Baht Bus Pattaya Beach Parking Zones opened by Provincial Governor

[Rimmer]

Baht Bus Pattaya Beach Parking Zones opened by Provincial Governor

PATTAYA:--On Wednesday the Governor of Chonburi Province, officially opened 17 dedicated pick-up and drop-off zones for Baht Buses along Pattaya Beach, which has been done to reduce traffic congestion along the Beach Road.

In a colorful and melodic ceremony, which included a Marching Band, long speeches and the ceremonial cutting of a ribbon, 17 new parking areas for Baht Buses were opened, which culminated in a demonstration of how a Baht Bus is expected to conduct itself in the future.

For many years the Baht Buses, which currently number 712, have been able to park where they want, regardless of any parking restrictions. Police have been seen to issue parking tickets to the Baht Bus Drivers but overall the influential Baht Bus Cooperative members have been able to stop where they want.

The Governor claims this is about to change and any Baht Bus who stops outside of a parking area will be fined and clamped which the Governor hopes will alleviate the traffic jams at peak times on Pattaya Beach Road.
- See more at: http://www.pattayaone.net/pattaya-news/114512/baht-bus-pattaya-beach-parking-zones-opened-by-provincial-governor/#sthash.avgYpCvP.dpuf

-- Pattaya One 2014-01-09

[Ohio]

FINGERS CROSSED

[Forkinhades]

Implemented for a couple of months. Whatever happened to the 'proper' bus routes? the baht buses made it impossible for the buses to stop.

sorry but epic fail

[MZurf]

Gotta love the big ad for a "Gentleman's Club" all over the front of the roof. Wonder if there are any posters with skimpily clad women on display in the back for the Governor to feast his eyes on

[gmac]

Going well today. As I walked down Beach Road I saw several of these new dedicated areas completely empty each being overseen by a couple of fatigue-dressed army types whose only role I have to assume was to stop anyone parking in these zones. They just stood by as baht bus after baht bus, and other assorted vehicles stopped in the middle of the road, anywhere but in these new areas to pick up and drop off their passengers as they pleased. The only area where there appeared to be any positive activity to improve the situation was in front of Central where a couple of guys with whistles were doing their best to herd the errant baht buses into the proper zones which looked as though they had been purged of the usual horde of yellow/blue 'meter' taxis.

Looks like the only achievement so far is to further reduce the amount of parking available.

[Jingthing]

Anything about extra-judicial violence from the drivers?

[Greenhill]

Do these 'officials' really believe that these new 'bus stops' will work??!! It's another complete waste of time with no enforcement and just gives these guys a photo-op and no doubt an all expenses-paid lunch out of the office for the day!!!! There is no discipline in this country and least of all, on the roads!!

[Theo007]

I drove along Beach Road yesterday afternoon and there were no police in sight and a baht bus in front of me suddenly stopped because the driver saw two foreigners talking on the footpath. Must say that the new bus stop signs look very impressive!

[Langsuan Man]

Anytime the Chonburi governor says or does anything here in Pattaya I just roll my eyes. Pattaya is a special zone and is basically free from his control, except for these periodic PR blitzes

[Jingthing]

I don't use the beach road route that often (tend to use the Soi Buakow southerly route more). So last night I took the beach road baht bus for the fist time since the bus stop initiative. The traffic was light so I don't know if this is typical or not. The driver did appear to be respecting the stop areas. However, obnoxiously, he was BEEP BEEP BEEPING his horn repetitively each and every time he approached on the areas. Noise pollution city if most of the drivers are doing the same. What are your experiences with the new system? Similar to mine?

Another thing, I didn't see even one passenger wave down my bus off the bus stops so I don't know if Mr. BEEPER would have stopped for them or not ...

Edited January 29, 2014 by Jingthing

[OMGImInPattaya]

Gotta love the big ad for a "Gentleman's Club" all over the front of the roof. Wonder if there are any posters with skimpily clad women on display in the back for the Governor to feast his eyes on

Also, per that lady head of the TAT..."there's no prostitution in Pattaya."

[Asiantravel]

I don't use the beach road route that often (tend to use the Soi Buakow southerly route more). So last night I took the beach road baht bus for the fist time since the bus stop initiative. The traffic was light so I don't know if this is typical or not. The driver did appear to be respecting the stop areas. However, obnoxiously, he was BEEP BEEP BEEPING his horn repetitively each and every time he approached on the areas. Noise pollution city if most of the drivers are doing the same. What are your experiences with the new system? Similar to mine?

Another thing, I didn't see even one passenger wave down my bus off the bus stops so I don't know if Mr. BEEPER would have stopped for them or not ...

I cycle down this road in the morning about 9 -10 a.m. so I follow these vehicles.

I see no discernible difference in their behaviour.

They still stop wherever they want and the paintwork at the vacant bus stops look remarkably clean through lack of use

Edited January 29, 2014 by Asiantravel

[Jingthing]

Fine with me but I sure hope the beeping orgy stops!

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[Langsuan Man]

Fine with me but I sure hope the beeping orgy stops!

Sent from my Lenovo S820_ROW using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Dream on Jingthing, if they can make noise they will, be it whistles, horns or boom box sound systems in trucks