Black taxis scoff at Phuket Airport organized crime center

[iSabai]

How can we find the money for this? I have a suggestiond my good man!

• Dump you gik(s), I dont care how old she is or how white her skin is!
• Sell your big shiny wheels, the car will work perfectly well with standard wheels. The car companies even give you wheels with the car!
• Big, horrible sounding, expensive sterios are not needed! We, the farange, cant stand your aweful music anyway and if we need loud music I am sure Bangla et al can help
• Stickers - boys at the age of 10 stop putting stickers on everything in the west, you can too. We dont care if it says 'turbo' or VIP.
• Offer good polite service, driven sensibly to exactly the destination we require THEN ofer your card for private tours. If the first impression is good then we are more likely to use you again!

Right. How dare Thais listen to music farangs don't like. Or do anything else farangs don't like.

Dam_n people act like they own this country.

If someone is paying for something, like a taxi service, meal, hotel room, etc. they have the right to ask for wot they want.

If they do not want to hear <deleted> music, too loud in an unkempt taxi that is stealing from them, what is wrong with that.

Bit like saying you go to a steak house, order rare, but the chef sez, " you get wot I giv u"

U agree with that?

I learned a long time ago that there's no guarantee that life is fair. If you choose to leave your comfort zone, then find that everything is not as perfect as you'd like it to be, you generally have two choices. Either accept things for what they are and deal with it, or don't leave your comfort zone.

U agree with that?

[andreandre]

How can we find the money for this? I have a suggestiond my good man!

• Dump you gik(s), I dont care how old she is or how white her skin is!
• Sell your big shiny wheels, the car will work perfectly well with standard wheels. The car companies even give you wheels with the car!
• Big, horrible sounding, expensive sterios are not needed! We, the farange, cant stand your aweful music anyway and if we need loud music I am sure Bangla et al can help
• Stickers - boys at the age of 10 stop putting stickers on everything in the west, you can too. We dont care if it says 'turbo' or VIP.
• Offer good polite service, driven sensibly to exactly the destination we require THEN ofer your card for private tours. If the first impression is good then we are more likely to use you again!

Right. How dare Thais listen to music farangs don't like. Or do anything else farangs don't like.

Dam_n people act like they own this country.

If someone is paying for something, like a taxi service, meal, hotel room, etc. they have the right to ask for wot they want.

If they do not want to hear <deleted> music, too loud in an unkempt taxi that is stealing from them, what is wrong with that.

Bit like saying you go to a steak house, order rare, but the chef sez, " you get wot I giv u"

U agree with that?

I learned a long time ago that there's no guarantee that life is fair. If you choose to leave your comfort zone, then find that everything is not as perfect as you'd like it to be, you generally have two choices. Either accept things for what they are and deal with it, or don't leave your comfort zone.

U agree with that?

Absolutely not.....If its you paying the money for a service then you call the shots...no ifs, no buts..

But, hey, if you are comfortable living a subserviant life, fine, that's your decision.

Edited August 8, 2013 by andreandre

[eezergood]

I cant wait to se how this turns out, although I have a suspicion I know already!

Edited August 8, 2013 by eezergood

[IrishIvan]

I would like to see all the Taxi drivers/tuk tuks and other public transport vehicles just stop dribing for one day. Then see how quickly everyone squeels and wants them back. Now that would be funny

[NomadJoe]

I would like to see all the Taxi drivers/tuk tuks and other public transport vehicles just stop dribing for one day. Then see how quickly everyone squeels and wants them back. Now that would be funny

There is no sense to your post. It's the "other transport vehicles" that everyone wants and needs.

[DGIE]

That is their problem. Leave that to them.

Guys, if you happen to take taxi in Bangkok, avoid the woman

driver.

My couple Filipino friends went to Immigration for 90 days report

took a taxi and the driver is a woman, the meter read more

than 500 Baht!

[IrishIvan]

I would like to see all the Taxi drivers/tuk tuks and other public transport vehicles just stop dribing for one day. Then see how quickly everyone squeels and wants them back. Now that would be funny

 

There is no sense to your post. It's the "other transport vehicles" that everyone wants and needs. 

Yeah right Joe. You or any other TV members jumped on that new bus service yet??? No. So its the people that whine the most about it that dont use it. I guess I won that bet then

[roger rederer]

With a bit of goodwill on the part of AoT, who I presume operate Phuket airport, and the police this serious problem could be erradicated. AoT could firstly evict all touts from their airport and channel incoming visitors to specially set up licenced taxi desks as they do at Suvarnahbumi and Don Muang. All these cabs are licenced and the registration of the vehicle and the driver are on prominent display inside the vehicle. Every taxi user is given a form that, in the event of complaint, is filled in and sent to (I think BMA). It works well in BKK so, as I said, with a bit of goodwill these scumbags could be got rid of overnight from Phuket airport. This would be a positive start.

Trouble is; where would the thieving bstds tip up next.

Anyway, why does anyone want to go to the cesspit that's Phuket?

[NomadJoe]

I would like to see all the Taxi drivers/tuk tuks and other public transport vehicles just stop dribing for one day. Then see how quickly everyone squeels and wants them back. Now that would be funny

There is no sense to your post. It's the "other transport vehicles" that everyone wants and needs.

Yeah right Joe. You or any other TV members jumped on that new bus service yet??? No. So its the people that whine the most about it that don't use it. I guess I won that bet then

I can't Ivan, the local taxi mafia have threatened violence if it goes to Kata/Karon! If it was allowed to transit the beach towns, then heck yeah I would use it! But the last time that was tried the driver was pulled from his bus and beaten.

Furthermore, as I have said many times before, it's not about whether I, or other Thaivisa members commenting here use it. It's mostly for tourists, as they make up nearly 100% of the arrivals. The overall lack of choice and established monopolies leads to so many other issues affecting tourism here.

I have been told that the airport bus does not enter the terminal, but passengers must walk out to the street. The website his very little information, and nothing about where to find the bus at the airport.

Edited August 8, 2013 by NomadJoe

[monkeycountry]

I would like to see all the Taxi drivers/tuk tuks and other public transport vehicles just stop dribing for one day. Then see how quickly everyone squeels and wants them back. Now that would be funny

There is no sense to your post. It's the "other transport vehicles" that everyone wants and needs.

Yeah right Joe. You or any other TV members jumped on that new bus service yet??? No. So its the people that whine the most about it that dont use it. I guess I won that bet then

Silly illogical post from you as usual. If there was a proper public service available it would be widely used. It works well in pattaya with the bath bus as an example, and few people use ordinary taxis there for that same reason. An airport bus that noone knows where or when is going obviously is not working properly. If the electric or water supply was cut of for even one day everyone would of course also want it back, no matter how bad it was.

[IrishIvan]

I would like to see all the Taxi drivers/tuk tuks and other public transport vehicles just stop dribing for one day. Then see how quickly everyone squeels and wants them back. Now that would be funny

 

There is no sense to your post. It's the "other transport vehicles" that everyone wants and needs. 

Yeah right Joe. You or any other TV members jumped on that new bus service yet??? No. So its the people that whine the most about it that dont use it. I guess I won that bet then

Silly illogical post from you as usual. If there was a proper public service available it would be widely used. It works well in pattaya with the bath bus as an example, and few people use ordinary taxis there for that same reason. An airport bus that noone knows where or when is going obviously is not working properly. If the electric or water supply was cut of for even one day everyone would of course also want it back, no matter how bad it was.

So how do all the tourists get from Swampy to Pattaya? By Baht Bus?? Noooo its mini vans and taxis. And I've never even had so much as a receipt let alone a meter by this mode of transport

[NomadJoe]

There is no sense to your post. It's the "other transport vehicles" that everyone wants and needs.

Yeah right Joe. You or any other TV members jumped on that new bus service yet??? No. So its the people that whine the most about it that dont use it. I guess I won that bet then

Silly illogical post from you as usual. If there was a proper public service available it would be widely used. It works well in pattaya with the bath bus as an example, and few people use ordinary taxis there for that same reason. An airport bus that noone knows where or when is going obviously is not working properly. If the electric or water supply was cut of for even one day everyone would of course also want it back, no matter how bad it was.

So how do all the tourists get from Swampy to Pattaya? By Baht Bus?? Noooo its mini vans and taxis. And I've never even had so much as a receipt let alone a meter by this mode of transport

Yes, a private taxi for 1000-1200B for a ~130km ~2 hour ride. PIA to Patong, Kata and Karon, a ~40km ~45 minutes is 750-800B, (often customers are asked for 1800-4000).

A FREE shuttle bus takes you from Swampy to the bus center where a bus can take you to Patts for 120B.

[jpeg]

I would like to see all the Taxi drivers/tuk tuks and other public transport vehicles just stop dribing for one day. Then see how quickly everyone squeels and wants them back. Now that would be funny

You're 'drib-ling' mad, aren't you

[monkeycountry]

Yes, a private taxi for 1000-1200B for a ~130km ~2 hour ride. PIA to Patong, Kata and Karon, a ~40km ~45 minutes is 750-800B, (often customers are asked for 1800-4000).

A FREE shuttle bus takes you from Swampy to the bus center where a bus can take you to Patts for 120B.

Nomadjoe seems to have replied for me, and I agree, thanks.

Anyway, IrishIvan, if the phuket taxis and tuk tuks are as competitive as you claim, and offer such a good service, then why not allow a baht bus service similar to Pattaya to take people around Kata, Karon and Patong etc? Do you still believe tourists would use tuktuks and taxis if they had an option to use "public" transport?

[IrishIvan]

Traffic and lack of parking is bad enough in Phuket without the smokey baht busses adding to the problem. Have you ever tried to drive around Pattaya? Its a nightmare

[IrishIvan]

Yes, a private taxi for 1000-1200B for a ~130km ~2 hour ride. PIA to Patong, Kata and Karon, a ~40km ~45 minutes is 750-800B, (often customers are asked for 1800-4000).

A FREE shuttle bus takes you from Swampy to the bus center where a bus can take you to Patts for 120B.

I would prefer to pay that little bit more for the pleasure of living in the nicest place in Thailand. While I do love Pattaya I think Phuket is worth paying more for

[NamKangMan]

Traffic and lack of parking is bad enough in Phuket without the smokey baht busses adding to the problem. Have you ever tried to drive around Pattaya? Its a nightmare

IBaht Buses do not park like th tuk-tuks park. The baht buses are on the road, circulating, waiting for another 10 baht passenger. They make their money by the volume of passngers that get onboard, during their shift. So, parking is not an issue with baht buses.

Pretty much everyone who lives on Phuket must have a vehicle, or access to a vehicle, and even many of the tourists here, rent a motorbike or a car. If there was a comprehensive baht bus system her, like in Pattaya, many motorbikes and hire cars would not be on the road, in favour of cheap and reliable baht buses. So, traffic would not be an issue, either.

[NamKangMan]

Yes, a private taxi for 1000-1200B for a ~130km ~2 hour ride. PIA to Patong, Kata and Karon, a ~40km ~45 minutes is 750-800B, (often customers are asked for 1800-4000).

A FREE shuttle bus takes you from Swampy to the bus center where a bus can take you to Patts for 120B.

I would prefer to pay that little bit more for the pleasure of living in the nicest place in Thailand. While I do love Pattaya I think Phuket is worth paying more for

"I think Phuket is worth paying more for." - I hear this statement sometimes. As the cost of living continues to rise at a faster rate than other places in Thailand, at what point would you decide that you are simply not getting value for money for your lifestyle on Phuket?

Not to mention, you are paying a lot higher prices for flooding, rising crime, failing infastructure etc.

[SMSinBangkok]

I am so glad I don´t live in Phuket after reading all the post´s. And as for Thanachart Bank sponsering the illegal Phuket Taxi Mafia - that´s one bank I will never set my foot in.

[monkeycountry]

Traffic and lack of parking is bad enough in Phuket without the smokey baht busses adding to the problem. Have you ever tried to drive around Pattaya? Its a nightmare

I have indeed, probably hundreds of times, and next to the skytrain in Bangkok, I find the Pattaya baht bus the best method of city travel in Thailand. And like you I do not really care about about the price, so even if they cost the same as taxis, I would still use them. The fact that I can just jump on without having to spend 5 minutes arguing about the price and the destination is more important to me. As far as I can see they produce about the same amount of smoke as all other vehicles and they drive at about the same speed as everyone else, so I would not get to my destination faster in a tuk tuk or taxi.

Anyway, is that your answer to my question? That public transport should not be allowed in Phuket due to parking problems (as the taxis and tuk tuk currently block all parking spaces). I had honestly expected a better reason :-)

[monkeycountry]

Yes, a private taxi for 1000-1200B for a ~130km ~2 hour ride. PIA to Patong, Kata and Karon, a ~40km ~45 minutes is 750-800B, (often customers are asked for 1800-4000).

A FREE shuttle bus takes you from Swampy to the bus center where a bus can take you to Patts for 120B.

I would prefer to pay that little bit more for the pleasure of living in the nicest place in Thailand. While I do love Pattaya I think Phuket is worth paying more for

would Phuket be less nice to live in if the taxis started using meters? Another argument I do not understand?

[monkeycountry]

Traffic and lack of parking is bad enough in Phuket without the smokey baht busses adding to the problem. Have you ever tried to drive around Pattaya? Its a nightmare

what do you think blocks traffic more? A Taxi which suddenly stops on a one lane road in order to discuss the destination and price for 5 minutes with a potential customer, like they do on Koh Samui, or a baht bus that stops for 5 seconds, sometimes they don't even stop but just slow down, so a customer can jump on?

And yes, due to their mafia status the taxis are just as arrogant on Koh Samui as they are on Phuket. I have seen then several times stopping and arguing with potential customers in the middle of a busy intersection, blocking everything. Or how about taxis driving 5 km/h through town honking their horn at every single tourist they see, and thereby annoying everyone, not caring that there is 30 cars behind them, who are getting nowhere?

They are almost all empty of course, as even the tourists do not want to pay their extortion fares, unless they really have no other option, so they rent cars and bikes instead, or simply walk.

[NomadJoe]

Traffic and lack of parking is bad enough in Phuket without the smokey baht busses adding to the problem. Have you ever tried to drive around Pattaya? Its a nightmare

IBaht Buses do not park like th tuk-tuks park. The baht buses are on the road, circulating, waiting for another 10 baht passenger. They make their money by the volume of passngers that get onboard, during their shift. So, parking is not an issue with baht buses.

Pretty much everyone who lives on Phuket must have a vehicle, or access to a vehicle, and even many of the tourists here, rent a motorbike or a car. If there was a comprehensive baht bus system her, like in Pattaya, many motorbikes and hire cars would not be on the road, in favour of cheap and reliable baht buses. So, traffic would not be an issue, either.

+1

[IrishIvan]

Traffic and lack of parking is bad enough in Phuket without the smokey baht busses adding to the problem. Have you ever tried to drive around Pattaya? Its a nightmare

what do you think blocks traffic more? A Taxi which suddenly stops on a one lane road in order to discuss the destination and price for 5 minutes with a potential customer, like they do on Koh Samui, or a baht bus that stops for 5 seconds, sometimes they don't even stop but just slow down, so a customer can jump on?

And yes, due to their mafia status the taxis are just as arrogant on Koh Samui as they are on Phuket. I have seen then several times stopping and arguing with potential customers in the middle of a busy intersection, blocking everything. Or how about taxis driving 5 km/h through town honking their horn at every single tourist they see, and thereby annoying everyone, not caring that there is 30 cars behind them, who are getting nowhere?

They are almost all empty of course, as even the tourists do not want to pay their extortion fares, unless they really have no other option, so they rent cars and bikes instead, or simply walk.

You have obviously never driven a car in Pattaya

[NomadJoe]

Traffic and lack of parking is bad enough in Phuket without the smokey baht busses adding to the problem. Have you ever tried to drive around Pattaya? Its a nightmare

Actually, Phuket Tuk tuks use petrol, while baht buses use relatively clean diesel. The cheaper, subsidized diesels here are made mostly from corn and natural gas.

[NomadJoe]

I am so glad I don´t live in Phuket after reading all the post´s. And as for Thanachart Bank sponsering the illegal Phuket Taxi Mafia - that´s one bank I will never set my foot in.

Ton's of companies which should know better advertise with tuk tuks. Hot Yoga, Buffalo Steakhouse, Rico's, Two Chefs. It's shameful.

[evadgib]

Black taxis scoff at Phuket Airport organized crime center

What's newsworthy about their dining arrangements?

Edited August 9, 2013 by evadgib

[IrishIvan]

Traffic and lack of parking is bad enough in Phuket without the smokey baht busses adding to the problem. Have you ever tried to drive around Pattaya? Its a nightmare

Actually, Phuket Tuk tuks use petrol, while baht buses use relatively clean diesel. The cheaper, subsidized diesels here are made mostly from corn and natural gas.

Great so we burn corn to transport people around Pattaya cheaply while the neighbouring SE asian countries have hungry people. And please dont profess to be an expert in oil reserves and extraction as its not your field. There is still plenty left for a few hundred years until we perfect other means of using renewable energy.

Deisel engines emit more CO2 than regular fuel. Baht busses are neither efficient or clean.

[NamKangMan]

Traffic and lack of parking is bad enough in Phuket without the smokey baht busses adding to the problem. Have you ever tried to drive around Pattaya? Its a nightmare

Actually, Phuket Tuk tuks use petrol, while baht buses use relatively clean diesel. The cheaper, subsidized diesels here are made mostly from corn and natural gas.

Great so we burn corn to transport people around Pattaya cheaply while the neighbouring SE asian countries have hungry people. And please dont profess to be an expert in oil reserves and extraction as its not your field. There is still plenty left for a few hundred years until we perfect other means of using renewable energy.

Deisel engines emit more CO2 than regular fuel. Baht busses are neither efficient or clean.

Maybe they are not efficient and clean, but baht buses running along the coast road on Phuket would certainly save many lives.

[IrishIvan]

 

 

Traffic and lack of parking is bad enough in Phuket without the smokey baht busses adding to the problem. Have you ever tried to drive around Pattaya? Its a nightmare

Actually, Phuket Tuk tuks use petrol, while baht buses use relatively clean diesel. The cheaper, subsidized diesels here are made mostly from corn and natural gas.

 

Great so we burn corn to transport people around Pattaya cheaply while the neighbouring SE asian countries have hungry people. And please dont profess to be an expert in oil reserves and extraction as its not your field. There is still plenty left for a few hundred years until we perfect other means of using renewable energy.

Deisel engines emit more CO2 than regular fuel. Baht busses are neither efficient or clean.

 

 

Maybe they are not efficient and clean, but baht buses running along the coast road on Phuket would certainly save many lives. 

 

Just use a taxi if its about safety. If its about baht then rent a scooter. Not every tourist that comes to Phuket is an alcoholic. So not everyone on scooters is drink driving. I would think that one full baht bus coming down the kathu mountain and losing control would be a catostrophic loss of life