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Phuket Taxis, Tuk-Tuks, Beaches: One Month Deadline, Says Army Chief
By Chutima Siasathian Thursday, July 10, 2014
PHUKET: A deadline of one month has been set to finalise agreement on Phuket's beaches and the taxis and tuk-tuks, the soldier in charge of those two issues, Major General Somchai Ponatong, said yesterday.
While the aim was to remove all tuk-tuks and taxis from public parking spaces in Patong, there was one major hurdle, he said.
''There appears to be no large parking area where tuk-tuks and taxis could be held before being called in,'' he said. ''Without such an area, we may need to compromise.''
The taxi and tuk-tuk drivers have suggested sharing the space - half for tuk-tuks and taxis and half for the public, he said.
The suggestion is not likely to be met with approval by everyone because it would probably slow the evolution of the taxi system to a call-in system.
Clearing the tuk-tuks and taxis from parking in the streets is seen as an essential for better flow of traffic in Patong.
The major general said that other meetings would be held to deal with issues raised by beach vendors but the intention remains to proceed with changes in the interest of the policies of the National Council for Peace and Order.
He said the plan remained to allow more metered taxis to operate from Phuket International Airport, and for those cabs to be able to pick up anywhere on Phuket.
''Police will be working hard to maintain law enforcement,'' he said.
The major general said reforms of the beaches and taxis were his task. Other senior officers had other tasks on Phuket.
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Comments
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I was in Bangkok yesterday and caught a taxi from Sukhumvit Soi 9 to Don Muang and it was 150 baht on the meter plus 50 baht toll fee.
Nok Air had a special to Nakhon Sri for 800 baht so taxi to airport and plane to South about 1000 baht.
I was laughing thinking some poor sucker was probably paying that for a trip from Phuket airport to Patong!
I was chatting to the Bangkok taxi driver and even he was aware of the problems on Phuket.
As I've said before, the issues on Phuket are now well known everywhere and people are just going elsewhere.
In years past the plane to Nakhon was usually Thais only. Yesterday there were many farang tourists and a lot of younger farangs in particular. Both Nok Air and Air Asia fly here now.
Everyone says two things about Phuket. Too expensive and too many scams. I hear this from everybody I talk to.
A lot of Thai people I know who grifted a living from tourists on Phuket are now in dire financial positions because so many of the quality tourists or regulars have gone elsewhere.
Posted by
Arun Muruga
on
July 10, 2014 12:21
Metered Taxis are as expensive if not more than the Green Plated limousines.
So everyone keeps saying they want Metered Taxi's but at what price? They are supposed to be VALUE and they offer 0 Value compared to any other ways of traveling to and from the airport.
Greed with a Meter, that's all it is.
Posted by
Tbs
on
July 10, 2014 13:25
roadworthy test the lot of them ,off road to they are or scrapped if cant make the grade
be plenty of parking then.
Posted by
slickmelb
on
July 10, 2014 13:32
You don't need to park them, once you have fair priced metered taxis arriving in patong all day long. After dropping their passengers they will find new customers on their mandatory way through patongs oneway traffic. While doing that they will be available for call-ins to not only resorts. Tuktuks from outside of phuket will be sent back home to their province. Locals will use the remaining 20% for a baht-bus service.
Problem solved
Posted by
SevenToOne
on
July 10, 2014 14:57
Why does the gov't feel compelled to provide parking for taxis? I'm not aware of any municipalities that do so.
The taxis should be driving & in-motion looking for customers, instead of sitting most of the day, watching TV & waiting for someone to pass by.
Let's face it, there are just too many taxis.
Posted by
buster
on
July 10, 2014 15:06
Editor Comment:
There are headquarters in all big cities for taxis. You will find Phuket's unused metered taxis, for example, at a parking lot about a kilometre away from the airport. It's plainly not possible for all taxis to be in motion around the clock. There is definitely an oversupply that should disappear with time.
Opposite Jungceylon on Sai Kor Rd...where the airport bus station is...is a huge lot where tour buses and other vehicles are parking...I always thought this location would be perfect for a waiting area...but then again, I'm not sure if its already earmarked for something else or not
Posted by
sky
on
July 10, 2014 16:51
A few weeks ago I opted for the Meter Taxi from the airport to Patong. I ended up paying more than the price offered by the "limo" services outside the airport.
Close to 900 Bath by Meter Taxi!
The price offered by the other services to Patong was 800. From my hotel and back to the airport I paid 700 Bath directly to my hotel for a transfer service.
In Bangkok some days before I paid about 450 Bath from Suvarnabhumi to my hotel in Sukhumvit Soi 13, a trip about 45-50 minutes and highway toll too.
The meters on the Meter Taxis in Phuket should really be checked out, the prices are ridiculous compared to the rest of Thailand, even to many western countries.
Actually I felt that the taxi-touts at the airport were more friendly than the people at the Meter Taxi stand too.
For sure the lack of a decent public transportation system is one of the things that need to be addressed in Phuket, the current rip-off prices bye the taxi and tuk-tuk guys should be ended!
Posted by
Terje D
on
July 10, 2014 18:03
Editor Comment:
Lowering the fares would be the best way to quickly reduce the number of taxis and lose those who do not want to work for a living.
No space for the little tin boxes to wait ??
Football field at Loma Park?
Behind JP plaza near Jungceylon?
Up the road past the fire station ?
Near Absolute at Tri Trang?
Anyone heard of Google Maps?
Or eyes?
:-)
If all the tin boxes are cleared from beach road and ratuthid we could even go back to two way traffic which would stop the two racetracks we have now
Crossing them and you take your life into your own hands. I stop to let people cross and they are so shocked they refuse to walk across
I am going to get rear ended soon enough too
Oh what fun :-)
Posted by
Amazing Thailand
on
July 10, 2014 18:27
I still think they should get rid of a large number of the taxis & tuk tuks & set up a 'song taew' system same as Chiang Mai, Pattaya & Korat. Jump on & off along the fixed routes for a 10 or 20 baht fare.
Posted by
Logic
on
July 11, 2014 02:56
Time for the military to assist to implement the often dismantled, blocked and otherwise waylaid Public Transportation System, -anyone remember the bus system falling victim to blockades & other nefarious stunts?
Fares paid by tourists could go straight into public funds thereby improving many aspects of life for locals vs. letting all the transportation monies fall into the hands of veritable thugs on wheels.
Posted by
Karlski
on
July 11, 2014 06:35
[quote]
Let's face it, there are just too many taxis.
[/quote]
And also too many tuk-tuks, too many street-sellers, too many hawkers, too many.....
Phuket has drawn tens of thousands of Thai, Burmese and 'westerners' in search of money. (I am also here to make money).
But what happens when the money source dwindles or dries up? I can't see all these itinerants returning voluntarily to their 'home'.
I am sure opportunist crime is going to rocket....
Posted by
Simon Luttrell
on
July 11, 2014 06:59
Already ready to compromise again on tuk tuk and taxis ? Reducing the number of them notable and applying reasonable metered fees plus adding the already suggested circling SongTheo and it should become much better. Constantly circling single taxis or tuk tuk again would clog the the narrow roads and pollute. If the number is reduced, it's easier to park them anyhow.
Posted by
Resident
on
July 11, 2014 08:36
Exactly Terje D, Tbs, Last week from the airport to Chalong, I hid inside the airport and waited for the wife to get a metered taxi (my face seems to always solicit a set fare with no meter). After agreeing to a metered fare despite the 100 baht airport surcharge, I felt content. The meter started at 50 baht, I thought erm ok, still content and smug at out-smarting the private taxi hordes who claimed it would be cheaper with them. I watched in head shaking wonder as the meter went into hyper-drive and by the time we got to Wat Chalong it read 894 Baht. Plus the 100 baht airport fee. Where is the logic in that? I just hate the transportation system here. There is no excuse, non whatsoever. I also notice the taxi drivers are still commandeering all the spaces at the Karon municipality and notice it is still 400 baht baht to Chalong, that's 39 baht a km btw. It's all well and good smashing down shacks and clearing the streets, but until the laws are changed, the fees are changed, public transport is changed, not much will change. All i want is to be able to flag down a taxi or call one when I leave somewhere, and do the same when returning, wherever it is and whatever time. I'd even happily stand at a bus stop, swipe an e-card and hop on. Just give us this ability at a fair price, please officials, its in your hands and now is the time.
Posted by
Andy
on
July 11, 2014 09:55
Editor Comment:
The metered cabbies rightly objected that, after years of doing the right thing, they were not earning as much as the other taxi drivers. So the meters were wound to ridiculous heights. Now's the time to wind back the clock, and the meters.
I have nearly lived in Thailand for 20 years, and I have never seen such inflated prices in a short space of time. As one Thai politician pointed out, taxis in Europe are the same price as they are in Phuket, could somebody explain why?
Posted by
reader
on
July 11, 2014 12:26
Editor Comment:
Phuket's prices are seriously out of kilter with prices throughout the rest of Thailand and the rest of the world. The military should end corruption then order the price of all goods where prices have risen beyond reason reduced by 25 percent. Taxi fares on Phuket should be cut in half. We will suggest it.
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I was in Bangkok yesterday and caught a taxi from Sukhumvit Soi 9 to Don Muang and it was 150 baht on the meter plus 50 baht toll fee.
Nok Air had a special to Nakhon Sri for 800 baht so taxi to airport and plane to South about 1000 baht.
I was laughing thinking some poor sucker was probably paying that for a trip from Phuket airport to Patong!
I was chatting to the Bangkok taxi driver and even he was aware of the problems on Phuket.
As I've said before, the issues on Phuket are now well known everywhere and people are just going elsewhere.
In years past the plane to Nakhon was usually Thais only. Yesterday there were many farang tourists and a lot of younger farangs in particular. Both Nok Air and Air Asia fly here now.
Everyone says two things about Phuket. Too expensive and too many scams. I hear this from everybody I talk to.
A lot of Thai people I know who grifted a living from tourists on Phuket are now in dire financial positions because so many of the quality tourists or regulars have gone elsewhere.
Posted by Arun Muruga on July 10, 2014 12:21