Baht bus operators implore government to help reduce their losses

[webfact]

Baht bus operators implore government to help reduce their losses

BANGKOK, 6 October 2014 (NNT) - Chatchai Phu-aree, the chairman of the association of private bus operators, is set to meet with Air Chief Marshal Prajin Juntong, this week to submit a letter calling for measures to help baht bus operators, known in Thai as Rot Song Taew.

Baht bus operators have complained about their losses as a result of the government’s policy to regulate motorcycle taxis and passenger vans. This has caused an excess number of motorcycle taxis to be released into the street, drawing away their customers.

The Energy Policy Management Committee (EPMC)’s decision to raise the prices LPG and NGV have also caused baht bus operators to shoulder increased transportation costs by 30 percent, as about 40 percent of baht buses run on natural gas instead of petrol.

In a related matter, Mr. Chatchai has requested the government to consider raising the prices of non-air-conditioned buses from 7 baht to 10 baht and air-conditioned buses from 12 baht to 13 baht as well.

So far, 4,000 baht bus operators have decided to suspend their services, as the number of motorcycle taxis being released into the streets to pick up passengers have doubled. In return, it has caused baht buses to lose 70 percent of their customers and their income to decrease by 700-800 baht per day.


-- NNT 2014-10-06

[JOC]

Thainess in a nutshell!!

When business fails, instead of trying to improve their business, it is straight to the authorities asking for a handout!!

May I suggest they start as motorbike-taxis, since business appearently are so good for them!!

[Pattaya28]

......... and 70%+ of these motorbike taxis are drunk / yaba-ed / have no licence

[Deez]

Thainess in a nutshell!!

When business fails, instead of trying to improve their business, it is straight to the authorities asking for a handout!!

May I suggest they start as motorbike-taxis, since business appearently are so good for them!!

Better yet, get a decent bus system that has regular stops and runs on a regular schedule and eliminate baht buses and motorcycle taxis altogether. Would improve traffic without these on the road, parking everywhere and driving like fools....

[Commerce]

The whole fare charging system is at fault on this one, and has been for decades. You get on a song taew, or a normal bus, and it doesn't matter if you travel 1km or 5 km, the fare is the same (normally between 10 or 15 baht). If that was fixed, inline with taxi fares at a relative rate, these guys would have no complaints. (The same applies to vans too!) You can travel 20km in a van for 100B, or 120km also for 100B......... It makes no sense whatsoever.

The whole charge system needs revamping, to reflect exactly how far you are travelling - it ain't rocket science.

[Anthony5]

So far, 4,000 baht bus operators have decided to suspend their services,

That's already a good start, let's increase the amount of baht buses that suspend service by another 300%, and traffic may become normal again and the baht bus job liveable.

[seajae]

you beauty, does this mean no more having to slam on the brakes because a baht bus suddenly stops in the middle lane for a passenger, these drivers are maniacs. they dont indicate, they cut everyone off and stop where ever they please, road rules simply dont apply to them . The more of them off the road the safer it will be for everyone else.

Edited October 6, 2014 by seajae

[slapout]

If Chiang Mai would ban the song taew from parking to nap and wash their vehicle, then require the same testing, classes, etc required for tour vans/drivers many would be banned from the public roads. Then as a bonus, ban rental vehicle businesses from street parking of vehicles much of the traffic congestion caused by double parking,etc would disappear .

[BMF1960]

Thainess in a nutshell!!

When business fails, instead of trying to improve their business, it is straight to the authorities asking for a handout!!

May I suggest they start as motorbike-taxis, since business appearently are so good for them!!

And how is this different from the big US banks and car manufacturers in 2008/9?

[LuckyLew]

KFC is hiring .....

[FangFerang]

You all lost me. Yes, the bus drivers are wild cowboys, and no one talks about the people that work on them -- eighteen hour shifts without a piss break and females regularly having infections from crazy hours just to feed their families. No increase is going to benefit the drivers or porters -- it is to create profits for the owners, who NEVER ride a bus.

More top-down BS.

[whybother]

The whole fare charging system is at fault on this one, and has been for decades. You get on a song taew, or a normal bus, and it doesn't matter if you travel 1km or 5 km, the fare is the same (normally between 10 or 15 baht). If that was fixed, inline with taxi fares at a relative rate, these guys would have no complaints. (The same applies to vans too!) You can travel 20km in a van for 100B, or 120km also for 100B......... It makes no sense whatsoever.

The whole charge system needs revamping, to reflect exactly how far you are travelling - it ain't rocket science.

I'm just wondering how you would plan to monitor the distance that passengers travel? Do you want to install RFID card dispensers and readers on all the baht buses?

[Morakot]

the chairman of the association of private bus operators, is set to meet with Air Chief Marshal

The baht buses are taking off? Airborn... logic.

[marsstar14]

The whole fare charging system is at fault on this one, and has been for decades. You get on a song taew, or a normal bus, and it doesn't matter if you travel 1km or 5 km, the fare is the same (normally between 10 or 15 baht). If that was fixed, inline with taxi fares at a relative rate, these guys would have no complaints. (The same applies to vans too!) You can travel 20km in a van for 100B, or 120km also for 100B......... It makes no sense whatsoever.

The whole charge system needs revamping, to reflect exactly how far you are travelling - it ain't rocket science.

Actually the orange-colored air-conditioned buses charge the fares according to the distance ranging from 11-23 baht, whereas the new yellow-colored buses usually have a flat fare of around 10-12 baht.

Regarding your proposal to raise the baht bus fare and other transportation vehicles per distance traveled, I don't think it would be a good idea. Public transportation vehicles are supposed to be affordable to people at all income levels, including the blue-collar workers and the poor as well. Mind you, the average Thai doesn't make that much money compared to a Westerner... Once you raise the fare, the number of commuters traveling on these vehicles will reduce and cause the bus operators to lose even more revenue.

In the article, it also doesn't state that the baht buses were losing money because the fares were too cheap but it was that there were an excess number of motorcycle taxis being released into the street, drawing away their customers.

[jackinthebox]

If this article is about private-run Baht-Buses (Songteauws, ie. Pick-Ups with passenger-seats on the plattform) then it is NOT about the big (Bangkok-)state-run buses.

As for the Baht-Buses in KhonKaen, Sukhothai, HatYai, Pattaya or the Bangkok-outskirts, it is a decent and cheap means of travel (5-15 Baht, the fare IS according to distance, see the scheme/sticker on the back-window of the cab). I don't think that they loose customers to Motorsaai-Taxis, simpy because you would pay for the same distance 50-80Baht and therefore quite expensive for average thais (houswifes, students, factory-workers...).

>In return, it has caused baht buses to lose 70 percent of their customers and their income to decrease by 700-800 baht per day.

That would mean they previously had an income of 1100-1400 Baht per day, wich is far above the thai wages of 250-400 Baht per day. I think you could reach that only by scamming tourists (the well-known always honking, aggressive and ennoying Songteaws in KohChang, KohSamui who would charge 500 Baht/person for a 7km ride - 10 times higher than a bangkok-Taxi!!

Edited October 6, 2014 by jackinthebox

[ezzra]

Sure... why not? we here at the government give money freely willy nilly to any

one who asks, ask and you shall receive....

[IamNoone88]

Baht buses, rice farming or semi-conductors. Its called competition. Get used to it Thailand. Change or Die.

[Eneukman]

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The whole fare charging system is at fault on this one, and has been for decades. You get on a song taew, or a normal bus, and it doesn't matter if you travel 1km or 5 km, the fare is the same (normally between 10 or 15 baht). If that was fixed, inline with taxi fares at a relative rate, these guys would have no complaints. (The same applies to vans too!) You can travel 20km in a van for 100B, or 120km also for 100B......... It makes no sense whatsoever.

The whole charge system needs revamping, to reflect exactly how far you are travelling - it ain't rocket science.

In Edinburgh, there is a flat fare for the city bus services regardless of whether you only travel a few stops or whether you go the entire length of the route. The exception is the airport bus to Waverley Station. This is also the case with the new Edinburgh tram service with the exception of trips to and from the airport. The baht bus is an extremely convenient way of travelling in Pattaya and doubtless other cities.

Alan

[arthurwait]

Anyone ever seen a sober driver or an operator around anywhere doing anything about the drunk driver ?

[arthurwait]

Anyone ever seen a sober driver or an operator around anywhere doing anything about the drunk driver ?

[MrJohnson]

Anyone ever seen a sober driver or an operator around anywhere doing anything about the drunk driver ?

No. 'don't get involved'. Which is probably pretty sensible here. You might end up getting shot.

[jacko45k]

They surely must make money on Phuket where a 1km ride is 200 baht, or is it 300?

Let them all go there!

[papa al]

If this article is about private-run Baht-Buses (Songteauws, ie. Pick-Ups with passenger-seats on the plattform) then it is NOT about the big (Bangkok-)state-run buses.

As for the Baht-Buses in KhonKaen, Sukhothai, HatYai, Pattaya or the Bangkok-outskirts, it is a decent and cheap means of travel (5-15 Baht, the fare IS according to distance, see the scheme/sticker on the back-window of the cab). I don't think that they loose customers to Motorsaai-Taxis, simpy because you would pay for the same distance 50-80Baht and therefore quite expensive for average thais (houswifes, students, factory-workers...).

>In return, it has caused baht buses to lose 70 percent of their customers and their income to decrease by 700-800 baht per day.

That would mean they previously had an income of 1100-1400 Baht per day, wich is far above the thai wages of 250-400 Baht per day. I think you could reach that only by scamming tourists (the well-known always honking, aggressive and ennoying Songteaws in KohChang, KohSamui who would charge 500 Baht/person for a 7km ride - 10 times higher than a bangkok-Taxi!!

Maybe it is not illuminating to compair a baht bus income 1400baht/ day with a Thai worker income of 400baht per day as the former may indicate gross income (before expenses) vs. wages, representing a net income.?

[ggt]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Thainess in a nutshell!!

When business fails, instead of trying to improve their business, it is straight to the authorities asking for a handout!!

May I suggest they start as motorbike-taxis, since business appearently are so good for them!! width=32 alt=coffee1.gif>

This is not just a case of Thainess...many US banks...and banks elsewhere...have been kept afloat by government handouts...illegal...and in some cases...not required to pay the money back to government...those handing out the money...were once bankers themselves and still affiliated with the banking industry...a small case of conflict of interest...yet no one will challenge the status quo...in your face criminal activity...without prosecution...