Don't let your knees stick out!
Motorcycle taxis - by far the fastest and most exciting way to get through Bangkok's traffic jams!
At the other end of the speed spectrum...the bus. I recently read an article from The Nation that described the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority's plan to overhaul the public bus system. In an interview, the agency's director acknowledged that "many city residents and tourists had a bad impression of the public bus service, which they often associate with hot and humid, old and polluting buses with rude conductors yelling at passengers.
Other complaints include drivers refusing to stop at bus stops to allow passengers to embark or disembark, drivers arbitrarily changing routes, overcrowding, loud commercial radio blaring through scratchy speakers, breakdowns, dangerous drivers and accidents that result in injury or death."
That about sums it up from our experience! (To be fair, we've not been involved in any accidents resulting in injury or death. But I have had to switch buses following a fender bender.)
-Tom
Comments
I had a bad opinion of motorcycles BEFORE Larissa's accident.
http://rdswartz.wordpress.com/2007/09/06/larissas-accident/
Can't say that video improves it.
Posted by: Ryan | September 19, 2007 08:45 AM
Wow, Candice is a good driver! :) (Ok, fine, I know that's not her.)
Posted by: Carrie | September 19, 2007 08:49 AM
Ryan- tell me about it- motorcycles are the scariest thing about BKK...let me assure you that the girls and I mainly only ride them in our little neighborhood. We prefer the hot, noisy, crowded buses with the holes in the floor. Candice
Posted by: Candice | September 19, 2007 10:13 AM
Yay for motorcycle taxis! I'll weigh in with a positive. In fairness, I've only ridden them in the relative safety of the neighborhood, though. Is the new road finished yet?
Posted by: Anita | September 19, 2007 04:10 PM
Yeah, motorcycles are fun when you're not in that crazy traffic- the road is still under construction, but at least the part in front of our house is done. There were about two days you couldn't even drive onto our street. C
Posted by: Candice | September 19, 2007 04:52 PM
Wow...the buses sound just as exciting as the motorcycles in that description!
Posted by: Gail | September 19, 2007 08:35 PM
That video made me very thankful that I live in the US where i can drive my van where I need to go. :) You all seem to be doing a great job of adjusting to all the changes in culture. Claire, I hope school is going great for you. Jacob started Kg also. He loves it and I am enjoying a day here and there that is child free. :)
Posted by: Marsha | September 19, 2007 08:57 PM
Tom and Candice,
Have you ever come across this site on Thai mission work?
http://www.herbswanson.com/
Posted by: David | September 19, 2007 09:33 PM
I guess I'll keep praying!!!!!!
Posted by: Mom M | September 19, 2007 10:14 PM
I'd have the say the motorcycle taxis were the most fun. :-) I still would have liked to have taken one downtown. :-)
Posted by: Rob S. | September 25, 2007 12:38 AM