What is the story with chiangmaibus.org ?

[Berto]

I saw several bust-stop stands on a few main roads in Chiang Mai, it seems run by chiangmaibus.org.

I tried to load up this website but I get virus warning, even if I just use chiangmaibus in google search!

Anybody have an explanation?

Thanks

[TheAppletons]

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/828441-spotted-new-bus-stop-signs-for-the-new-songthaew-bus-routes/

[WinnieTheKhwai]

There is a phone app you can download that will be helpful in seeing the schedule and where buses are.

As an aside, I have no issues with the website. Are you using some overly jittery scareware perhaps?

[Lizard2010]

No Virus on my PC using Kaspersky With Legit Licence

[Konini]

Avast gives a false positive - you have to decide whether you're brave enough to disable it for 10 minutes.

[Berto]

Disable antivirus is not a good idea - anyway seems chiang mai bus does not practically exist.

[hyperdimension]

Based on the official web site, routes 2 and 4 are still operating daily. You can see the songthaews move in real-time on the map on the web site. I've also checked the smartphone app and it also shows the map, which would be very useful as you have a better idea of when it would arrive at the stop.

It appears that they scrapped the timetables. I assume that it was not practical to comply with the times.

Which other routes are active? Is 8 active (even though the vehicles don't appear on the map)?

I might try route 4 to get from the airport to hotel when I visit Chiang Mai soon.

Everyone should support fixed route public transport because without it it's a bit of a mess, especially when the songthaew you are on picks up other passengers and takes a few detours to drop them off first.

Edited April 20, 2016 by hyperdimension

[KhonKaenKowboy]

The first time I rode it, I was thinking it was the best bus I had been on since the casino shuttles used to pick me up at my hotel at Tahoe. After about four more attempts I have decided that it is more like the worst bus service I have ever attempted to use. No schedules (that they keep), no routes that are a sure thing....they are obviously hemorrhaging money. Riding in the back of red is better than standing in the heat for 20+ minutes to wait for a ride with a/c. Also, you have to practically be standing in the street to flag it down, they have gotten so accustomed to not having passengers. They didn't run at all on the 11th, even though they stated they would stop on the 12th. Oh, and they take lunch break for an hour+ in the middle of the day,,,so if it's 11:30, you might have a nearly two hour wait.

If you are having trouble with "red," you are catching them in the wrong places, like Nimman, or Arcade. If they are already moving, chances are great they will be happy to do a 20 thb trip...if they are parked along MM or Nimman; they are looking for some big fish to fry. I've found that the older vehicles have owner operators, and they are ironically the most reliable. Problems at Arcade are solved by waling 200 meters away from the terminal. I don't think it's even fair to mention red in the same breadth as tuk-tuks, be even they will begrudgingly give you a cheap ride as opposed to returning from a long run empty. Even if the bus was viable; the after dark problems would still exist.

Edited April 20, 2016 by KhonKaenKowboy

[hyperdimension]

No schedules (that they keep), no routes that are a sure thing....they are obviously hemorrhaging money. Riding in the back of red is better than standing in the heat for 20+ minutes to wait for a ride with a/c.

Do the vehicles actually have air-conditioning? From what I've seen they are just ordinary red songthaews with additional signs and markings to indicate that they are part of the fixed-route CM Transit system.

The timetables were probably too rigid and difficult to comply with in the real world due to unpredictability of things like traffic. I don't know how they could have thought that timetables would actually work. It was definitely a waste of time and effort to develop timetables.

The CMTRANSIT app negates the need for any timetable. You would then know whether a songthaew is likely to arrive at the stop within the next 5 minutes because you can see them move on the map. I wish the bus system in Bangkok would have this.

But they need to make sure that all vehicles are always correctly sending their location data. I've been observing the real-time map on the chiangmaibus.org page and sometimes it appears that a vehicle is stationary for a long time, and I'm not sure whether the vehicle is actually stationary or their location data is not being sent to the server for whatever reason (technical malfunction or intentional "hiding" by driver).

There needs to be people to monitor all movements of the vehicles and ensure that the technology is working correctly and that drivers are doing their job properly to a high professional standard, which includes strictly staying on their fixed routes. I have sometimes seen them take diversions, effectively skipping some designated stops. Even the buses in Bangkok (despite their often aggressive driving behavior) are always on their fixed routes unless it's impossible e.g. due to roadworks. So this has got to do with good management and HR.

If you are having trouble with "red," you are catching them in the wrong places, like Nimman

Is it because it is seen as a "hi-so" area? I often stay in the Nimmanhaemin area. I guess walking to Huay Kaew Road and catching one from there would be better.

If they are already moving, chances are great they will be happy to do a 20 thb trip

How far would 20 THB take me from the Nimmanhaemin area? Tha Phae Gate? Chiang Mai Zoo?

Do they always count per person? I'll be traveling in a group of 4 soon so every little trip would cost at least 80 THB if that's the case.

Since I'm used to the transport systems in Bangkok I'm always a bit disappointed at the system when in Chiang Mai. In a comfortable air-conditioned Bangkok taxi a 1km trip would cost just 35 THB for up to 4 people (or even 5 or 6 if squeezed in), and a 10km trip may still cost under 100 THB based on the meter (which the driver usually turns on without needing to be asked). Also, wouldn't it be good if you didn't have to waste time and effort to negotiate an agreed price every single time you needed to go somewhere a bit far? e.g. Nimmanhaemin to Wararot Market.

Are most Chiang Mai residents really satisfied with their existing public transport systems? Have you all gotten accustomed to the poor (relative to Bangkok) systems, or have just given up hope of any improvement in your lifetime, yielding to the overpowering entrenched vested interests ("red songthaew mafia")?

[hyperdimension]

Just to back up my claim that in a Bangkok taxi cab

a 10km trip may still cost under 100 THB based on the meter

here are the increased fares. They were cheaper for many years before January 2015. See more information here: The new Thai taxi meter fares are here

Note also that traveling by taxi cab is considered to be an expensive form of transport in Bangkok (except when traveling in a large group, as the BTS and MRT fee is per person).

Edited April 21, 2016 by hyperdimension

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Just to back up my claim that in a Bangkok taxi cab

a 10km trip may still cost under 100 THB based on the meter

here are the increased fares. They were cheaper for many years before January 2015. See more information here: The new Thai taxi meter fares are here

Note also that traveling by taxi cab is considered to be an expensive form of transport in Bangkok (except when traveling in a large group, as the BTS and MRT fee is per person).

Another puzzling thing is that it's a real challenge to even get red bus songthaews to go for that cost to an out of the way location, and that's AFTER doubling the distance to cover for going back empty. (Chances are he wouldn't even be empty for all the way, but let's assume worst case).

My house for example is 11 km from Loy Kroh road, and when doubling that to 22km that's 165 Baht.. Think any red bus or tuk tuk will do that? Nope! And that's comparing to a nice new aircon car in Bangkok. (Bangkok, where living expenses are higher, etc.)

Edited April 21, 2016 by WinnieTheKhwai

[Asiantravel]

The first time I rode it, I was thinking it was the best bus I had been on since the casino shuttles used to pick me up at my hotel at Tahoe. After about four more attempts I have decided that it is more like the worst bus service I have ever attempted to use. No schedules (that they keep), no routes that are a sure thing....they are obviously hemorrhaging money. Riding in the back of red is better than standing in the heat for 20+ minutes to wait for a ride with a/c. Also, you have to practically be standing in the street to flag it down, they have gotten so accustomed to not having passengers. They didn't run at all on the 11th, even though they stated they would stop on the 12th. Oh, and they take lunch break for an hour+ in the middle of the day,,,so if it's 11:30, you might have a nearly two hour wait.

If you are having trouble with "red," you are catching them in the wrong places, like Nimman, or Arcade. If they are already moving, chances are great they will be happy to do a 20 thb trip...if they are parked along MM or Nimman; they are looking for some big fish to fry. I've found that the older vehicles have owner operators, and they are ironically the most reliable. Problems at Arcade are solved by waling 200 meters away from the terminal. I don't think it's even fair to mention red in the same breadth as tuk-tuks, be even they will begrudgingly give you a cheap ride as opposed to returning from a long run empty. Even if the bus was viable; the after dark problems would still exist.

it's hard to identifyfrom your post which bus service you are actually talking about.

if the first part of your post is referring to the 15 baht air-conditioned bus service specifically covered in this thread below which starts at the arcade bus station and goes to the airport then you are wrong because every time I have gone on it to the airport it has always been on time. Just because obviously you haven't bothered to find out the timing shouldn't mean you have to go out of your way to try to dissuade other people from using it

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/907628-top-secret-routestimes-for-air-con-15-baht-local-bus-service/page-3

[KhonKaenKowboy]

Just because you visit here several days a year, doesn't make you an expert. You also falsely claimed that you could shop at Ton Payom while waiting, and that isn't even close to true. You also, stated that you could sit in a coffee shop and drink 45 thb coffees while you waited, and you would also get left behind in that case. You stated they were running on the 11th; they were not. You failed to recognize the lunch breaks they take in the middle of the day. YUou failed to acknowledge that one would still need to deal with Red after 19:00, anyway. You falsely painted an overly negative view of Red. Maybe you had an "uncomfortable" sexual experience recommended by a tuk-tuk and have an axe to grind....it sure sounds like it. On paper, it may seem like a good idea, but that is all it is: an idea; reality is different. Why cannibalize the reds with something that is a miserable crooked failure? You have financial interest in it, because you made a web page all about it, that is likely generating about 12 thb per month and is about as useful as a hot dog and egg, fake orange juice breakfast guide.

Edited April 21, 2016 by KhonKaenKowboy

[Asiantravel]

Just because you visit here several days a year, doesn't make you an expert. You also falsely claimed that you could shop at Ton Payom while waiting, and that isn't even close to true. You also, stated that you could sit in a coffee shop and drink 45 thb coffees while you waited, and you would also get left behind in that case. You stated they were running on the 11th; they were not. You failed to recognize the lunch breaks they take in the middle of the day. YUou failed to acknowledge that one would still need to deal with Red after 19:00, anyway. You falsely painted an overly negative view of Red. Maybe you had an "uncomfortable" sexual experience recommended by a tuk-tuk and have an axe to grind....it sure sounds like it. On paper, it may seem like a good idea, but that is all it is: an idea; reality is different. Why cannibalize the reds with something that is a miserable crooked failure? You have financial interest in it, because you made a web page all about it, that is likely generating about 12 thb per month and is about as useful as a hot dog and egg, fake orange juice breakfast guide.

WOW!!

You obviously have an axe to grind when you start talking about uncomfortable sexual experiences.

I actually visit Chiang Mai every two months and have been doing so for the past four years which certainly makes me more of an expert than you because you can’t work out the timetable or you don’t have the initiative to find out what it is. every time I arrive at Chiang Mai airport and return the bus is always on time and gets me there quickly in air-conditioned comfort for 15 baht without having to haggle with a red driver.

I do not have any financial interest because you are even confusing me with the original poster. I have no interest in relaying my experiences of using this bus other than providing the correct information which is opposite to what you are doing.

Why not allow people to try for themselves instead of spreading false information.

Edited April 21, 2016 by Asiantravel

[BritManToo]

My house for example is 11 km from Loy Kroh road, and when doubling that to 22km that's 165 Baht.. Think any red bus or tuk tuk will do that? Nope! And that's comparing to a nice new aircon car in Bangkok. (Bangkok, where living expenses are higher, etc.)

I used to live at San Klang (between San Patong and Hang Dong)

18bht for the 25Km journey. Very cheap, still the same price.

[banagan]

Why is everyone calling these busses? They're red cars with numbers on them.

Here's a bus. Not only can it seat more than 10 people, but plenty of standing room, without the risk of falling out the back.

I think if we had a load of these on the roads it would really help the traffic problem... you'd probably have to offer it free for a few months to get the Thai's used to it.

Edited April 21, 2016 by banagan

[Diplomatico]

Why is everyone calling these busses? They're red cars with numbers on them.

Here's a bus. Not only can it seat more than 10 people, but plenty of standing room, without the risk of falling out the back.

I think if we had a load of these on the roads it would really help the traffic problem... you'd probably have to offer it free for a few months to get the Thai's used to it.

The bus to which this thread refers (I'm relatively certain) looks like this (so, not a red car with a number):

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/907628-top-secret-routestimes-for-air-con-15-baht-local-bus-service/

[WinnieTheKhwai]

The bus to which this thread refers (I'm relatively certain) looks like this (so, not a red car with a number):

7jJlgWP.jpg

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/907628-top-secret-routestimes-for-air-con-15-baht-local-bus-service/

Indeed.. it appears form members are very determined in confusing themselves about all kinds of things.

They're buses.

[Dante99]

Why is everyone calling these busses? They're red cars with numbers on them.

Here's a bus. Not only can it seat more than 10 people, but plenty of standing room, without the risk of falling out the back.

I think if we had a load of these on the roads it would really help the traffic problem... you'd probably have to offer it free for a few months to get the Thai's used to it.

It would be terrible to have more large vehicles like that on the city roads and would make traffic worse. You have no idea why Thais drive, they are not going to change and ride the bus and neither am I.

[daoyai]

My house for example is 11 km from Loy Kroh road, and when doubling that to 22km that's 165 Baht.. Think any red bus or tuk tuk will do that? Nope! And that's comparing to a nice new aircon car in Bangkok. (Bangkok, where living expenses are higher, etc.)

I used to live at San Klang (between San Patong and Hang Dong)

18bht for the 25Km journey. Very cheap, still the same price.

I am guessing that most of WTKs returns from LK rd. are at night. The long distance songteaw (yellow, green, blue or white) IS one of the best deals around but they stop service early evening.

[hyperdimension]

None of those pictures are actually what I have been referring to!

I was going to tell you guys to visit chiangmaibus.org but they don't even have pictures of their vehicles! That's yet another failure that needs to be fixed. If everyone actually did a proper job with this transport system it would be a very useful and valuable asset for the city. The vehicle tracking in particular is an excellent feature (if it works most of the time).

The Facebook page seems to be more informative with pictures and up-to-date information: https://www.facebook.com/Chiangmaibus-1060347567326919

Here's a picture of the fixed-route songthaews that I have been referring to (and can be tracked via the chiangmaibus.org web site or CM TRANSIT smartphone app:

Edited April 22, 2016 by hyperdimension

[hyperdimension]

The bus to which this thread refers (I'm relatively certain) looks like this (so, not a red car with a number):

7jJlgWP.jpg

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/907628-top-secret-routestimes-for-air-con-15-baht-local-bus-service/

That is incorrect. That is a different service. The thread title refers to chiangmaibus.org. It is a system of red songthaews, not air-conditioned mini vans. The route numbers are different (that one has routes B1 and B2, which are not listed on chiangmaibus.org).

Edited April 22, 2016 by hyperdimension

[KhonKaenKowboy]

There is kinf of an overlap on the two, though. The map they gave me on B1, B2 shows some of the same routes, but it list www.cmcity.go.th as their website.........I'm not even going to try it. One B bus goes betweeb Arcade and the CNX..the other Arcade and The Zoo. And their is also an airport bus....and today I saw a new sign with a "10" on it, on Chiang Moi, with a circulating route between Worrorat and the airport, and it was on one of the b1/b2 stops. And as far as the "App" they showed me that on B1, so B1 is suppose to be a part of that, but, of course, it sucks.

[hyperdimension]

There is kinf of an overlap on the two, though. The map they gave me on B1, B2 shows some of the same routes,

Which chiangmaibus.org routes correspond with B1 and B2?

chiangmaibus.org route 2 goes between the zoo and Arcade too like B1, but it does not go along Ratchadamnoen Road in the old city. Maybe the overlap of some parts of the routes are just coincidence.

today I saw a new sign with a "10" on it, on Chiang Moi, with a circulating route between Worrorat and the airport, and it was on one of the b1/b2 stops. And as far as the "App" they showed me that on B1, so B1 is suppose to be a part of that, but, of course, it sucks.

If it goes between Warorot and the airport then it doesn't correspond with chiangmaibus.org route 10 (which does not go to the airport: Route 10 map)

And as far as the "App" they showed me that on B1, so B1 is suppose to be a part of that, but, of course, it sucks.

What was the name of the app? The chiangmaibus.org app "CMTRANSIT" app only shows route 2 and route 4 vehicles, neither of which correspond with B1, B2 or 10 of the mini van system. The app does somewhat work.

The mini van service still appears to be a totally separate system from the chiangmaibus.org system. It might be best not to think of them as the same system in order to avoid confusion.

[Chris Pirazzi]

Hi,

Here's a summary that might help reduce confusion about these different systems.

Even the NAME of the systems---"Chiangmaibus"---is a source of confusion.

There are at least two and possibly four types of vehicles offering fixed-route, fixed-price service in Chiang Mai, all under the banner of "Chiangmaibus"

• The aircon half-buses (aka minibuses, NOT minivans) described in the ThaiVisa thread http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/907628-top-secret-routestimes-for-air-con-15-baht-local-bus-service/ and whose up-to-date route and times are shown at at http://slice-of-thai.com/cmbus/ , currently consisting of route B1 (Arcade-Zoo) and B2 (Arcade-Airport). Many (not all) of these buses have chaingmaibus dot org (do not go here: viruses!) prominently printed on them, but at this time that website contains no information about the aircon buses (clearly they want it to someday though). The Thai-language Chiangmaibus Facebook Page also has a few mentions of the aircon bus service, but the Facebook page mostly talks about the next type of vehicle....
  
• A separate system of non-air-con pickup-truck red-taxis that have fixed routes and fixed prices. The routes are named with just numbers like 2, 6, or 12 and you can often find maps showing as many as 12 routes, although in a recent Facebook post it seems they might switch some/all of the red-taxi routes to a naming scheme starting wtih R (R1 R2 R3) also using the name "Chiang Mai City Hop." As with the aircon buses, red-taxi routes and times change randomly with no advance notice. These vehicles also have chiangmaibus dot org (do not go here: viruses!) printed on them and that website contains (probably outdated) info on the red-taxi routes. The Thai-language Chiangmaibus Facebook Page mostly discusses the red-taxis, including schedule and route changes. I do not know any current, authoritative source of routes and times for this service, but it seems the Facebook page might be the most current. The thread on ThaiVisa.com you are reading right now discusses these red-taxis (but don't be confused by the name of the thread: red-taxis are only part of "Chiangmaibus"). Then there is also the CMTRANSIT smartphone app (see below).
  
• A recent Facebook post mentions that the "Chiangmaibus" service also includes minivans (aka tourist "Shuttle buses") to Ban Tawai woodworking village. It seems reasonable to expect more minivan-based routes in the future.
  
• That same Facebook post also mentions new, "cute, green" tourist trams (รถราง), also under the "Chiangmaibus" logo, which will take tourists around the old city. Has anyone seen these?

Some folks have pointed out that some of the maps and fliers for various services above have the website http://www.cmcity.go.th printed on them. This is simply the website of the Chiang Mai Municipality (the têet-sà~baan) and is not transport-specific. I have not yet been able to find any route/time info about transport on this website, but if anyone does please let me know.

There is a smartphone app for Android and a smartphone app for iOS/iPhone/iPad called CMTRANSIT which is supposed to show you, in real-time, the position of every fixed-route red taxi on a real-time map. This is a very cool idea because it gives you much more confidence about whether the taxi will really come and slightly lessens your need to know the schedules (so it's a clever technological workaround for whatever intractable management problem plagues these transport systems). Currently this app does NOT show you the location of the aircon buses, minivans, or trams, but that seems to be a goal since all these forms of transport are co-branded. These apps seem to be the result of some kind of joint academic-government effort in Chiang Mai. BUT unfortunately many of the reviews indicate that the apps (or the data the apps depend on) is flaky and often the little red-taxis are just stuck on the map. So I am not sure how much use the app is. Does anyone use one of these apps regularly?

Edited April 22, 2016 by Chris Pirazzi

[ravelkuan]

Sorry, I come from Macau..

Do somebody know that have a english app??

I want to know about Airport to old city bus's schedules...(Chiang mai Gate)

And ""where"" to waiting the bus in Airport...

[Chris Pirazzi]

I don't think there is any English app, and I'm not even sure if the Thai app is working/useful.

For Airport to Chiang Mai Gate you can learn about aircon bus B2 here: http://slice-of-thai.com/cmbus/ and there's some advice about where/how to catch the bus there.

[KhonKaenKowboy]

or, you can just catch yellow at CM Gate (south side) and go to Airport Plaza for 10 thb...very frequent, trips, too.

[ravelkuan]

I don't think there is any English app, and I'm not even sure if the Thai app is working/useful.

For Airport to Chiang Mai Gate you can learn about aircon bus B2 here: http://slice-of-thai.com/cmbus/ and there's some advice about where/how to catch the bus there.

thanks,

Is it fixed price 15B??

And is the bus stop outside the airport's area??

[ravelkuan]

or, you can just catch yellow at CM Gate (south side) and go to Airport Plaza for 10 thb...very frequent, trips, too.

You mean the yellow one(songthaew)?Airport Plaza to CM gate?....

When is the last yellow songthaew??...

Because I will arrive at 7pm(Airport)....