Bangkok Urged to Develop App for Safe, Fair Motorcycle Taxi Fares

[webfact]

 

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has been urged by a city council member to develop a new application for motorcycle taxis to ensure passenger safety and fair pricing.

 

Viput Srivaurai, representing Bang Rak district, has called on the BMA to leverage technology and innovation to enhance motorcycle taxi services. He emphasised the need for a data management system that details drivers and their vehicles, ensuring a safe and reasonably priced ride-hailing service for Bangkok's residents and tourists.

 

“This service would allow motorcycle taxi drivers to pay lower fees compared to those charged by platforms like Grab,” Viput commented.

 

Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt mentioned the BMA already maintains a database of motorcycle taxi services. This database includes service point locations, the number of drivers, their ID numbers, licence plate numbers, and fare structures. However, the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) currently bars this information from being publicly shared.

 

With around 5,300 service points and 80,000 registered drivers, Bangkok's motorcycle taxi system is widely used. Yet, passengers often face issues such as service denial, unreasonable fares, and inappropriate behaviour from drivers, reported Bangkok Post.

 

In related news, incidents involving motorcycle taxi drivers have surged in Pattaya City and Banglamung district, threatening the area's reputation as a tourist hotspot. Recent reports have highlighted assaults on foreign tourists and harassment of people misidentified as ride-hailing service drivers. These confrontations have sometimes escalated into violent encounters.

 

Separately, a minor altercation between two road users in Bangkok turned into a dramatic road rage incident. A taxi driver collided with a motorcyclist, running him over multiple times and dragging his bike along the road for over a kilometre before crashing into a utility pole.

 

The call for a safer, more regulated motorcycle taxi system in Bangkok highlights the capital's ongoing challenges and the need for swift, effective solutions.

 

Picture courtesy: Matechon

 

-- 2024-07-20

 

- Cigna offers a range of plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

[Geoffggi]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

This database includes service point locations, the number of drivers, their ID numbers, licence plate numbers, and fare structures. However, the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) currently bars this information from being publicly shared.

I wonder why this is 🙄🙄🙄      LOL

[ChrisY1]

Ok...this'll work....these guys are just honest people....:))

[hotchilli]

From the Op photo, rider #73 where is your id and number plate?

[trainman34014]

How about an 'App' for 'Safe' and 'Legal' Riding methods !

[Luuk Chaai]

17 hours ago, hotchilli said:

From the Op photo, rider #73 where is your id and number plate?

 

he was doing his homework and the dog ate it

[Mr Meeseeks]

We already have Grab and Bolt. Never had any problems using motocy taxis on either. Fares are fixed too, so no scamming.

[BobDobbs]

1 Expect that the win drivers won't use the app

 

2 I think it's quite impossible. It would have to that is basically a taxi meter on your phone monitoring flag fall and distance, possibly time also

[BobDobbs]

On 7/20/2024 at 10:04 AM, webfact said:

In related news, incidents involving motorcycle taxi drivers have surged in Pattaya City and Banglamung district, threatening the area's reputation as a tourist hotspot. Recent reports have highlighted assaults on foreign tourists and harassment of people misidentified as ride-hailing service drivers. These confrontations have sometimes escalated into violent encounters.

 

This has always been true in Pattaya. Decades ago before taxis. Songtaew double charging tourists. I don't really remember a lot of moto taxis in dead center Pattaya but I lived there 20 years ago or more

 

Generally speaking these guys are out of jail or on the run from their baby mama.