  Why do some foreigners automatically wait until the driver puts their window down and ask/beg to go somewhere? 
Why doesn't everyone just get in the back seat say hello in Thai, let the driver know where you want to go in Thai and guess what? The driver hits the meter to go and you are off!! Works 99.9  % in most cases. I mean where the heck do some people go that makes drivers say no? That might be the only problem. One last thing. Know which side of a main road is the best  side to your destination and NEVER go beg a standing taxi who is waiting at a popular area.  How difficult is that? 
 

[Snig27]

4 hours ago, EricTh said:

How many taxi-drives in Thailand actually use meter? Almost none, all refused to use it when I asked in Bangkok.

I always get a metered cab. It really depends where you are. Outside the main tourist zones they are great.

 

[alex8912]

49 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

It definitely depends where you are and what time you are using them. 

 

But, in the past I’ve been without a car for a few weeks, with my Wife and Son, trying to get around with Taxi’s and it was utterly ridiculous....  after a few weeks of this I had a horrible opinion of taxi drivers.

 

IF I am going to take a taxi today from Sukhumvit road I know that there is a 50/50 chance I’ll get a tool. 

To where?  I don't get it. Sukumvit to any normal area is simple. You should take a vid , post it and we will give advise lol!! 

[hotandsticky]

23 minutes ago, alex8912 said:

Why would you ever ask?  Why do some foreigners automatically wait until the driver puts their window down and ask/beg to go somewhere? 
Why doesn't everyone just get in the back seat say hello in Thai, let the driver know where you want to go in Thai and guess what? The driver hits the meter to go and you are off!! Works 99.9  % in most cases. I mean where the heck do some people go that makes drivers say no? That might be the only problem. One last thing. Know which side of a main road is the best  side to your destination and NEVER go beg a standing taxi who is waiting at a popular area.  How difficult is that? 
 

 

 

Such naivety..

[Firefan]

Ah, so fewer people take taxis and do shorter trips? Let's increase the price then! 

[kevin612]

It’s all right. We can blame the inflation, Covid and war.

[Pedrogaz]

About time too. Let these poor drivers earn decent money. As it is any increase is likely to be eaten up by increases in gas prices.

[richard_smith237]

35 minutes ago, alex8912 said:

To where?  I don't get it. Sukumvit to any normal area is simple. You should take a vid , post it and we will give advise lol!! 

Is this on a ’takes one to know one’ basis where the driver will immediately recognise his own kind and refrain from rejecting the fare ? 

 

 

[Srikcir]

5 hours ago, EricTh said:

How many taxi-drives in Thailand actually use meter? Almost none, all refused to use it when I asked in Bangkok.

 

So they have been overcharging customers for a long time now.

Several times in early evening I try to take a taxi from Soi 1 on Sukhumvit to Terminal 21, no taxis would use meter and demand upwards of 300 baht.

If the taxi flag drop is raised, any taxi avoiding the meter should lose their license. PERIOD. Enforce this with undercover police.

[The Hammer2021]

Good.  Its about time.

[richard_smith237]

50 minutes ago, alex8912 said:

Why would you ever ask?  Why do some foreigners automatically wait until the driver puts their window down and ask/beg to go somewhere? 
Why doesn't everyone just get in the back seat say hello in Thai, let the driver know where you want to go in Thai and guess what? The driver hits the meter to go and you are off!! Works 99.9  % in most cases. I mean where the heck do some people go that makes drivers say no? That might be the only problem. One last thing. Know which side of a main road is the best  side to your destination and NEVER go beg a standing taxi who is waiting at a popular area.  How difficult is that? 
 

 

What would people do without your advice ???

You clearly have this conundrum cracked !!.... amazing stuff... 

 

’stand on the same side of the road as your intended direction’....   Spectacular...    wisdom has clearly chased you your whole life... well done for outrunning it !!!   

 

 

 

[richard_smith237]

15 minutes ago, Pedrogaz said:

About time too. Let these poor drivers earn decent money. As it is any increase is likely to be eaten up by increases in gas prices.

I think everyone is quite happy to see the Taxi drivers receive a deserved and fare increase to their tariff to bring their rates back into parity with the cost of fuel and living. 

 

This is especially good for the many honest hard working drivers out there who deserve a break. 

 

Now those drivers who cheat customers, refuse fares, quote higher rates or run up the meter can’t use the ‘low rates’ as an excuse....  what will their excuses be now ???