| First off it's good to know what kind of transport | | | | another passenger. A word about getting on and |
| you can get in Bangkok. There are numerous | | | | off buses. Do it FAST, buses on occasions don't |
| kinds of public transport, but the average visitor | | | | stop at the bus stop they "slow" in the middle of |
| or resident uses only 7 of these, Meter Taxis, | | | | the road and let off a stream of potential roadkill |
| Tuk Tuks, buses, canal boats, river taxis, | | | | in the middle of the traffic, okay I exagerate a |
| motorbikes, and Taxis (with no meter).Lets start | | | | little but when you get your stop make sure you |
| with Tuk Tuks. Aren't they cute, those little three | | | | are already near the door and can sprint for it. |
| wheeled taxis, brighly painted and featured so | | | | Don't expect the people getting on to make way, |
| much on anything to do with Thailand. They are | | | | that kind of common sense tends to fail people |
| very cute until you get stuck in the traffic, behind | | | | using the buses, their objective is to get on fast |
| the number 36 bus at about 2 in the afternoon | | | | and get a seat before anyone else...which brings |
| and suck down more fumes in 10 minutes than | | | | up seats.... don't be fooled into thinking that being a |
| the average smoker does in a lifer time... ho ho ho | | | | "gentleman" will get you thanks...oh no, you'll see |
| you'll say to the kids, isn't this fun....while your kids | | | | pregnant ladies standing up while young school |
| bury their heads in their Dad's armpit because it | | | | brats take up the seats, you'll see old ladies |
| smells fresh compared to the air around them. | | | | burdened by shopping standing while teen |
| Okay Try a Tuku Tuk once, don't go too far and | | | | sweathearts hog the seats...it's a first come dog |
| then give them up as a bad idea. Out of Bangkok | | | | eat dog world on the buses and if you take one |
| they're much more fun. Tuk Tuk drivers should | | | | of the non air con buses you'll eventually see |
| be haggled with, the price fixed in advance and | | | | some poor person pass out....then they get a |
| generally you'll always get ripped off, take a | | | | seat.Motobikes. Yea.... want to get somewhere |
| taxi.Taxis (with 4 wheels) come in two flavours, | | | | fast, take a motorbike taxi, married with kids...get |
| metered and no meter, although a few non | | | | life insurance and a damn good helmet. The |
| meters actually have a meter concealed behind a | | | | majority of MB taxi drivers will make it their sole |
| panel in the dash board below the radio.... Taxis | | | | intent to scare you to death, to see if they can |
| are great, sit back in air conditioned luxury and | | | | squeeze their bike through a gap that is obviously |
| watch the Smiths die of carbon monoxide | | | | closing up faster than they are moving and to see |
| poisoning in a Tuk Tuk. If the driver of a Taxi | | | | how fast they can go on a open stretch of |
| refuses to use his meter then tell him to take a | | | | road...they have no fear (or sanity).... your life is in |
| hike, get out, do not be suckered. Check where | | | | their hands and you'll soon wish it wasn't. It is the |
| you are standing, if it's outside a nice big hotel , | | | | law in Thailand that all bike riders MUST wear a |
| then walk up the road a bit and wave down a | | | | crash helmet.... some of the helmets you see |
| taxi. Unlike the US or Europe taxi drivers have to | | | | wouldn't project a toddler falling off a 3 wheeler. |
| pass NO TESTS to become a taxi driver, within a | | | | Thai law says you have to wear a helmet, but as |
| few days of being inb Bangkok you will know | | | | far as the law is concerned...it can be made out of |
| Bangkok better than many Taxi drivers.... again if | | | | paper....if you intend to use MB Taxis a lot then |
| the driver seems to not know where it is you are | | | | get a helmet...I did, it saved my face when the |
| going, get out....one other thing, make sure you | | | | inevitable eventually happened and I slide across |
| know where you are going and have a rough idea | | | | the road after beeing side swipped by a pick up |
| of the route, else a less honest cabby will take | | | | truck....if you can avoid MB taxis, then do. If you |
| you o a tour of the backroads "the short cuts". If | | | | are in Bangkok for long enough you may |
| you're going a long way, take the toll way, it | | | | eventually get to learn which MB Taxi Teams |
| costs between 20 and 40 Baht, (you pay) and will | | | | (yes they work in teams) are safer than others |
| save you hours of travel time. Calling a taxi by | | | | (or luckier than others). Check out the bikes they |
| phone costs ab extra 20 Baht, Taxis at the | | | | are driving, a scratched up wreck will be a good |
| airport cost an extra 50 Baht. And yes there is a | | | | hint that the driver has kissed the tarmac a few |
| REGULATED taxi stand at the airport outside the | | | | times, a brand new bike , a green horn still waiting |
| main meeting zone. Don't be suckered by taxi and | | | | for his first brush with death.... if you're on a bike |
| limo touts. Oh yes then there are the taxis with | | | | and the driver is driving like a nut, tell him to stop |
| no meter.... well if you want to use one feel | | | | and get off.I have to admit I have very little |
| free....it'll cost about the same as a Tuk Tuk but | | | | experience with boat transport in Bangkok, but |
| at least you'll get Air Con....possibly.Buses, once | | | | from what I am told, if you can take a canal or |
| upon a time there were red buses, blue buses, | | | | river taxi, then do, they are fast, generally clean, |
| green buses and Air Con buses, then came micro | | | | less polution and of course there are less vehicles |
| buses and then came deregulation and now there | | | | to hit. Prices vary depending on how far you are |
| are so many buses that I really don't know what | | | | going.In summary I would suggest that if you plan |
| they all are...anyway if you are going to use a bus | | | | to travel in Bangkok that you :- get a map, take |
| GET A BUS MAP. Then always use Air Con buses | | | | meter taxis, always know the general route and |
| unless where you are going is not on one of their | | | | even price range to your destination.... oh and |
| routes or your on such a tight budget that 8 to | | | | don't travel between 8am and 9am, or 3pm and |
| 15 Baht per person may cause you to have to go | | | | 4pm, or 7pm and 8pm.... you'll get nowhere very |
| without food. Other buses vary from 3 Baht up | | | | very slowly.Article can be used with permission of |
| to 20 Baht. Don't bother asking the conductor | | | | Chris Sanderson as long as the signature and in |
| about where you want to get off, to them you | | | | place links are left unchanged. |
| are a lower lifeform (all passengers are) ask | | | | |