Picture courtesy of Daily News

 

In a move to enhance safety and ease congestion in Bangkok's Chinatown, Dr Suchatvee "A" Suwansawat, a prominent political figure, spearheaded a campaign alongside local authorities to tackle the issue of public transport overcharging and traffic jams.

 

On 6th June, the initiative unfolded on Yaowarat Road, an area famous for its influx of tourists. Dr Suchatvee joined forces with Bangkok City Council member Mr Pinit Ganjanachusak and police officers from Phlapphla Chai 2 and Chakkrawat stations to address the pressing concerns.

 

The crackdown focused on tuk-tuks and taxis allegedly inflating fares and blocking roads, causing severe congestion and distress among tourists.

 

Picture courtesy of Daily News

 

Responding to public complaints, Dr Suchatvee noted that roadblocks caused by parked three-wheelers and taxis have led to a narrowing of a typically five-lane street, worsening traffic problems.

 

Additionally, the economic downturn and decreased tourism, especially from China due to safety concerns, have prompted immediate action to restore confidence.

 

The goal is to promote Yaowarat as a model of safety, reassuring both local and international tourists. Mr Pinit and the local government have intensified efforts to prevent long-standing traffic and pricing issues through collaboration with multiple agencies.

 

Picture courtesy of Daily News

 

Police Superintendent Pol. Col. Witthawat Khengkhum confirmed that daily enforcement and arrests are ongoing, despite the challenge posed by the large number of three-wheelers.

 

The plan is to transform Yaowarat into a beacon of security, improving Thailand’s international image as a welcoming and safe destination.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Daily News 2025-06-07

 

 

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The crackdown focused on tuk-tuks

My wife and I have been married for over 20 years and lived in the Big Mango for years to make money before moving to rural Thailand. Needless to say, we avoid the big city as much as possible, but sometimes it is necessary.

 

For example, a friend of mine who I hadn’t seen since our university days was going to be in Bangkok this past week (June 2025) for only two days and asked if we could take him on a tour of Chinatown to which we agreed. So we did the tourist thing and stayed in some Shanghai joint next to a restaurant that served shark fin. Of course my friend wanted a tuk-tuk ride.

 

Finding one was easy as they are all over the place. My wife negotiated the price to B120 and a few minutes later we arrived at our Chinese tea shop destination.

 

She hands him a B500 and B20 bill. And he starts to take off. The wife grabs on to the tuk-tuk while yelling at him and luckily, he stopped. It was at this point, I realized the driver was in trouble when I saw my wife’s face. He said it was a misunderstanding. She got her B400 back.

He thought it was a generous tip...

Seventeen years ago, when I first arrived in Thailand, I was warned about tuk-tuk scams in the heart of Bangkok. It appears some things are incredibly stable here. I bet some police officers have completed their entire careers and already retired from their never-ending battle with these tuk-tuks.

And they wonder why tourist numbers are dwindling....

no-one likes to be scammed... and they never forget the experience.

Ok, so that’s this week. But what about next week and the week after that?