Chiang Rai’s commutes improve
July 9, 2012 by TTRweekly Staff
Filed under News, Thailand, Transport
CHIANG RAI, 9 July 2012: For the first time, visitors and residents can enjoy the luxury of flagging down a meter-taxi here in this northern-most town in Thailand.
The new service started last week using brand new Toyotas that can be flagged down for trips within the city or booked for trips throughout the province.
Chiang Rai often billed as the “City of Artists is also the gateway province to the Mekong Region.”
It shares river borders with Myanmar and Laos, while a bridge linking the province to a highway that links Laos and Yunnan province in China is due to open next year.
The fleet of 25 yellow-and navy blue meter-taxi were on the streets last week to the surprise of both visitors and residents.
According to the taxi service manager, Mr Songkran, who is based at an office next to the new Inter-province Bus Terminal 2, another 25 cars will join the fleet giving the city 50 brand new Toyota Corolla taxis.
In the city, flag down is Bt30 for the first 2 km and Bt2 for every additional km. The rate for out of town destinations is Bt10 per km.
For example, a trip to the Myanmar border at Mae Sai, or the Golden Triangle at Chiang Saen, would cost about Bt600.
A transfer to the airport would cost Bt120 (within the city limits) but an additional Bt20 fee is charged for pick-up at a residence, hotel in response to a telephone booking. To book a taxi call 053-773-477 or 081-998-8918.
Visitors to Chiang Rai in the past had to rely on local buses and the so-called tuk tuk or song taew (converted pick-up trucks).
Tourism executives and hotels welcomed the service calling it a “real boon for Chiang Rai” that will add value to the holiday experience and help to promote tourism and raise Chiang Rai’s profile. (Jaffee Yee reporting).
Great news for people who use taxi’s. (Whenever you can flag on down., and when you do, they take you to your destination) Bad news for people who use it, but the meter isn’t running. Is there a law enforcing that the meter has to be turn on when get in? Answer is YES. So, request the driver for the meter to be turned ON. (if they don’t or refuse – get out and flag another taxi)
Beware, some (most) taxi drivers do not own the car they drive. They hire it from another person. Check the identity photo and name before you commence your travel.
Very good initiative and benefitial to both Thai and foreign visitors to Chiang Rai.
Fantastic! Now let the other large tourist cities have this same service. We need it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi Craig: Many other larger tourist cities such as Chiang Mai and Pattaya all have metered taxis but the drivers refuse t use the meter. It’s a real shame that laws are not enforced. I get mad every time I want to get a metered taxi in Chiang Mai. For now, all taxi in Chiang Rai are using the meters and I hope it will stay this way. Jaffee
Jaffee: Yes, I know about the “non” metered taxi’s here in Pattaya. A joke for sure. I hope this works in CR and then spreads from there. So nice to be in Bangkok where you can just hail any taxi and more or less know what the fare will be. No haggling.
Jaffee
How nice report from Chiang Rai today about Taxi!
It was exactly what I and my wife talked when we visited there on June. Chiang Rai goes faster than Chiang Mai in welcoming tourists. Hope this news flashes around the world.
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Jaffee
How nice report from Chiuang Rai today about Taxi!
It was exactly what I and my wife talked when we visited there on June. Chiang Rai goes faster than Chiang Mai in welcoming tourists. Hope this news flashes around the world.
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