Bangkok residents call for 20 baht fare amid uproar over 100 baht BTS cost

[snoop1130]

 

The fare for a journey on the BTS Skytrain from Asoke to Minburi station has been set at 100 baht, causing uproar among Bangkok residents. They argue that it is nearly a third of the daily minimum wage and have started calling for the implementation of the 20 baht fare policy across all routes, previously promised by the government during the election campaign.

 

It started when the page Foot Path Thai Style revealed the fare for the BTS train from Asoke station (Green Line) to Minburi market station (Pink Line), covering 35 stations and taking about 59 minutes. The fare was around 100 baht, immediately sparking a wave of public criticism.

 

Residents in the capital city expressed their dissent with the slogan Bangkok, a life that fits well, highlighting the fact that the fare is almost one-third of a day’s minimum wage. This led to widespread calls for the implementation of the 20 baht fare policy across all routes. This policy was a popular promise made by the government during the election campaign, and many hope it will reduce their daily expenses, reported Sanook.

 

“Two meals’ worth of food,”

 

By Samantha Rose

Caption: Picture courtesy of Sanook

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2024-01-17

 

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[bkk6060]

I bet they will never lower it to 20 b.

 

[Muhendis]

Perhaps the problem is not the fare but rather the level of minimum wage.

[it is what it is]

 

fare(!) enough if you don't want to mix with the riff raff on the 8 baht non aircon bus...

[Celsius]

4 minutes ago, it is what it is said:

 

fare(!) enough if you don't want to mix with the riff raff on the 8 baht non aircon bus...

 

I don't want to mix with Western sexpat riff raff on BTS that's why I own a car even tho I live next to Ekkamai BTS

[hotchilli]

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The fare for a journey on the BTS Skytrain from Asoke to Minburi station has been set at 100 baht, causing uproar among Bangkok residents. They argue that it is nearly a third of the daily minimum wage and have started calling for the implementation of the 20 baht fare policy across all routes, previously promised by the government during the election campaign.

That's how ridiculously out of touch the government is, employers and company owners are screwing the public, while elites sit on millions.

[hotchilli]

24 minutes ago, Muhendis said:

Perhaps the problem is not the fare but rather the level of minimum wage.

True... Most of the working class peoples wages are completely out of touch with the cost of living.

[sirineou]

1 minute ago, hotchilli said:

True... Most of the working class peoples wages are completely out of touch with the cost of living.

Could not agree more!!

[Saendaeng1975]

They accidentally put in the farang price. 100 THB for Adult foreigners and 20 THB for Thai 😂

[Celsius]

2 hours ago, hotchilli said:

True... Most of the working class peoples wages are completely out of touch with the cost of living.

 

The wages might be out of touch, but if they are doubled half of Western expats would not be able to continue living in Thailand.

[sungod]

3 hours ago, Muhendis said:

Perhaps the problem is not the fare but rather the level of minimum wage.

And that PT have not manged to honor single election pledge.......

[bamnutsak]

Another bogus PTP campaign promise bites the dust.

 

 

[mokwit]

3 hours ago, Celsius said:

 

I don't want to mix with Western sexpat riff raff on BTS that's why I own a car even tho I live next to Ekkamai BTS

Are you one of the 'good' falangs?

[Celsius]

2 minutes ago, mokwit said:

Are you one of the 'good' falangs?

 

Could be... I dunno.

 

Depends on how much the cost of "healthcare" goes up.

[john donson]

100 baht single way, so 200 both = 2/3 of slave labor day...

[newnative]

   Not only should all the fares be economical but the trains all need extra cars added.  They are very over-crowded, sometimes even during non-rush hours.  The whole object should be to make public transportation fast, comfortable and affordable.  If one has to wait a long period for several trains in order to get onto an expensive, crowded, uncomfortable train, all three objectives have been lost.

[Emdog]

How long and how much would alternatives cost? Say a taxi: could it do the trip quicker? and for less? "Time is money"

If you took regular bus, again how much and how long would it take?

I don't see many Americans who make minimum wage taking taxis and such in US..... skytrains etc here were not built for the masses, plain and simple

[KhaoNiaw]

5 minutes ago, Emdog said:

. skytrains etc here were not built for the masses, plain and simple

 

Agreed. They weren't intended to take people off the buses. 

[Muhendis]

2 hours ago, john donson said:

so 200 both = 2/3 of slave labor day...

Steady on.

Didn't a government department recently recommend a 10 - 15 Baht rise in the minimum wage? 

It may improve the 2/3 a bit.

[Bangkok Barry]

2 hours ago, newnative said:

   Not only should all the fares be economical but the trains all need extra cars added.

 

True. Bangkok has a much larger population than London and New York (11 million compared to around 8.5 to 9), but trains in those cities are up to 12 carriages long.

[sirineou]

I am not sure what daily wages are in Bangkok but 100 bht (is it each way?) would be a large percentage of someones daily earnings. 

[fondue zoo]

On 1/18/2024 at 9:56 AM, it is what it is said:

 

fare(!) enough if you don't want to mix with the riff raff on the 8 baht non aircon bus...

 

Is that the one with old wooden planks for the floor?  that brought back some Appalachian memories.

[SAFETY FIRST]

On 1/17/2024 at 6:13 PM, snoop1130 said:

argue that it is nearly a third of the daily minimum wage 

Doubt that there are many people working in Bangkok are on the minimum daily wage. 

 

Edited January 21 by SAFETY FIRST