Tim Newton Today - Oct 3: Thailand's taxi 'mafias', flooding heads to Bangkok

[webfact]

 

Flood waters heading to Bangkok, Phuket's taxi mafia controls public transport prices on the island, Indonesian football stadium disaster, Phuket vegetarian festival for 2022 finishes this week, Maya Bay reopens.

 

Thanks to the Tim Newton Today sponsor...
https://5starmarinephuket.com 

 

 

[plus7]

Hi,

Can anyone explain why he calls it "mafia" (even with quotes) instead of "professional union"?

"Mafia" already  sounds biased and negative.

[proton]

1 hour ago, plus7 said:

Hi,

Can anyone explain why he calls it "mafia" (even with quotes) instead of "professional union"?

"Mafia" already  sounds biased and negative.

It's what Thais call them

[DonniePeverley]

Bangkok taxi drivers are really next level corrupt since tourism opened back up again. Total disgrace, not one uses a meter. 

[hotandsticky]

10 minutes ago, DonniePeverley said:

Bangkok taxi drivers are really next level corrupt since tourism opened back up again. Total disgrace, not one uses a meter. 

 

That is patently untrue  -  at least the last sentence.

[pj123]

39 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

 

That is patently untrue  -  at least the last sentence.

I always use Grab with no problems. Majority of trips in taxis. I tip most drivers as Im happy with the service.

[Sparktrader]

1 hour ago, DonniePeverley said:

Bangkok taxi drivers are really next level corrupt since tourism opened back up again. Total disgrace, not one uses a meter. 

I don't blame them.

 The meters are too cheap. They drive an hour for 200 baht. It's a joke.

 

The meter rate should be doubled.

[Sparktrader]

2 hours ago, proton said:

It's what Thais call them

Poor mafia. Working for 40 baht an hour.

[geisha]

40 years of bangkok visits and holidays and never had a problem. Even without meter in town you can get a very good price. They earn their money, breathing that poison and traffic jams all day long !  Now, Phuket is another kettle of fish. Ever since my first long stay in 84 there’s been trouble with them. Even driving drunk as I unfortunately found out on 2 occasions.  In Phuket, they sit on their backsides all day long waiting for a client, wouldn’t it be more sense to have reasonable fixed prices and work a good days wages ? Or is that asking too much. In stead of moving around Phuket visiting all the beautiful beaches , Phuket town, temples, tourists stay on the beach all day instead, or take the local wooden bus to very few locations. No one can set up a proper bus route as the taxis won’t allow it ! One tried, and after half an hour was stopped before Patong hill , the driver pushed on the floor and threatened ! That was the end of that. Another tourist parked in «  their » space with his hire car . ( one poor tourist innocent family man) the taxis attacked him, one with a metal bar ! Was not a pretty site, his family sitting in the car screaming. Needless to say I moved away. I went back for 6 weeks in January to see my old friends, and nothing has changed. A KM long queue of empty taxis. 

[zzaa09]

5 hours ago, proton said:

It's what Thais call them

Applies to the amusing and off-handed vernacular labeling of government, police, local officialdom, etc. as well. 

At least they understand the truer nature and definition of the criminally organised.