Motorcycle Taxi Drivers Frozen Out Of Govt Aid

[bkkjames]

Motorcycle taxi drivers frozen out of govt aid

By Pongphon Sarnsamak

The Nation

Published on July 1, 2010

Hundreds of motorcycle taxi drivers in Soi Ngam Duphli and nearby areas have registered for assistance money from the 

They say they, too, were affected by the political violence in May the same as vendors, but no money has been forthcoming.

One motorcycle taxi driver said he and his 70 buddies in the Soi Saphan Khu queue had to suspend service for 10 days when government troops and red-shirt protesters clashed in and around Soi Ngam Duphli.

"There were no passengers around here since the government organised its operation to retake the area from red-shirt protesters on May 14. That meant I could not make any money from driving a motorcycle taxi," the 35-year-old man said.

He usually makes Bt500 to Bt600 a day working long hours, from 4am-10pm.

Most drivers lost about Bt6,000 in fares from May 14-20. Some of them complained they did not have enough money to pay expenses like rent, petrol and food.

When the government announced a scheme to provide financial assistance to businesses affected by the protests, the driver went to the Sathorn district office to register. But an official there told him he had little chance to receive a cheque from the government.

"They did not give me a reason why I have almost no chance to receive any money," he said. "I also was affected by the political violence and skirmishes, as well as other people, such as food vendors. No matter if I'm a red-shirt protester or just an ordinary citizen, I should receive this compensation, because I was affected too."

Another motorcycle taxi driver from the Soi Suwansawat queue said he had already signed up at the Sathorn district office and that the officials told him they would send an SMS directly to his mobile phone. But so far, there has been no word from them.

"I've never seen anyone from the district office come here and talk to us about our problems. We have a lot of expenses like other people, and we need the assistance money to support our families," he said.

The Sathorn district office, which is under the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, says vendors whose property was destroyed or burned during the rioting in May must register and submit a damage report to them.

The district office will forward their request to the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES), which will study their claims and authorise a cheque. Each of them will receive Bt50,000.

So far, about 1,100 people, including vendors, have submitted claims to the Sathorn district office.

But staff at there said the drivers might not be approved by the CRES even though they were directly affected by the violence in the Bon Kai and Soi Ngam Duphli areas, because their property and motorcycles were not damaged or burned.

However, the CRES may ponder providing compensation to motorcycle taxi drivers in the near future, they said.

Am I thick  / blind but weren't a big majority of those causing the violence during this - were the guys burning tyres wearing the orange vests with numbers on them?

[CarlBkk]

Yep, although they took the orange vests off first.

I've got mixed feelings about motorbike taxi drivers, but I have come to the conclusion that any "owner" of a spot makes a small fortune. 10-15 baht for a 200m ride on the bike with next to nothing costs. There seems to be so many of them per queue that the wages need to get split too many ways.

[Chunky1]

Doesn't the city own the "spot"? Does each driver pay a fee to work from that spot?

Anyways, I thought James was going to be complaining about his brother-in-law needing a loan.

[bkkjames]

Doesn't the city own the "spot"? Does each driver pay a fee to work from that spot?

Anyways, I thought James was going to be complaining about his brother-in-law needing a loan.

Not a bad attempt Chunky - almost had me going to the How Much you Pay your Mother In Law thread for a comeback but decided no need.

City own the Spot, you mean the BMA? Now that's funny.

[Jingthing]

Clearly, many of those now whining moto drivers were directly involved in creating their own losses. A delicate situation for the government, to say the least.

Edited July 1, 2010 by Jingthing

[jackdawson]

i know .

next thing u know the red shirts, i mean the taxi operators, will want free money .

[TAWP]

All the drivers that I frequently use that continued to work during the riots still had work to do. Could it have been slightly less? Sure, but the government isn't supposed to pay aid to everyone in a transportation profession. And to be fair, most drivers most likely didn't earn as much as they spent a lot of their time around the riots...or maybe they got a lot of rides around the camps and their complaint is without merit?

[Lorin]

I live at Ratchadamri and when it was impossible to use car or BTS due to red shirts mess, I used motocytaxi few time, first of all they charged more than usual, secondary they have been not from my soi(we have spot on the top of the soi), and finally I saw those guys so many times in the middle of red shirts activities, they are the "soul" of red movement. I don't think they deserve any compensation, we should call and treat them as "Enemy Within".

[Chunky1]

When you say "We" you mean Yourself and other Thais? If you are a farang why are you saying "We"?

[CarlBkk]

I live at Ratchadamri and when it was impossible to use car or BTS due to red shirts mess, I used motocytaxi few time, first of all they charged more than usual, secondary they have been not from my soi(we have spot on the top of the soi), and finally I saw those guys so many times in the middle of red shirts activities, they are the "soul" of red movement. I don't think they deserve any compensation, we should call and treat them as "Enemy Within".

I must admit they do like to overcharge at the first opportunity. When I offer them the same as a local does you should see the look of disdain on their faces. I still don't get tuk tuk drivers charging 80 baht for a 35 baht taxi ride...and then not wanting to bring down the price in line with logic. Is it stubborness, greed, laziness? If they can no longer make a living with charging like that (compared to alternatives) then no-one else is to blame.

[dumball]

Anyone do the math ? B500/600 per day , mean average B4,00 a week , why are they asking for B6,000 compensation when their costs were lower (no fuel burned) ? Does a moto-man make B16,000 a month on a regular basis ?

Have to go pull slivers , scratched my head on this one .

[jackdawson]

we should call and treat them as "Enemy Within"

god i wish i had said that !

[rgs2001uk]

Yep, although they took the orange vests off first.

I've got mixed feelings about motorbike taxi drivers, but I have come to the conclusion that any "owner" of a spot makes a small fortune. 10-15 baht for a 200m ride on the bike with next to nothing costs. There seems to be so many of them per queue that the wages need to get split too many ways.

You forgot to mention that these drivers have to buy these vests, they also have to pay a monthly fee just to be able to operate from a certain spot.

These spots are also limited to the number of vests that are allowed to operate from a particular spot.

Some of the drivers may not actually own the vest but rent it on a daily basis, the prices of these vests is also seen by some as an investment that can later be sold on.

You may actually be shocked at the going rate for some of these vests.

Many may view these guys as scum, do you actually know anything about them?

I know guys doing it to pay their way through college and other forms of further education.

Many of these guys have other jobs and do this as a way of supplementing their income.

These guys are also like a yellow pages and usually can sort you out with about any odd job you may need doing, the mrs has had them doing jobs round the house and will use them again in the future, 20 baht to get rid of a snake springs to mind, 100 baht to shut up a barking dog no questions asked is another.

Many may mock them, but most will be glad of their services at one time or another.

[CarlBkk]

The only major service they're renowned for is being eager to beat up anyone for a thousand baht or less. Your wife may like them, but I can assure you many ladies wouldn't dream of inviting them into the home for an odd job.

[jackdawson]

100 baht to shut up a barking dog

so they r mafia . thought so .

[jackr]

Oh dear, how sad, nevermind.

[rak sa_ngop]

Not only were the motorbike drivers in the thick of it, they increased their fares enormously to 'compensate' for their inconvenience.

[dumball]

The rip-offs and scams are slowly coming back to haunt those whom applied and perpetuated them , it looks good on them , no good going back where they came from , no livelyhood there either , times are difficult all over the country , treat people honestly and it will be repaid in repeat buisiness , the good times are not 'arolling along' any more , live with whats left of it .

[t.s]

perhaps they should receive benefits based on their declared earnings.

never filed for taxes? sorry mate.

[hansum]

perhaps they should receive benefits based on their declared earnings.

never filed for taxes? sorry mate.

Funny how when it was going on many of you were going on about how its the poor workers in this area that are suffering more then anyone.

[TAWP]

The workers that tried to get to work suffered.

The mc bike drives that went to the rally did not.

The bike drivers that kept on working (had a few around the office and the suburb) still had work (especially since the majority of the other drivers wasn't there...).

Unfortunately a few that had stations inside the area and perhaps did not join the rampage will be affected.

But so was I and thousands of others. And I doubt we will receive any compensation. The aid is to go towards them that suffered the most as a whole.

[gregb]

Yep, although they took the orange vests off first.

I've got mixed feelings about motorbike taxi drivers, but I have come to the conclusion that any "owner" of a spot makes a small fortune. 10-15 baht for a 200m ride on the bike with next to nothing costs. There seems to be so many of them per queue that the wages need to get split too many ways.

You forgot to mention that these drivers have to buy these vests, they also have to pay a monthly fee just to be able to operate from a certain spot.

These spots are also limited to the number of vests that are allowed to operate from a particular spot.

Some of the drivers may not actually own the vest but rent it on a daily basis, the prices of these vests is also seen by some as an investment that can later be sold on.

You may actually be shocked at the going rate for some of these vests.

Many may view these guys as scum, do you actually know anything about them?

I know guys doing it to pay their way through college and other forms of further education.

Many of these guys have other jobs and do this as a way of supplementing their income.

These guys are also like a yellow pages and usually can sort you out with about any odd job you may need doing, the mrs has had them doing jobs round the house and will use them again in the future, 20 baht to get rid of a snake springs to mind, 100 baht to shut up a barking dog no questions asked is another.

Many may mock them, but most will be glad of their services at one time or another.

I am well aware that the vests at queues like the Nana queue cost upwards of 100,000 baht if you can get one. Most are not for sale. They are too valuable as rental property.

However, to paint these guys as victims or underprivileged is disingenuous. They make substantially more per month than the office workers they charge exhorbitant rates from everyday. Even if that mototaxi driver has to pay 3000 baht a month to rent his vest and a couple hundred baht to the police officer per month for "motor oil", the average guy at Nana still takes home 700 baht per day or more. That is well above the office worker who is struggling to make 10,000 per month. And his job is alot easier. Mostly sitting around on his ass gossiping and smoking with his buddies.

Tell me again, why should we feel pity for these people who openly fleece anyone they think they can steal from? They are dramatically overpaid for their job. There need to be government price controls put in place now before their criminal rates get any worse.

[rgs2001uk]

Yep, although they took the orange vests off first.

I've got mixed feelings about motorbike taxi drivers, but I have come to the conclusion that any "owner" of a spot makes a small fortune. 10-15 baht for a 200m ride on the bike with next to nothing costs. There seems to be so many of them per queue that the wages need to get split too many ways.

You forgot to mention that these drivers have to buy these vests, they also have to pay a monthly fee just to be able to operate from a certain spot.

These spots are also limited to the number of vests that are allowed to operate from a particular spot.

Some of the drivers may not actually own the vest but rent it on a daily basis, the prices of these vests is also seen by some as an investment that can later be sold on.

You may actually be shocked at the going rate for some of these vests.

Many may view these guys as scum, do you actually know anything about them?

I know guys doing it to pay their way through college and other forms of further education.

Many of these guys have other jobs and do this as a way of supplementing their income.

These guys are also like a yellow pages and usually can sort you out with about any odd job you may need doing, the mrs has had them doing jobs round the house and will use them again in the future, 20 baht to get rid of a snake springs to mind, 100 baht to shut up a barking dog no questions asked is another.

Many may mock them, but most will be glad of their services at one time or another.

I am well aware that the vests at queues like the Nana queue cost upwards of 100,000 baht if you can get one. Most are not for sale. They are too valuable as rental property.

However, to paint these guys as victims or underprivileged is disingenuous. They make substantially more per month than the office workers they charge exhorbitant rates from everyday. Even if that mototaxi driver has to pay 3000 baht a month to rent his vest and a couple hundred baht to the police officer per month for "motor oil", the average guy at Nana still takes home 700 baht per day or more. That is well above the office worker who is struggling to make 10,000 per month. And his job is alot easier. Mostly sitting around on his ass gossiping and smoking with his buddies.

Tell me again, why should we feel pity for these people who openly fleece anyone they think they can steal from? They are dramatically overpaid for their job. There need to be government price controls put in place now before their criminal rates get any worse.

You at least appear to be in possession of your facts, which is more than can be said for some of the posters, who appear to think there are no costs involved.

However you appear to be reading your own prejudices into my post, I wasnt eliciting sympathy or pity, merely pointing out facts.

As for the rest of your post, well thats a matter of opinion.

The poor underpaid office workers you mention are more than welcome to change their line of work if they feel so hard done by, you also make no mention of the perks these office wallahs enjoy, such as social security and health care benefits.

What about these poor hard done by office staff who spend all day gossiping with their friends, checking their hi5 accounts, nice comfy air conditioned offices to squeeze their zits in, their only inconvenience may well be having to go outside for a smoke with their buddies..

I also happen to know many office workers making more than the10,000 baht per month you mention.

As far as I am aware the prices and destinations are posted for all to see, market forces at work, the law of supply and demand, if people choose to be fleeced as you call it, its a matter of personal choice.

However judging by the amount of people utilizing the services of these guys it would appear most dont think they are being fleeced, if they did they would soon stop using the service provided and make alternative arrangements.

You also mention, "these people who openly fleece anyone they think they can steal from". I could make the same claim about the office staff you mention. Bank and insurance staff are just two examples that spring to mind.

Are you advocating some sort of socialist state price control system? Here was I thinking it was free market forces at work.

[gregb]

Are you advocating some sort of socialist state price control system? Here was I thinking it was free market forces at work.

Yes. I am strongly advocating price controls. Furthermore, I say anyone who does not advocate price controls for them is incorrect. There are thousands of struggling workers in Bangkok who have no other options except to use these shiesters or else walk, as there are no other competitive services on many of the sois they service. And walking in some cases up to 2 km is not really an option for many. You don't see 10 different motorcycle queues at every corner charging different rates and competing amongst themselves for passengers, do you? So how can you make the statement this is market forces. This is a group of guys engaged in price collusion, which is illegal and very much anti free market.

These motorcycle taxis are a public service, and they have been given a monopoly concession. They need to be regulated like a public service that has been given a monopoly. They are currently completely out of control and need to be reigned in for the good of the entire country.

They do not deserve our sympathy or our support until they start showing consideration for the rest of the community they are supposed to be serving.

[CarlBkk]

Are you advocating some sort of socialist state price control system? Here was I thinking it was free market forces at work.

Yes. I am strongly advocating price controls. Furthermore, I say anyone who does not advocate price controls for them is incorrect. There are thousands of struggling workers in Bangkok who have no other options except to use these shiesters or else walk, as there are no other competitive services on many of the sois they service. And walking in some cases up to 2 km is not really an option for many. You don't see 10 different motorcycle queues at every corner charging different rates and competing amongst themselves for passengers, do you? So how can you make the statement this is market forces. This is a group of guys engaged in price collusion, which is illegal and very much anti free market.

These motorcycle taxis are a public service, and they have been given a monopoly concession. They need to be regulated like a public service that has been given a monopoly. They are currently completely out of control and need to be reigned in for the good of the entire country.

They do not deserve our sympathy or our support until they start showing consideration for the rest of the community they are supposed to be serving.

Gotta agree with that. When there is no other option than to use one, and suddenly the price doubles then adds on another 20 because of where you come from, rgs2001uk might get a bit peed off too maybe.

[hansum]

Are you advocating some sort of socialist state price control system? Here was I thinking it was free market forces at work.

Yes. I am strongly advocating price controls. Furthermore, I say anyone who does not advocate price controls for them is incorrect. There are thousands of struggling workers in Bangkok who have no other options except to use these shiesters or else walk, as there are no other competitive services on many of the sois they service. And walking in some cases up to 2 km is not really an option for many. You don't see 10 different motorcycle queues at every corner charging different rates and competing amongst themselves for passengers, do you? So how can you make the statement this is market forces. This is a group of guys engaged in price collusion, which is illegal and very much anti free market.

These motorcycle taxis are a public service, and they have been given a monopoly concession. They need to be regulated like a public service that has been given a monopoly. They are currently completely out of control and need to be reigned in for the good of the entire country.

They do not deserve our sympathy or our support until they start showing consideration for the rest of the community they are supposed to be serving.

You been drinking, youre off youre nut you really are, with such lines that theyre totally out of control ... unfcukenbelievable!

What you talking about theyve some monopoly over transportation ... you not aware of the never ending supply of taxis in BKK are they not cheap enough for you, baht buses, BTS /MRT ... and as for poeple have to walk through sois well it'd do them good but most are so fcuken lazy they pay the 10 - 20 bht to go several hundred metres to their destination .... what do propose escelators instead of pavements, or teach people to fcuken levitate.

Im taking it your some tefl teacher who cant afford such luxuries as a motorbike taxi.

Save you anti free market utter cr4p for something slightly more suitable, what utter nonsense you write.

Edited July 3, 2010 by hansum

[gregb]

Im taking it your some tefl teacher who cant afford such luxuries as a motorbike taxi.

And if I were, would that make my argument any less correct? How about if I were an office worker making 10,000 baht a month. Would I then be allowed to be offended that I am being overcharged? How about if I was Thaksin himself, but still didn't like being taken advantage of? I notice that rather than trying to present a counter argument to what I said, you instead try to attack me personally. It is a valiant attempt to deflect the argument by someone without any facts, but ultimately does nothing to support your position.

The government has the responsibility to regulate transit fares for the good of the community. They do it in every other public mode of transport in Bangkok, and for good reason. Only the motorcycle taxi drivers (and in a smaller number of cases tuk tuk drivers) are allowed to get away with what amounts to legalized theft. The motorcycle taxi drivers are currently overcharging for their services. They earn substantially more than the people they serve and substantially more than what is a fair wage for the service they provide. The prices they charge need to be regulated before things spin further out of control.

[kissdani]

All the drivers that I frequently use that continued to work during the riots still had work to do. Could it have been slightly less? Sure, but the government isn't supposed to pay aid to everyone in a transportation profession. And to be fair, most drivers most likely didn't earn as much as they spent a lot of their time around the riots...or maybe they got a lot of rides around the camps and their complaint is without merit?

I live in that area, using the motocy taxi driver here. There are always the same driver at the same spot. They providing a valuable service for the people who live here, bringing the people from down from their sois up to the main road Praram 4 where commuter can catch the bus or using the Lumphini MRT station or just going back home coming from the main road. A shuttle service. Specially in the morning when everybody leaves for work Soi Suwan Sawat and Ngam Duphli are high traffic areas. Some kind of bottle neck access of the large residential area of Yenakard road to the main traffic net. There isn't a Songteow service.

Meanwhile elsewhere in the city motocy taxi driver look like a bunch of lazy dudes hanging around in the shadow of a tree, the queues at these Sois are the most disciplined and well organized line ups of transport providers you will ever see in Bangkok.

If my bicycle had a flat tire, i could left it with them and they are taken care at. If i am to late to pay my electric bill at the 7/11 i can give them the bill and the cash and one of them is driving to the costumer center and i don't need to go by myself.

These driver work for a living and have their daily job. And like we have our desk in a office, these motocy taxi driver have their fixed corner where they wait for people in the need of a ride. They don't drive at random trough the the city and pick up passenger everywhere like a car taxi. They lost their workplace for a couple of days and cannot easily switch to other sites because there are other motocy driver already working.

The declaration of Praram 4 to a live fire zone turned it to a dead- end street. No more traffic and your life at risk by sniper bullets if you dare to step out on Praram 4. The only traffic left were coming and going ambulance cars.

But no customers/passengers.They got unlucky same as the staff in the shopping centers and other workplaces. They could not go to work and lost their daily income.

Of course, you could say it isn't the govt responsibility to pay money to everyone who got in a misfortune. But that was the govt big promise and big feel good show directly after the crackdown was finally done. (And Abhisit goes even more further and promise a welfare state he wanna create) So they are entitled to apply for assistance as promised. But a good chunk of the promised help funds will spend on advertising and propaganda campaign to show of the good care taking govt or be wasted on red tape and bureaucracy or nicked by someone in the large overhead of fancy chairman positions. But those in need will not get much, just sweet words and if lucky a can of rotten fish.

The motocy taxi driver checked if the govt promises are to good to be true and found out that it seems to be BS.

Edited July 4, 2010 by kissdani

[buddy]

i know .

next thing u know the red shirts, i mean the taxi operators, will want free money .

Next thing we know the banks will want free money!

[kissdani]

Clearly, many of those now whining moto drivers were directly involved in creating their own losses. A delicate situation for the government, to say the least.

Hello Farang USA, last time your theory was, all these bad people creating destruction and chaos in Bangkok were mercenary farmers from Isaan who should to GO HOME! now it are the Motocy taxi driver who were foolish enough to believe the promises of the govt were true. Can i ask you what you do for a living? Why you are mocking these people, they have done to you nothing?

Do you know how it feels like if the govt declare your neighborhood to a live fire zone?

I live exactly in the area mentioned in the article. Your are invited to visit me here. Maybe you like it, it is also the destination for some grumpy aged Farangs who like to hang out here at few places. And you would get the opportunity to have a talk with these motocy drivers. Asking them how their daily life is, instead of talking bad about them on the Internet without knowing them at all.

But actually i would recommend you to GO HOME!!! Your life in Thailand can't be fun if you disrespect the locals. That will just come back to you.