PHUKET: Motorcycle taxi riders at Phuket's new bus terminal are disgruntled at the low number of passengers and their discontent is aimed at the rival public pink bus shuttle to Phuket Town.
The motorcycle taxi riders ask 80 baht for the trip from the new terminal in Thepkasattri Road, near SuperCheap, to the old bus terminal in Phang Nga Road.
But the fare on the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation shuttle bus, which runs every 15 minutes, is just 10 baht.
No taxis are operating from the new terminus because the Phuket Transport Department is insisting that the illegal taxis that operated from the old terminal become legal taxis before they are permitted to move.
''We are running the new terminus and we intend to make sure all the forms of transport here are legal,'' said Phuket Transport Deputy Director Wanta Pumararoskon.
The new bus terminus opened on Saturday after an 18-month delay over a controversial u-turn in Phuket's main highway.
Arriving buses are greeted with a message telling passengers that they have the alternative of travelling on to Phuket Town or around Phuket via taxi, tuk-tuk, motorcycle or public bus.
Passengers are told they can purchase a voucher for all forms of transport at a one-stop counter. Comparative fares are on display at the counter.
Authorities are likely to take up Phuketwan's suggestion that so many expat tourists are already using the bus service that the broadcast notification should be in English as well as Thai.
So far it appears that overseas tourists, usually travelling in twos or threes, are content to catch a tuk-tuk to Phuket Town or elsewhere.
However, given the choice of an 80 baht motorcycle ride per person, individual Thais or Thais travelling in groups are mostly opting for the pink bus.
Ninety motorcycle taxi riders transferred to the new terminal from the old terminal, and the plan was to add 30 more local riders from the Rassada district. However, the number of trips a day appear to be too low to support 120 riders.
Sample fares for taxis - when they arrive - are Phuket Town 200 baht, Cape Panwa 400 baht, Chalong 350 baht, Rawai 500 baht, Nai Harn, 550 baht, Kata 500 baht, Karon 600 baht, Patong 450 baht, Surin 600 baht, Airport 500 baht, JW Marriott 800 baht.
For a motorcycle taxi, sample fares include Phuket Town 80 baht, Koh Sireh 150 baht, Chalong Temple 180 baht, Rawai 300 baht and Patong 300 baht.
Disgruntled individuals have been told by Phuket Transport officials that they must form a committee and talk to officials through a spokesperson rather than lodge complaints one at a time.
The shuttle bus service carries passengers from the new terminus, which is now the end of the line for all buses arriving from Bangkok and other provinces, to the old terminus, which is now the connection point for all bus services across Phuket.
The shuttle stops at 10pm when buses arriving from Bangkok and other provinces go direct to the old terminus in Phuket Town.
The motorcycle taxi riders ask 80 baht for the trip from the new terminal in Thepkasattri Road, near SuperCheap, to the old bus terminal in Phang Nga Road.
But the fare on the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation shuttle bus, which runs every 15 minutes, is just 10 baht.
No taxis are operating from the new terminus because the Phuket Transport Department is insisting that the illegal taxis that operated from the old terminal become legal taxis before they are permitted to move.
''We are running the new terminus and we intend to make sure all the forms of transport here are legal,'' said Phuket Transport Deputy Director Wanta Pumararoskon.
The new bus terminus opened on Saturday after an 18-month delay over a controversial u-turn in Phuket's main highway.
Arriving buses are greeted with a message telling passengers that they have the alternative of travelling on to Phuket Town or around Phuket via taxi, tuk-tuk, motorcycle or public bus.
Passengers are told they can purchase a voucher for all forms of transport at a one-stop counter. Comparative fares are on display at the counter.
Authorities are likely to take up Phuketwan's suggestion that so many expat tourists are already using the bus service that the broadcast notification should be in English as well as Thai.
So far it appears that overseas tourists, usually travelling in twos or threes, are content to catch a tuk-tuk to Phuket Town or elsewhere.
However, given the choice of an 80 baht motorcycle ride per person, individual Thais or Thais travelling in groups are mostly opting for the pink bus.
Ninety motorcycle taxi riders transferred to the new terminal from the old terminal, and the plan was to add 30 more local riders from the Rassada district. However, the number of trips a day appear to be too low to support 120 riders.
Sample fares for taxis - when they arrive - are Phuket Town 200 baht, Cape Panwa 400 baht, Chalong 350 baht, Rawai 500 baht, Nai Harn, 550 baht, Kata 500 baht, Karon 600 baht, Patong 450 baht, Surin 600 baht, Airport 500 baht, JW Marriott 800 baht.
For a motorcycle taxi, sample fares include Phuket Town 80 baht, Koh Sireh 150 baht, Chalong Temple 180 baht, Rawai 300 baht and Patong 300 baht.
Disgruntled individuals have been told by Phuket Transport officials that they must form a committee and talk to officials through a spokesperson rather than lodge complaints one at a time.
The shuttle bus service carries passengers from the new terminus, which is now the end of the line for all buses arriving from Bangkok and other provinces, to the old terminus, which is now the connection point for all bus services across Phuket.
The shuttle stops at 10pm when buses arriving from Bangkok and other provinces go direct to the old terminus in Phuket Town.
Most of the taxis will stay at the airport because there yesterday the "set fixed price" of 500 baht to my area was being offered at a "special price" outside the terminal of 1,200 :-o
The luxury fully air-conditioned Airport Bus won again at 90 baht !!!
Posted by Amazed in Thailand on April 23, 2012 12:46