Soft start to Patong tuk-tuk, taxi parking campaign

The Phuket News

 

Col Santi today began softly with the crackdown to have tuk-tuks and taxis relegated to just 21 'taxi stands' throughout Patong. Photo: The Phuket News

 

PHUKET: -- The first day of the crackdown to have Patong tuk-tuk and taxis provide their services from 21 “taxi stands” – instead of the 84 they occupied previously through the town – began quietly and politely today (Aug 3), but with tints of acrimony bubbling underneath.

 

The highest-ranking soldier on the island, Lt Col Santi Sakuntanark, Commander of the Royal Thai Army’s 25th Infantry Regiment, which is based in Phuket, led soldiers and security personnel in accompanying Patong Traffic Police patrolling the streets.

 

However, despite the hard words leading up the crackdown, efforts today amounted to little more than explanations of the new parking regulations to drivers found still parked outside the new “taxi stands”, which are now clearly marked by painted parking bays and signs.

 

Full story:  https://www.thephuketnews.com/soft-start-to-patong-tuk-tuk-taxi-parking-campaign-63310.php

 

-- © Copyright Phuket News 2017-08-04

How  many years will it take before they have taxi-meters in Phuket?

They tried to do this 10 years ago! Lets bring in Uber to Phuket on a 90 day trial. Uber doesn't need parking spaces and the fare is pre-negotiated.

2 hours ago, Thian said:

How  many years will it take before they have taxi-meters in Phuket?

 There are metered taxis in Phuket, but they don't turn the meters on and there is no enforcement.

 

1 hour ago, tomwct said:

They tried to do this 10 years ago! Lets bring in Uber to Phuket on a 90 day trial. Uber doesn't need parking spaces and the fare is pre-negotiated.

Grab Taxi is available in Phuket.

 

So are the army too scared to upset the tuk tuk drivers ?  Or is it people at the top of the chain they dont want to upset ?  Nothing will change.  It does show that there is very little business for the tuk tuk drivers if they spend most of the day parked up disturbing traffic flow 

1 hour ago, jaiyen said:

So are the army too scared to upset the tuk tuk drivers ?  Or is it people at the top of the chain they dont want to upset ?  Nothing will change.  It does show that there is very little business for the tuk tuk drivers if they spend most of the day parked up disturbing traffic flow 

Sometimes the iron hand inside the velvet glove is best. Give the Army a chance- it has been 24 hours. A subtle message will have been passed- if they choose to ignore it watch this space.

 

If they had gone in heavy handed there would have been howls of protests about 'army on the streets of Patong crippling tourism' from various Thaigeezers.

1 hour ago, Psimbo said:

Sometimes the iron hand inside the velvet glove is best. Give the Army a chance- it has been 24 hours. A subtle message will have been passed- if they choose to ignore it watch this space.

 

If they had gone in heavy handed there would have been howls of protests about 'army on the streets of Patong crippling tourism' from various Thaigeezers.

 

"Give the Army a chance- it has been 24 hours." - ahhhh, NO.

 

It's been 3 years. 

Looks like they only can chase teens in hot pants but not the taxi mob outta town. Sad.

On 8/4/2017 at 9:04 AM, Thian said:

How  many years will it take before they have taxi-meters in Phuket?

 

Metered taxis can be found in "World Class Tourist Destinations" not on Phuket. 

2 hours ago, NamKangMan said:

 

Metered taxis can be found in "World Class Tourist Destinations" not on Phuket. 

I just have been on holiday to the Italien coast and there were no taxi's there. But it's far more beautifull and perfect for tourists than Phuket will ever be.

Another dead-line passed........................and nothing happened.

2 hours ago, KarenBravo said:

Another dead-line passed........................and nothing happened.

Tuktuks, fake taxies, real taxies still there?

for the past few days I have seen a cluster of Tuk Tuk parked on a vacant lot near the south end of Nanai Road. At least 10 or more.

I drove on Patong beach road yesterday and I was thinking traffic was moving good.  Then I realized that there was nobody parking on the right hand side of the road.  Soon after I noticed some tuk-tuks , maybe about 20 parked on the right but it was a marked, painted and signed rank.

 

Is it too much to hope for?

 

Most places taxis drive around looking for fares.  The buggers are lazy thieves here with the prices they charge.