On The Buses

[Jinxy1128]

I travel by bus from Pattaya to Sattahip for medical treatments several times a month and it puzzles me how the system works. The bus I catch is the Bangkok to Rayong route, I usually pay 30 baht but last time was 40 bbaht,,, no matter, still a great deal. The ride itself is between 45min, to 1 hour 15 min,, depending on traffic and stops,, and they stop anywhere to pick up passengers along the way. The crew is a driver and a purser. Once on board the purser walks down the aisle collecting the money,, no tickets are issued , you just tell him where you're going , and pay the fare. The purser has wadds of money and just stuffs it in his pockets and I don't see anyone keeping track of how many passengers they have picked up. My question is,,, does anyone know how the system works ?? Do they lease the bus and after costs and fuel , turn a profit ?? I don't know,,,, and I am not complaining as I think the bus system here in Thailand is great.

[kartman]

Ask "Blakey" he should know.

[allane]

These comments are about bus travel in general, not specific to that route, which I have only used once or twice. There are inspectors who board the bus on a random basis, to check that the purser is not cheating the company. The purser usually has a roll of multi-denomination tickets which he gives you as a receipt. (e.g. if the fare is 35 baht, you may be issued one 20, one 10, and one 5 baht ticket.)

Do you have white skin ? If so, he may think that you do not have any idea what the fare should be, don't know that there are receipts, and won't be able to complain if he doesn't give you yours.