Phuket

Nicke · #1 15-04-2005, 20:24

People told me tuk tuk drivers had a gathering yesterday and parked their cars and went out. Later when police come it was fightings and the police arrested lot of people.

I dont have any details, but I guess it was a protest that Bangla has been closed. But it is still strange since bangla road was supposed to be open today again.

Anyone who know more?

geespot · #2 15-04-2005, 20:27

Yes they blocked the top of Bangla at Rat-u-tit, there hundereds of them around 10pm last night

They are the scurge of Patong. Interstingly many Tuk Tuk owners are also policemen

G

stevem · #3 15-04-2005, 21:34

Last night it did end peacefully. The Police did bring in reinforcements and also at one stage had a big blue lockup truck there, supposedly to cart away folks. The truck did just drive away though empty, and shortly afterwards the tuk-tuks also started moving on.

Although they are back again at the moment, and I'm not too game to go and see whats going down.

LivinLOS · #4 15-04-2005, 21:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by geespot

Interstingly many Tuk Tuk owners are also policemen

''Interesting' hhmmm thats one word... Perhaps not the one I would have choosen but...

I am also told that 'one' high up in the force owns a few 100 of the tuk tuks out on lease / rental / whatever..

The fact they can do thing like block the heroines monument roundabout and bring the islands traffic flow to a stop insisting on the chief of police and the governer to come out while they strike just shows how upside down this is.. My advise is one bulldozer and see who does or does not get out the way..

stevem · #5 15-04-2005, 22:25

Just found out that the tuk tuks where successfull in their strike action last night, how surprising. They have been permission to park at the top end of Bangla when Bangla is closed, but arent alllowed to block the intersection.

geespot · #6 16-04-2005, 06:08

THe only answer is vote with your feet, use them as little as possible

The cause so many traffic problems by kerb crawling, they clap in your face shouting tuk tuk even when you have just came of your motorbike, they are without a doubt the most rude bunch in Patong and forwhotever reason they have the whole place by the short & curlies

TRY NOT TO USE THEM UNLESS NECESSARY

G

urtheman · #7 16-04-2005, 16:25

They are the scourge of Phuket. Why is getting around Bangkok in a Taxi so cheap compared to the 200-500 baht short rides a tuk tuk does here.

I hate being yelled at "tuk tuk" when there are clearly hundreds around you.

Why aren't they metered?

My advice is take a motorcycle taxi, they are at the top of bangla near Rio, usually have a green vest on but not always 20 baht not 400 baht.

If they were boycotted maybe there would be less of them.

Also try to arrange transportation with your hotel there are many good taxi guys here (they may not be cheaper than a tuk tuk) that are not in the tuk tuk mafia and they don't block up Bangla.

The whole atmosphere with these guys is not good.

I personally like Bangla closed but only speaking as a visitor not an owner of a business.

Quote:

Originally Posted by geespot

THe only answer is vote with your feet, use them as little as possible

The cause so many traffic problems by kerb crawling, they clap in your face shouting tuk tuk even when you have just came of your motorbike, they are without a doubt the most rude bunch in Patong and forwhotever reason they have the whole place by the short & curlies

TRY NOT TO USE THEM UNLESS NECESSARY

G

stevem · #8 16-04-2005, 16:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by urtheman

Why aren't they metered

I think you can work out why they arent metered.

Also heard last night, that the proposed closing of Bangla every Friday and Saturday is now not supposed to start until the next coming high season.

Social_Norm · #9 18-04-2005, 12:16

I arrived at Karon last night and intend to head over to MTB this evening.

Unfortunately, I think the tuk tuk is the best option in this case.

Does anyone think there is a better option?

Bearing in mind the recent problems, where should I ask the driver to drop me?

I don't know Patong at all and have only been there once and that was a couple of years ago.

onlocation62 · #10 18-04-2005, 12:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nicke

People told me tuk tuk drivers had a gathering yesterday and parked their cars and went out. Later when police come it was fightings and the police arrested lot of people.

I dont have any details, but I guess it was a protest that Bangla has been closed. But it is still strange since bangla road was supposed to be open today again.

Anyone who know more?

They really should close bangla EVERY night and make it like Walking Street in Pattaya

aussie dollar · #11 18-04-2005, 13:14

I always walk to the ends of bangla rd before getting tuk tuk.
and always walk to bangla from hotel ,20 mins last trip and always
enjoy the walk.

domifletch · #12 18-04-2005, 13:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Social_Norm

Bearing in mind the recent problems, where should I ask the driver to drop me?

I don't know Patong at all and have only been there once and that was a couple of years ago.

I guess the tuk tuk driver will drop you on one of the ends of Bangla Rd, (Beach Road or Rat U Thit Road). As Bangla is maybe 200 meters long, you will be close to the nightlife scene. Then walk and enjoy the atmosphere.

Nicke · #13 18-04-2005, 17:45

Just tell the driver you want go to bangla road in Patong.

Bangla road is closed between 18-04 at the moment so you have to walk to Soi Eric (few minutes walk) or the other sois from the end of Bangla.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Social_Norm

I arrived at Karon last night and intend to head over to MTB this evening.

Unfortunately, I think the tuk tuk is the best option in this case.

Does anyone think there is a better option?

Bearing in mind the recent problems, where should I ask the driver to drop me?

I don't know Patong at all and have only been there once and that was a couple of years ago.

Social_Norm · #14 18-04-2005, 17:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by domifletch

I guess the tuk tuk driver will drop you on one of the ends of Bangla Rd, (Beach Road or Rat U Thit Road). As Bangla is maybe 200 meters long, you will be close to the nightlife scene. Then walk and enjoy the atmosphere.

The only other alternative means of getting there that I can think of is by motorbike and I think that could be a recipe for disaster. The other problem with the bike is that if it rains as hard tonight as it did yesterday evening I would get drenched if I didn't get fall off the bike!

stevem · #15 18-04-2005, 19:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by onlocation62

They really should close bangla EVERY night and make it like Walking Street in Pattaya

WRONG, totally against this. Its very easy for tourists and visitors to say yes close it, but it really does cause headaches for us locals.

andy50 · #16 18-04-2005, 19:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevem

WRONG, totally against this. Its very easy for tourists and visitors to say yes close it, but it really does cause headaches for us locals.

the locals seem to manage ok in walking street /pattaya

jimholio · #17 18-04-2005, 20:03

Been a long time since i posted, however i have to agree with everyone about the tuk tuk's. The trafic is a pain in patong, id much rather take a bicycle if it wasnt for all the trafic that is, and the Tuk Tuk's are definitly the worst part, noisy, smelly and rude people driving them.

LivinLOS · #18 18-04-2005, 20:11

I dont mind the closure (no through Rd.. No Tuk tuks) but they must make some provisions for parking..

stevem · #19 18-04-2005, 20:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by andy50

the locals seem to manage ok in walking street /pattaya

I have never been to Pattaya, and have no intention of going so can't comment about it, but as another post here has highlighted, we have a problem with parking here, and one of the main parking areas is at the end of Soi SeaDragon, which when Bangla is closed is not available.

geespot · #20 19-04-2005, 05:29

Now that Bangla has been closed for some time at night, Im not convinced about how it looks visually, it just doesnt look busy enough at the moment!!!

The main congestion problem on Bangla is caused by our friendly Tuk Tuk drivers

The whole set up around Bangla is a mess, e.g. there is no way vehicles should be going in and out of Soi Seadragon, there are far too many people there thus very dangerous

We have the alternate parking days!! if we never had Tuk Tuk's then there would be no kerb crawling and double parking thus we could possibly use both sides of the road for parking

If you look at the top of Bangla and Rat-u-tit at night just now its a real mess, it's big tuk tuk car park, and around taipan / sansabai it getting dangerous for pedestrians with tuks tuk double parking etc....

G

LivinLOS · #21 19-04-2005, 10:05

Everyone knows it.. the problem is 95% purely the Tuk Tuks..

According to the gazette Udomsak looks like he wants to shake that problem up so we will see.. Not holding my breath though...

My vote, block top of Bangla in the same way they have blocked around the tigher sois (make it removable for evactuation issues) allow either one or both sides of the road for motorbike (only) parking and Sea Dragon access for parking.. do not allow ANY tuk tuk access to bangla from top or bottom, and allow a limited amount (similar to what they did to meters in the airport 5 at a time) to have a tuk tuk rank at the top of Bangla...

IMHO this would be problem solved for padestrians, motorbikers, resident business owners and everyone except the tuk tuks.

stevem · #22 19-04-2005, 17:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

Everyone knows it.. the problem is 95% purely the Tuk Tuks..

According to the gazette Udomsak looks like he wants to shake that problem up so we will see.. Not holding my breath though...

My vote, block top of Bangla in the same way they have blocked around the tigher sois (make it removable for evactuation issues) allow either one or both sides of the road for motorbike (only) parking and Sea Dragon access for parking.. do not allow ANY tuk tuk access to bangla from top or bottom, and allow a limited amount (similar to what they did to meters in the airport 5 at a time) to have a tuk tuk rank at the top of Bangla...

IMHO this would be problem solved for padestrians, motorbikers, resident business owners and everyone except the tuk tuks.

Sounds like a reasonable solution, but who or what is going to keep the tuk tuk's out?? I wonder what the opening of Jungceylon will have on parking around the area, I guess that it wont be B20 per night though.