Very true, keep on the good work describing this horrible system.
It is the only way to change things, even I doubt that it ever will happen, which is very strange since the present state make a lot of people suffer.
Question of who is in charge. Isn't it?

Posted by Sherlock on February 14, 2012 12:52

This all looks very interesting and anxious to see how the current cartel will accept these changes, or will they just be forced to.

Posted by Zig on February 14, 2012 13:00

"The tuk-tuk plan, as Phuketwan understands it, will be to establish a call centre or call centres to clear the main streets of Karon-Kata and Patong of tuk-tuks that now occupy hundreds of premium parking spots".

Tuk-tuk drivers work as independent business-people and will never give up their parking in prime areas such as front beaches or entrances for hotels.

They do not make money only with tuk-tuk fares but they make much more money by providing full travel services to foreigners by working as tour guides and/or working as local travel agents which is illegal such as:

- Selling tours by renting their tuk-tuk for half-day or full-day tours around Phuket.

- Collecting commissions when dropping customers at restaurants, jewelry shops, elephant camps, dive shops, tailor shops, etc....

- Rent family's motorcycles and cars.

- Get commission to find alternative room, guest-house, hotel or house at potential customers.

THE ONLY SOLUTION IS METERED TAXI SYSTEM FOR ALL...THAT'S IT.

MAY THE LOCAL CIVIL SERVANTS & POLITICIANS UNDERSTOOD CLEARLY.

Posted by Whistle-Blower on February 14, 2012 13:10

One word I see absent from the article is the concept of "meters". Until arbitrary and cartel / monopolistic pricing is removed from the process the core problem remains.

Also another area skipped is to whom it is beneficial to have private armies of tuktuks under the banner (and membership fees) of 'federations'.

Posted by LivinLOS on February 14, 2012 13:29

So what will be the surcharge for calling the call centre?

All great intentions to alleviate the traffic problem. What ever happen to enforcing the no parking on the beach road? I believe the public was told about that already.

For starters reversing the one way system would benefit traffic flow immediately. Again I believe the public was told that was going to be implemented after last years high season.

Still the root of the problem is pricing and public transport? Until that is put into action nothing really is going to be solved. Anyone that has lived on this island for some substantial time knows this.

And Ed. I have no faith/confidence at all in the Thai leadership on this island. Because I have been told promises and changes so many times for so many years. When action starts and followed thru then I and many others will start to gain confidence.

An analogy is. Do you go back to the same restaurant that serves bad food, bad service and over priced. And then being told we are making changes and it will be better. ED How many times will you go to that restaurant?

Posted by john s on February 14, 2012 15:16

I just try to imagine the situation, if a tourist from a big eastern european country tires to phone to the Call Center and order a Tuk-Tuk to pick him/her up somewhere in the middle of nowhere...

How many languages are spoken in this Call Center? I guess two, southern Thai and Isaan :-(

Posted by Fritz Pinguin on February 14, 2012 15:25

Good idea, 200 new yuk tuks with 200 new drivers. (Aren't there 200 on the corners around Jungceylon alone?) But let's say numbers are met with numbers, then that idea that only the army can sort out Phuket will be relevant. (But won't all the soldiers be in their own yuk tuks - Sr Sgt Maj's in the old ones, PFC's in the new?

Posted by juswunderin on February 14, 2012 17:17

Soon you will see who wears the pants around phuket. They cannot and will not be stopped. you will see!

Posted by poppops on February 14, 2012 17:51

There is only one solution to the problem no new Tuk-Tuks account for all Tuk-Tuks allowed in each village or Zone throughout the island (Zoning) and slowly retire Tuk-Tuks over time until the number is low enough that they can make a good living even with outstanding public transportation and keep the number low through control of tags for each zone on Phuket. Then you can use things like call centers because they will still make good money. Plus you can add good public transport without a fight.

Posted by mike on February 14, 2012 20:31

The best solution for the tourists and the traffic situation is small busses, a la pattaya, that goes in, for example, 2 lines. Beachroad, rat u thit and Nanai 2, rat u thit.Prices 15 to 20 bath. Tuk tuks can operate the surrounding big Hotel complexes, with overlooking call centras checking them, and of course no more then 100 bath charge a trip, if the Hotells not want shuttle themselves .

To serve tourist between beaches or touristspots is fixed prices, well shown, perfect.Prices that are not 100 times them in bangkok Why not the same prices, by the way.

Posted by One Expat 11 years on February 14, 2012 20:44

Great Idea Mike but do they ever listen here to great ideas from the likes of us NO mate is the answer the local government transport official who's name I've forgot again came up with a great plan for a transport solution but oh no were getting a bloody stupid tunnel that will cost billions, when his great plan only costs millions and could be up and running in no time .My wife was down patong beach today and heard these tuk-tuk gentlemen of the road talking to a large western tourist family as she put it like they were dogs not the land of smiles just some Isann slob [her words and she's a Thai] with a attitude and manner that will no doubt cause this family to avoid patong,phuket and Thailand when next they make travel plans, the thing is the vast amount of these morons have no stake in the future of phuket they pack up their kit and head off to their villages on the Thai mainland when they've driven off forgive the pun the big spending tourists but were the ones left with worthless businesses and a ghost town only fit for low end package companies . Issue tuk-tuk operator licences to phuket island people say those families with over 30 years and property here with a stake in it's future and not just the usual suspects from certain families put all the local applicants names in a big fish bowl and draw out the lucky winners supervised by a honest trustworthy group of non island peopple like the consoles say, set the amount to a sensible sustainable number issue plates,test the drivers and the vehicles make full passenger insurance mandatory give them meters with a fare rate not some farcical idiots idea of a fare colour code the tuk-tuks so their area won't be overwhelmed by outsiders and use the laws to arrest and fine the drivers of black cabs and cease their vehicles if they are caught operating on the island as they are breaking the laws of Thailand and the last time I checked phuket is covered by Thai law not tuk-tuk/black cab syndicate law. Job done and we and the tourists can all live happily ever after over to you governor and Mayor

Posted by Scunner on February 15, 2012 01:17

Bring it on. It would open up the streets. Let's hope it happens, then get rid of the jet skiis.

Posted by chaseone on February 15, 2012 06:32

Call center is so 1980'ies. Don't any local politician have any brains? In this iPad time, we need to implement our Taxi application which will pair a taxi driver (licensed) with a tourist wanting to go from A to B. The application has already a payment and meter solution built in, so all the needless scams will be over before they are thought about. Lets see some real innovation for transportation for Phuket. Our solution can be up and running in 2 days, but Phuket time might be 2 years!! We ask the Governor to make some strategic decisions! Are you ready?????

Posted by Tuk-tuk nevermore! on February 22, 2012 15:45