http://www.chiangmaicitylife.com/news/total-overhaul-of-red-songtaews-announced/

Quote

 

At the Chiang Mai Sustainable Urban Transport Conference on June 5, a new policy was announced that will reorganise songtaews around the city. All songtaews must now be re-registered as commercial cars (Car 30), all existing standard routes will be removed and they will be limited to staying within the second ring road.

All songtaews will now be free to drive anywhere in the city and must not charge more than 30 baht per person. If the songtaew is hired privately, the price should not exceed 200 baht and the driver must not pick up any other passengers during that trip.

 

All drivers must also attend a training seminar, after which they will receive a QR code and online account that contains the driver’s profile, prices and regular routes. Passengers will be able to scan the QR code and leave comments and rate the driver’s service on their profile.

There are currently 2,345 registered red songtaews in Chiang Mai that must comply with the new regulations by August 30. This week, over 400 are expected to complete the registration and attend the seminar.

 

Wouldn't it be simpler if they were just painted a different color?

Im sure all these red songtheaws will comply.....YEAH RIGHT!

 

Its easy enough to 'make' up new rules/laws but where are the enforcers going to be?  Sitting behind their desks checking online?  I sometimes wonder if anyone thinks these things through or is this just another 'band aid' approach to the congestion problem in the city?

 

I suppose its better than just sitting on ones hands and hoping the problem just goes away....but not by much.

Why no mention of overhauling the vehicles themselves? Most blow huge clouds of black smoke and leak oil as the circle the city all day. Why are they exempt from the emissions testing all vehicles over 7 yesrs old are required to do? 

An improvement if it ever happens but when there are 4 people on the song tao and all want to go different areas???