In the face of escalating traffic congestion and pollution, a group of local businesses in Phuket, Thailand has taken a remarkable initiative. Today, the Phuket Development Foundation and its allies in the private sector launched the Phuket Smart Bus EV project. This pilot scheme aims to provide free electric bus services to tourists around Old Town, a heavily populated area frequently blighted by traffic.

 

Phuket, a tourist haven, has been wrestling with traffic issues that rival those in Bangkok. The Old Town area is particularly impacted due to the high influx of tourists, as many as tens of thousands daily. These visitors, predominantly using personal vehicles, contribute to parking issues and escalating pollution.

 

As a counter-measure, the Phuket Smart Bus EV project brings three 100% electric buses into operation, rotating to provide free service across the Old Town route. The 22-seater electric buses, decked out with complete safety features and a wheelchair-accessible ramp, are scheduled to make 45 runs daily at 15-minute intervals across approximately 10 bus stops in the Old Town community.

 

The project hopes to ease the traffic crunch in the Old Town region and lower vehicle-generated carbon emissions. Thalang Road in Old Town alone experiences an estimated 6,000-7,000 vehicles daily, leading to a significant release of carbon dioxide.

 

Despite drawing in over 10 million international tourists each year and generating over 400 billion baht from tourism, Phuket's public transportation system remains non-existent at the governmental level. Past experiences with privately-run public transportation have been riddled with concerns over inflated fares and conflicts between passengers and service operators, casting a negative light on Phuket's tourism reputation.

 

The Phuket Smart Bus EV project, a non-profit venture kickstarted by Phuket's private sector, presents a compelling shift in addressing these issues. The sustainability and future expansion of this project, should it prove successful, will impact how the government supports public transportation initiatives.

 

File photo for reference only. Courtesy of Google

 

-- 2024-05-09

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And the taxi mob aproves?

The tax mob/mafia will have something to say about this me thinks.

Won't be surprised to read soon of mysterious electric bus fires in Phuket. Blame will be on the EV technology for sure... 

So far 3 nay-sayers who don't know Phuket.

I assume ‘tourists’ in the article refers to Thais as I can’t see many overseas tourists using ‘personal vehicles’. 
 

Oh, and the buses have, ‘complete safety features’. I guess that doesn’t include the driver.

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The Old Town area is particularly impacted due to the high influx of tourists, as many as tens of thousands daily. These visitors, predominantly using personal vehicles, contribute to parking issues and escalating pollution.

Tourists using personal vehicles ???

 

This is what Pattaya is in dire need of.

Ditch the baht Bus Mafia, and have a park and ride for all the entrants to the city that wish to partake of the " attractions " that are all piled along Beach road

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

Tourists using personal vehicles ???

 

Phuket town is popular with Thai tourists.

Perfect. Go on that way in Bangkok and Chiangrai🙏

Pink bus, airport bus, taxis et Al provide this service in Phuket town. Another slow moving chunk of coal during rush hour is a fabulous idea.

2 hours ago, Wiggy said:

I assume ‘tourists’ in the article refers to Thais as I can’t see many overseas tourists using ‘personal vehicles’. 
 

Oh, and the buses have, ‘complete safety features’. I guess that doesn’t include the driver.

 A good set of brakes would be handy as well when driving around Phuket.

I don't see how this helps the traffic problem and only adds to it.  You can walk round old town in 10 minutes why the hell do you need a bus to drive you round  Ridiculous.      Sounds like this is just for the Thai tourists as Thais do not do walking under any circumstances.