Bangkok: Free public transport service to become conditional and mean for the poor only

[webfact]

Free public transport service to become conditional and mean for the poor only



BANGKOK: -- The transport minister said the study of the conditional free public transport service will be ready end of this month, and if it is endorsed by the cabinet, it will be in used in February next year.

ACM Prajin Juntong said he has assigned his deputy Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, who is also secretary-general of the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) to conduct study on the possibility of the state-run free public transport with intent to limit the free services to low income earners.

He said if study comes out and is approved, it will be enforced in February.

ACM Prajin had earlier stated if the free service could be restricted only to the poor, it could halve the budget subsidy for the two public transporters, Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA), and the State Railway of Thailand (SRT).

But he failed to explain how it will differentiate between users.

However there was a suggestion of coupon distribution to the poor.

Currently everyone can use the free-to-ride buses in Bangkok and some third-class trains

The free service is extended every three months by cabinet endorsement. The current extension expires on Jan 31

On Tuesday, the cabinet approved subsidies of 2.7 billion baht for the State Railway of Thailand and 1.9 billion baht for the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority from the 2015 fiscal budget to finance the free transportation.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/free-public-transport-service-become-conditional-mean-poor


-- Thai PBS 2014-12-04

[neverdie]

How does one prove they are poor?

[Sviss Geez]

How does one prove they are poor?

By using those buses?

[siampolee]

Sort of dress code like this perhaps

[fey]

took one of these back from government complex immigration to victory monument. great old school ride with openi air windows. laughing at the smucks sitting in their ac taxi's along the way.

[bkk_mike]

took one of these back from government complex immigration to victory monument. great old school ride with openi air windows. laughing at the smucks sitting in their ac taxi's along the way.

And they're probably laughing at the shmucks in the bus...

Maybe not so much in December, but come Hot season, I know which place I'd prefer to be.

[Bob12345]

How does one prove they are poor?

The article talks about "low income earners" at the start which is something completely different from "poor" people.

Being a low income earner might require the person to pay tax to start with which requires you to have a job and work for a boss.

People who have their own business (somtam seller, fruit seller, garbage collector, etc) or who are unemployed have no right on the free bus.

I already see a lively trade in bus coupons coming up.

Edited December 4, 2014 by Bob12345

[neverdie]

How does one prove they are poor?

The article talks about "low income earners" at the start which is something completely different from "poor" people.

Being a low income earner might require the person to pay tax to start with which requires you to have a job and work for a boss.

People who have their own business (somtam seller, fruit seller, garbage collector, etc) or who are unemployed have no right on the free bus.

I already see a lively trade in bus coupons coming up.

Bob,

How are you?

Mate I used the term 'poor' because the articles uses that term too.

"ACM Prajin had earlier stated if the free service could be restricted only to the poor, it could halve the budget subsidy for the two public transporters, Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA), and the State Railway of Thailand (SRT)."

I agree with your comments.

[impulse]

How does one prove they are poor?

Show them your marriage certificate.

[neverdie]

How does one prove they are poor?

Show them your marriage certificate.

Some of the tight arsed individuals on this forum could open their wallets and the killer moths would attack the bus driver...

[jacky54]

I hope it happens, I hate it when we 'have' to wait for one of these cos they are free. Then the mrs complains the people on them smell or are a bunch of down and outs!

[smokie36]

The pay bus costs 9 Baht....ho hum.....just have to hope this is not a phasing out of the free bus service.

I'm sure too there are Thai versions of our cheapskates....plenty of em!

[jacky54]

pay is normally 8 baht and 7.5 for govt bus.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Damn.. I like the free buses.

But anyway, on top of losing money on the bus service, there will now be the added cost of printing and distributing coupons, and overhead in figuring out who qualifies.

Terrible idea.

[alantheembalmer]

Who's going to collect the coupons on the free buses, as most of them don't have clippies? Some of the ones I've been on, (the buses, not the clippies), have been downright dangerous. Maybe the Government should consider paying the passengers to ride on them!

[balo]

Well official bus rates are between 8 and 12 baht so if you can't afford that then yes , you are very poor indeed.

[alantheembalmer]

Why not have a fare of 5 Baht on all the red buses, along with no free buses.? The very poor would be glad the price has gone down on the buses where money is collected, and the revenue would increase for the BMTA. Sooner, or later, the free rides will surely go anyway.