Public transport usually runs at a loss so is subsidized by the taxpayers. CM has a system that still works for the locals, can't imagine they will set up an expensive public system to please a few whinging ex-pats.

Not much use for when the pubs shut but always sumit...with thanks mail

Red songthaews to run scheduled routes

Three routes around the city began November 5

Chiang Mai Governor Tanin Subhasaen at the launch of the new red songthaew routes around the city.

Some of the red songthaew trucks that fill the streets will be used to run regular routes around parts of the city in a bid by the government to improve public transportation in the city,Governor Tanin Subhasaen announced at the Chiang Mai Arcade Bus Terminal on November 5, 2012.

The pilot project, under the management of the Chiang Mai Provincial Land Transport Office, has three routes in the city and started running on November 5, 2012.

The first route starts from Nimmanhaemin Road to CMU Art Museum, then Chiang Mai Gate, Central Airport Plaza and then the Chiang Mai International Airport, the total distance is about 14.5 km.

The second route starts from Chang Puak Bus Terminal to Three Kings Monument and on to Kad Luang (Waroros Market) for a distance of about 15 km.

The third route starts from the Arcade Bus Terminal to Kad Luang and terminates in Chang Puak Bus Station for a total of about 14 km.

All routes should take about 30 minutes.

Initially there will be 30 red songthaews running these routes and the schedule is Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and holidays from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The cost per route is 15 baht for adults, students in uniform and monks are charged 10 Baht.

The routes will run until February 5, 2013 to accommodate the increased number of tourists expected during Yee Peng or Loy ..etc

I'm waiting for any regular service along the Canal Road, Ring Roads and new Sankamphaeng Road.

Over 3 years ago a scheme was launched for 4 white buses with AC to run regular routes. Initially, maps were available at tourist offices.

However, I was lax in acquiring a map or schedule and tourist offices reported having no more. One employee told me that they would probably not be replaced.

Two of those routes were turned over to songthaew. Speculation here on ThVi Chiangmai was that something called the S-T Mafia was behind hiding these routes. Signs for stops disappeared during this time too.

Whatever the politics of it, the frail effort for the tourist season represents the most likely kind of 'improvement' that we're likely to see for a long while. Even in the rainy season, I prefer a motorbike as the best local alternative.

Not much use for when the pubs shut but always sumit...with thanks mail

Red songthaews to run scheduled routes

Three routes around the city began November 5

Chiang Mai Governor Tanin Subhasaen at the launch of the new red songthaew routes around the city.

Some of the red songthaew trucks that fill the streets will be used to run regular routes around parts of the city in a bid by the government to improve public transportation in the city,Governor Tanin Subhasaen announced at the Chiang Mai Arcade Bus Terminal on November 5, 2012.

The pilot project, under the management of the Chiang Mai Provincial Land Transport Office, has three routes in the city and started running on November 5, 2012.

The first route starts from Nimmanhaemin Road to CMU Art Museum, then Chiang Mai Gate, Central Airport Plaza and then the Chiang Mai International Airport, the total distance is about 14.5 km.

The second route starts from Chang Puak Bus Terminal to Three Kings Monument and on to Kad Luang (Waroros Market) for a distance of about 15 km.

The third route starts from the Arcade Bus Terminal to Kad Luang and terminates in Chang Puak Bus Station for a total of about 14 km.

All routes should take about 30 minutes.

Initially there will be 30 red songthaews running these routes and the schedule is Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and holidays from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The cost per route is 15 baht for adults, students in uniform and monks are charged 10 Baht.

The routes will run until February 5, 2013 to accommodate the increased number of tourists expected during Yee Peng or Loy ..etc

Not sure how many tourists are going to know where these points of destination are. Or for that matter what is between them. Will you be able to flag one down. I imagine if you could your destination would have to be on this unkknown route or no ride. sounds like Pattaya If you want to go to another spot than the one on his route 200 baht. To get around the city you would have to have a through knowledgee of it and the various routes. Also where the stops are for getting on the songthawe's wait for passengers.

A step backward for Chiang Mai public transportation. Lets hope Chiang Mai Governor Tanin Subhasaen doesn't try to bring in some of the other highlights of Pattaya. Speed boats are out.

Not much use for when the pubs shut but always sumit...with thanks mail

Red songthaews to run scheduled routes

Three routes around the city began November 5

Chiang Mai Governor Tanin Subhasaen at the launch of the new red songthaew routes around the city.

Some of the red songthaew trucks that fill the streets will be used to run regular routes around parts of the city in a bid by the government to improve public transportation in the city,Governor Tanin Subhasaen announced at the Chiang Mai Arcade Bus Terminal on November 5, 2012.

The pilot project, under the management of the Chiang Mai Provincial Land Transport Office, has three routes in the city and started running on November 5, 2012.

The first route starts from Nimmanhaemin Road to CMU Art Museum, then Chiang Mai Gate, Central Airport Plaza and then the Chiang Mai International Airport, the total distance is about 14.5 km.

The second route starts from Chang Puak Bus Terminal to Three Kings Monument and on to Kad Luang (Waroros Market) for a distance of about 15 km.

The third route starts from the Arcade Bus Terminal to Kad Luang and terminates in Chang Puak Bus Station for a total of about 14 km.

All routes should take about 30 minutes.

Initially there will be 30 red songthaews running these routes and the schedule is Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and holidays from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The cost per route is 15 baht for adults, students in uniform and monks are charged 10 Baht.

The routes will run until February 5, 2013 to accommodate the increased number of tourists expected during Yee Peng or Loy ..etc

Not sure how many tourists are going to know where these points of destination are. Or for that matter what is between them. Will you be able to flag one down. I imagine if you could your destination would have to be on this unkknown route or no ride. sounds like Pattaya If you want to go to another spot than the one on his route 200 baht. To get around the city you would have to have a through knowledgee of it and the various routes. Also where the stops are for getting on the songthawe's wait for passengers.

A step backward for Chiang Mai public transportation. Lets hope Chiang Mai Governor Tanin Subhasaen doesn't try to bring in some of the other highlights of Pattaya. Speed boats are out.

I'm all for speed boats on the canal! Wee hoo!

There will be no proper public transport around Chiang Mai,

because the Red,Yellow,Green,Blue songthaews mafia will

not allow it,I remember a few years ago passing several of

the new buses been delivered on BKK-CNX road,that where

going to be used on the new Chiang Mai public transport

system.

It was a couple of years before they were able to start the

routes around Chiang Mai,they had been parked while

the local govt,negotiated with the mafia to allow them

to operate.and i think it ended in failure as i have seen

several of the same buses parked up and rusting away. regards Worgeordie

Meanwhile, regular buses in Bangkok are completely free.

Not much use for when the pubs shut but always sumit...with thanks mail

Red songthaews to run scheduled routes

Three routes around the city began November 5

Chiang Mai Governor Tanin Subhasaen at the launch of the new red songthaew routes around the city.

Some of the red songthaew trucks that fill the streets will be used to run regular routes around parts of the city in a bid by the government to improve public transportation in the city,Governor Tanin Subhasaen announced at the Chiang Mai Arcade Bus Terminal on November 5, 2012.

The pilot project, under the management of the Chiang Mai Provincial Land Transport Office, has three routes in the city and started running on November 5, 2012.

The first route starts from Nimmanhaemin Road to CMU Art Museum, then Chiang Mai Gate, Central Airport Plaza and then the Chiang Mai International Airport, the total distance is about 14.5 km.

The second route starts from Chang Puak Bus Terminal to Three Kings Monument and on to Kad Luang (Waroros Market) for a distance of about 15 km.

The third route starts from the Arcade Bus Terminal to Kad Luang and terminates in Chang Puak Bus Station for a total of about 14 km.

All routes should take about 30 minutes.

Initially there will be 30 red songthaews running these routes and the schedule is Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and holidays from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The cost per route is 15 baht for adults, students in uniform and monks are charged 10 Baht.

The routes will run until February 5, 2013 to accommodate the increased number of tourists expected during Yee Peng or Loy ..etc

Not sure how many tourists are going to know where these points of destination are. Or for that matter what is between them. Will you be able to flag one down. I imagine if you could your destination would have to be on this unkknown route or no ride. sounds like Pattaya If you want to go to another spot than the one on his route 200 baht. To get around the city you would have to have a through knowledgee of it and the various routes. Also where the stops are for getting on the songthawe's wait for passengers.

A step backward for Chiang Mai public transportation. Lets hope Chiang Mai Governor Tanin Subhasaen doesn't try to bring in some of the other highlights of Pattaya. Speed boats are out.

I'm all for speed boats on the canal! Wee hoo!

Speed boats on the moat! Even better!

meanwhile, these fixed rate songtells are only 15 baht. afaik, that's the standard rate for for all songtells all over town, even though most Thais pay 20 baht. I've never seen an official announcement that the fare was raised to 20 baht.

You can't get overcharged by a songtaew driver unless you ask him "how much?" nor can you get ripped off by a tuktuk. they have no fixed fares and you have to negotiate and agree.

Personally, I'm happy with the current system where songtaews serve as shared taxis for a fixed fee. Fixed routes mean longer waits, longer walks, and higher cost.

This a useful link, though it doesn't map the yellows going from near pratu CM down through Hang Dong.

http://www.openchian....com/v3283.html

+1 This is a VERY useful link.

Walking where you want to go is apparently not in, riding a bike around can be pretty scary, peddle-taxis seem to be dying out, and elephants are definitely out! For the size of the town, the current flexible system in the town supplemented with fixed routes to destinations out of town is pretty efficient, in my view. In town, for example, getting to a road with song tao traffic usually isn't too far a hike and one rarely has to wait long for a ride unless going to some out-of-the-way place. For problem situations, a tuk tuk or a taxi is probably more efficient, and they are convenient, door-to-door on request just a phone call away. (Also possible with some songtao drivers.)

Unfortunately, diesels are relatively expensive to operate and big polluters (even though modern diesel engines are "cleaner") There are a couple of approaches to solving those problems. Conversion to different fuels would take time, but could gradually overhaul the song tao fleet. LPG and electric engines can be considered. Subsidies can be provided.