So the tuk tuks are blaming the police m**** for their high prices ?? ...

Posted by bill on January 28, 2011 19:29

"the attractive Patong beachfront before proceeding to their resorts" Oh my G*d! When I arrive at my destination after a 20 hour trip, the last thing I want to see before taking a shower is a beachfront full of rental cars and Tuk-Tuks.

Question number 1 is - by the way - what are these 30,000 Baht a month for? For the permission to park in the No-Parking-Area (red-white curbs)? Protection against being fined for too load exhausts? License to rip-off tourists without end? There are millions of further possibilities...

Posted by Fritz Pinguin on January 28, 2011 20:02

Now I know who to see when I need to get something done.

Posted by sky on January 28, 2011 20:03

Their demand is the only sensible way to solve the traffic problem in Patong.

The changes will happen soon, I presume.

Posted by Hotel owner in Patong on January 28, 2011 20:26

tuk tuk driving mostly in 2 shifts !!c 5 lokal trips 300bht is 1500 and 2 times phuket town or bypass 600is 1200 is 2700 tip 300 is 3000 plus commission gold and pearl shops tailor shops bungy and go karts restaurants and hotels golf courses etc.

the night shift 6 times 350 is 2100 plus tips is over 50,000 bht a month !!!!! why higher prices than other places?a lady with university degree makes 12,000 bht a month

Posted by dona on January 28, 2011 20:26

Your last but one paragraph sums it up Ed. A bunch of cry baby thugs who sulk and cause misery every time they don't get their own way. I'd rather invest the B30k in a bulldozer and do the whole town a favor.

Posted by Mister Ree on January 28, 2011 20:33

While the suggestion that's being pushed forward will get drowned in a sea of anti tuk-tuk comments, the fact remains, the most efficient and more sensible traffic flow system is what they are suggesting.

As I understand it there is one 'major player' in san sabai that is holding this from happening.. Perhaps the tuktuk clout (which is, as I have moaned, myself, not a force for progress) is one of the few powers who could make this positive change happen.

Posted by LivinLOS on January 28, 2011 21:08

So, what's being stated here is that:

A) The authorities have no real power, apart from taking graft payments.

B) The police won't police because they're taking graft payments.

C) The Tuk Tuk Drivers are the real rulers in Phuket (see the price hikes)

D) Mob Rule wins hands down every time.

But that's fine providing the tourist, after a long haul flight gets to see the beach (and every other graft concession stop along the way) before reaching their hotel. Let's just hope they don't employ the JCB to start digging a few more garbage holes - that'll really please the tourist knowing they are lying on s###.

Beggars belief. whether the system is right or wrong it's an unacceptable way to go about changing things - or not, in the case of Thailand.

Posted by Graham on January 28, 2011 21:26

they are protesting so they get more money for driving even less distance. For the hundreds and thousands of baht they charge you should be travelling the entire length and breadth of the island.
These thugs are forever disrupting the place and things never change on this island. Just like the problem with jet skis. I'm sure more and more people are heading for Samui, Krabi and even Bali because of it. If regular people behaved like these tuk tuk thugs they'd be arrested.

Posted by mike hunt on January 28, 2011 22:02

So the Governor proposes capping any trip within Patong to 200 Baht and the next day they want to make the traffic system work so they can get actually get to the destination in the most efficient manner. Until now they were happy to go around the houses for the extra baht.

Who is running Phuket ????

Posted by Soupdragon on January 28, 2011 22:04

Police should answer where (which pocket) the 30,000 go and why it has to be paid in the first place!

Posted by Mr. K on January 28, 2011 22:47

I wonder if the Tuk Tuk drivers could do something about the Jet Ski scams, the tailor touts and time share touts!

Posted by Terry on January 29, 2011 09:04

You would have to be crazy to change the system to anti-clockwise this would cause the traffic flow to cross itself at the south and north ends (unless you plan to have traffic lights operating at both ends holding up traffic from entering and leaving the new anti-clockwise loop?

Imposing backups to get into the loop might be great for the Tuk Tuk's inside the loop but bad for everyone else coming and going to Patong Beach. There is no solution that will make everyone happy however any solution that makes the Tuk Tuk drivers unhappy inside the loop must be the better solution for everyone else.

Posted by mike on January 29, 2011 09:08

"You would have to be crazy to change the system to anti-clockwise this would cause the traffic flow to cross itself at the south and north ends".

Not if the connecting sois remained two way.

Posted by Sir Burr on January 29, 2011 09:57

The two way system they had in place a few years ago worked fine. Admittedly traffic numbers have increased since, but is still a better option than a one way loop road, which ever direction it goes. As is well known a certain large shopping center initially had its say in the direction of flow in the one way system, and all the problems are caused by a minority of people.

The two way system will only make travel around Patong easier...the parking problem of tuk tuks and rentals is another issue entirely!

PS all of you here attacking the individual tuk tuk drivers as greedy are missing the point about the high fares Consider that on top of everyday expenses, the cost of 500 baht daily to m**** operators, the 'tea money' to cops..etc and see that is is the reason for high prices here! The drivers are puppets.Take all the graft out of the equation and tuk tuk prices could be reduced by HUGE amounts.

Posted by david on January 29, 2011 10:12

@ Mike Hunt.
Firstly good to see they spelt your name correctly. A mate of mine had a lot of problems being endowed with the same name especially over the phone.

You and Grahame above have hit the nail, although it be into the coffin, on the head.

Do not expect any positive action from the persons in control over this matter or many of the other maladies that fester here in Puke et.

I and my Thai wife of many years have sent numerous emails to the past and present Governors without even an acknowledgment of receipt, let alone a reply. Same can be said for any communication with the TAT asking for advice. Zip, Zero, Nutting.
I guess they simply don't GAF as they have a cushy job, lots of " official " functions with free food and wine, police escorts when going to the airport or even the 7/11 etcetra, they simply don't see the problem first hand, so why should they bother ??

They are above reproach and totally oblivious to what we regard as a normal situation. Corruption and nepotism is so firmly entrenched here I doubt we will see any change in our life time. It's so sad but IMHO so true.

Posted by innocent bystander on January 29, 2011 21:11