I Can't Believe Another 5 Baht, 10 Baht Baht Bus Thread!

[sharecropper]

I have never seen a Russkie do a runner, I think that is an urban myth

Believe me, I could come up with much more interesting stories if I wanted to invent stuff.

[CHdiver]

I try not to use this overly expensive System of public transport (its cheaper in Zurich), however when I do, I cant remeber being able to see what the Guy before me did pay, usually they do approach fro the back and put the hand with the money into the driver cabin. no chance to see what he pays for the OP.

Looks like somebody hit him with a hammer

[Naam]

Will there be a poll too???

i hope so. can hardly wait for it

[thaihome]

I try not to use this overly expensive System of public transport (its cheaper in Zurich), however when I do, I cant remeber being able to see what the Guy before me did pay, usually they do approach fro the back and put the hand with the money into the driver cabin. no chance to see what he pays for the OP.

Looks like somebody hit him with a hammer

First thing is the Songthaews in Pataya are not public transportation in the same sense as Zurich. They are all private contracotrs.

A quick google search shows a single ticket good for 5 stops in 30 minutes cost 2.10 swiss francs, which comes to some 64 baht. Hardly sounds cheaper to me.

TH

[Ulysses G.]

Just another example of thai racism or dual pricing however you want to see it towards the farangs.

Just another example of someone who want to raise his post count with always the same bored,done to death subject.

Does anyone really care about their post count?

[Pattaya46]

I can't believe that some falang still try to pay only 5 baht !

Everybody nowadays pay 10 baht, farang or Thai.

The only exception I see are school children would seem to continue pay 5 baht.

I thought that this subject was closed maybe 2 years ago,

but it's like there is no limit to cheap charlie tenacity...

[sharecropper]

I can't believe that some falang still try to pay only 5 baht !

Everybody nowadays pay 10 baht, farang or Thai.

The only exception I see are school children would seem to continue pay 5 baht.

I thought that this subject was closed maybe 2 years ago,

but it's like there is no limit to cheap charlie tenacity...

The only 5 Bahters I see nowadays are either (1) very poor Thais, street vendors and the like or (2) Thais going a very short distance, and they pay the 5 Baht and walk off.

Russians seem to be routinely paying 20 Baht a head for a 10 Baht ride, and most Thais are paying 10 Baht.

I cannot imagine under any circumstances proffering 5 Baht, unless I wanted to have a fight with a baht bus driver.

[Jingthing]

I agree that the fare for the most part is 10 baht. That's what I have been paying for years and suggest others pay. However, the situation here, a crosstown non-touristy rather short run packed bus is perhaps an exception (for Thais). At least that's what I saw. You don't have to imagine it. I just told you about it. The fares here have always been somewhat situational. For example if you go a long way and there are very few people, the chances greatly increase that the driver will try to extract a bigger (than 10 baht) fare.

You can call people stupid names till the cows come home. I think what I saw and experienced will be of some interest to some baht bus riders. That's about it.

Edited February 16, 2010 by Jingthing

[soundman]

Russians seem to be routinely paying 20 Baht a head for a 10 Baht ride, and most Thais are paying 10 Baht.

Recent topics to the contrary would lead one to believe that Russian's don't pay for the Baht bus service.

[Jingthing]

There are many thousands of Russian tourists every year. So a few Russkies don't pay and people come to the absurd conclusion that Russians don't pay? Its completely ridiculous.

[sharecropper]

Russians seem to be routinely paying 20 Baht a head for a 10 Baht ride, and most Thais are paying 10 Baht.

Recent topics to the contrary would lead one to believe that Russian's don't pay for the Baht bus service.

Given that was my thread, I know, but I also realise they are exceptions to the rule!

[surayu]

Just toss the coin in the hand and walk away. Cheers.

and i would add, retract your harm/hand as quick as you can just after have handed your payment, as the driver or whom is sitting next to him might just grab you to get more money, no jokes, even if you pay 10, 20, 30 Baht depending on whatever great driver you might end up with, he might still pretend more or much more, indipendently by the fact that you haven't spoken to him (that's another secret law only known to regular users i guess)...

[Jingthing]

Just toss the coin in the hand and walk away. Cheers.

and i would add, retract your harm/hand as quick as you can just after have handed your payment, as the driver or whom is sitting next to him might just grab you to get more money, no jokes, even if you pay 10, 20, 30 Baht depending on whatever great driver you might end up with, he might still pretend more or much more, indipendently by the fact that you haven't spoken to him (that's another secret law only known to regular users i guess)...

I agree! Best not to even touch the hand if you can manage that. In and out quick quick and on your way. Also, avoid eye contact. I am talking in all cases, even standard non-controversial 10 baht payments. To repeat again, I do not recommend paying 5 baht. The incident I reported was a special situation. I wouldn't do it again unless I encounter a very similar situation and I don't recommend you do either.

For me it was about rejecting the absurdity of enforcing race based pricing on myself when I had living examples of numerous other humans paying a specific fare. Good for them, good for me. The Thai driver may see me as not human like an Asian looking person, why honor that prejudice? OK, if you say, that was the residents price, well then, I am a resident.

Edited February 16, 2010 by Jingthing

[Jimmyd]

That character being a city clogged up with diesel fume emitting, dangerously driven, mafia protected quasi buses one presumes!

They don't use diesel, they use LPG, I believe.

[Jimmyd]

Sometimes when I catch a songtaew going from Soi Buakow to Big C North Pattaya, they don't turn up 2nd road, instead going to Beach Road. In this case, it costs me two 10-baht fares. I think next time, I'll give the first songtaew 5 baht and explain why if he asks, thereby reducing my outlay to 15 baht.

If I stop posting on ThaiVisa, you can guess what happened.

[bunta71]

I have to agree with Jingthing...I never pay the falang price if I am aware of a difference being imposed. I am sure as he has indicated that since he has been paying 10 baht for years it's not the amount but the whole idea of this racist policy.The baht busses are a good thing but as a driver of a car, I believe there are way too many of them here. They could do with about half, IMHO.I live about 10 klicks north of downtown and enjoy having my own ancient yet classic and spotless Volvo. But trying to drive or park in Pattaya is never easy. Having to deal with too many baht busses and their total lack of regard for others adds to the unnecessary turmoil.

[surayu]

So, here we have to deliver the coins as quick as possible and stay as far as we can from the greedy one, i might have the solution!

[syd barrett]

Sometimes when I catch a songtaew going from Soi Buakow to Big C North Pattaya, they don't turn up 2nd road, instead going to Beach Road. In this case, it costs me two 10-baht fares. I think next time, I'll give the first songtaew 5 baht and explain why if he asks, thereby reducing my outlay to 15 baht.

If I stop posting on ThaiVisa, you can guess what happened.

You can avoid vicious beatings by flagging a Baht Bus down on Soi Buckhaew and saying 'Big C' if yes board if no wait for the next one. You will save a lot of 10 bahts over the years.

Edited February 16, 2010 by syd barrett

[Jimmyd]

You can avoid vicious beatings by flagging a Baht Bus down on Soi Buckhaew and saying 'Big C' if yes board if no wait for the next one. You will save a lot of 10 bahts over the years.

I guess they don't assume you're hiring them because it's not such a touristy area. Thanks for the tip, I'll give it a try.

[surayu]

You can avoid vicious beatings by flagging a Baht Bus down on Soi Buckhaew and saying 'Big C' if yes board if no wait for the next one. You will save a lot of 10 bahts over the years.

That's a big No-No, by saying anything to the driver at all, you will in fact hiring the whole truck, nevermind if he got people on it already and stops taking on even more people, when you get out of it he will ask you for probably 100-200 Baht and the police will just say you should not have said anything to the driver(nevermind what you might say, even a "goodevening" it's hiring the driver for the BiB), be careful.

[stingray]

Just pretend your from Eastern Europe, heard on anther forum they have been a number of instances witnessed where they have just walked away without paying.

I did pay. Your comment is really off topic.

actually it's allways 10 Baht and 10 Baht is very cheap. But i thing 70% of the taxis should be "deleted", because they really causing traffic jams, parking on a mainroad in 2 lines, waiting for customers., etc. Most of them running around emty anyway. They competie them self, so i hope one day the cityhall will realize that and cutting them to at least 50%

[syd barrett]

You can avoid vicious beatings by flagging a Baht Bus down on Soi Buckhaew and saying 'Big C' if yes board if no wait for the next one. You will save a lot of 10 bahts over the years.

That's a big No-No, by saying anything to the driver at all, you will in fact hiring the whole truck, nevermind if he got people on it already and stops taking on even more people, when you get out of it he will ask you for probably 100-200 Baht and the police will just say you should not have said anything to the driver(nevermind what you might say, even a "goodevening" it's hiring the driver for the BiB), be careful.

No, you are mistaken. If you ask the destination on Soi Buckhaew he will know it is not a charter request. Thai's do it all the time, for example asking for 2nd Road or for Naklua.

Never in 9 years have I had a problem on Soi Buckhaew.

[surayu]

No, you are mistaken. If you ask the destination on Soi Buckhaew he will know it is not a charter request. Thai's do it all the time, for example asking for 2nd Road or for Naklua.

Never in 9 years have I had a problem on Soi Buckhaew.

Well that happened to myself a while ago and i posted the details in this forum as well, if that's not the "untold rule" then i have been scammed with the complicity of several local police stations and even the "falang" working for the BiB, is either one or the other....

[sharecropper]

No, you are mistaken. If you ask the destination on Soi Buckhaew he will know it is not a charter request. Thai's do it all the time, for example asking for 2nd Road or for Naklua.

Never in 9 years have I had a problem on Soi Buckhaew.

Well that happened to myself a while ago and i posted the details in this forum as well, if that's not the "untold rule" then i have been scammed with the complicity of several local police stations and even the "falang" working for the BiB, is either one or the other....

I would be interested to read the link to your old topic if you have it.

If I ever question the destination, which is rarely, to be honest, and they tell me, I then say "sip baht" and if they are out for a special ride, that's usually the end of the conversation.

[surayu]

I would be interested to read the link to your old topic if you have it.

yes i just found it using the Advanced Search option: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Baht-Buses-t33970.html my post is on #31

[andyww]

The correct short-distance fare is 8 baht.

My wife always pays 10 Baht whether she is with me or not. She knows the real fare is 8 baht but gives the extra 2 as a tip.

Anyone paying 5 baht, whether Thai or Farang is ripping off the driver. I hope I never meet in person a farang who thinks he should only pay 5 baht as I dont think we would get on too well...

[britmaveric]

^actually its 5bht, least that's what Ms. Brit tells me.

[Jingthing]

The correct short-distance fare is 8 baht.

My wife always pays 10 Baht whether she is with me or not. She knows the real fare is 8 baht but gives the extra 2 as a tip.

Anyone paying 5 baht, whether Thai or Farang is ripping off the driver. I hope I never meet in person a farang who thinks he should only pay 5 baht as I dont think we would get on too well...

I think we should pay exactly what the other humans pay. Not more. Not less. In the case I reported, the other humans were all paying 5 baht. On that specific route. Only when the driver received the 5 baht from the "wrong" race did he object. What would you call that exactly?

BTW, everyone's got a theory, even the local Thais. Never heard of this 8 baht story before! Also tipping a bus driver, that's daft. Why not tip the 7-11 clerk while you're at it.

Edited February 16, 2010 by Jingthing

[sharecropper]

I would be interested to read the link to your old topic if you have it.

yes i just found it using the Advanced Search option: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Baht-Buses-t33970.html my post is on #31

That's a bizarre thread. It jumps four years (2005-2009) between posts 10 and 11!

[andyww]

^actually its 5bht, least that's what Ms. Brit tells me.

Used to be 5 Baht but increased last year