Another Kind Taxi Driver in Bangkok

These days everyone is complaining about Bangkok taxi drivers and so it is nice to have another one of these positive stories again. One of the most common complaint is that the taxi driver will often refuse to take you to your destination. In Bangkok, you normally have to open the door and lean in to tell the driver where you want to go. There is no point in getting all the way in and shutting the door if he is going to refuse to take you. But, it now seems to be a growing trend among taxi drivers to put a sign like this one in the window. It basically says that you are welcome to get into the taxi as there is no need to inquire about the destination. This taxi driver says he will take you anywhere that you want.

MThai News: กลายเป็นภาพที่ถูกส่งต่อกันอยู่ในขณะนี้ สำหรับภาพของคบขับ แท็กซี่ใจดี สีชมพูบานเย็น ป้ายทะเบียน ทษ-4520 กรุงเทพมหานคร ที่เขียนข้อความระบุไว้ตรงกระจกฝั่งผู้โดยสารว่า “เชิญขึ้นได้เลย ไปทุกที่ ไม่ต้องถามครับ! รถคันนี้ไม่ปฏิเสธผู้โดยสาร ขอบคุณที่ใช้บริการ”

ทั้งนี้ในเฟสบุ๊กมีการส่งต่อภาพแท็กซี่ใจดีนี้จากหลายเฟสบุ๊กแฟนเพจ และมีเสียงชื่นชมจากผู้ที่ส่งต่อจำนวนมาก ซึ่งความโด่งดังของโชเฟอร์ใจดีผู้นี้ ยังไปสะดุดตาบล็อกเกอร์ต่างชาตินามว่า ริชาร์ด บาร์โรว (Richard Barrow) ผู้หลงรักความเป็นไทย ได้เขียนชื่นชมคนขับแท็กซี่ใจดีรายนี้ลงในเว็บไซต์ www.richardbarrow.com ซึ่งเป็นบล็อกที่เขียนเรื่องราวสิ่งดีๆต่างๆที่เกิดขึ้นในประเทศไทยด้วย

5 thoughts on “Another Kind Taxi Driver in Bangkok

  • December 21, 2012 at 1:04 pm
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    Leaning in and asking for a destination before entering a cab has become almost a custom/ritual in Bangkok by now.

    A good percentage of cabbies would go (almost) anywhere, but there’s still a notable number of ones who don’t. One of the small dirty pleasures in life is standing last in the queue (Farang, good chance of a tip), and then just waving on the picky drivers who refused someone before me, so they have to waste some more time before their next chance to pick up a fare.

    Still, on a global scale, Bangkok cabbies are angels. Cheap too, I’ve never seen consistently cheaper taxis anywhere (including some much poorer countries). It’s a rough job, in most places of the world (I heard that in the USA more cabbies are killed/injured on duty than cops or firefighters).

    Reply
  • December 21, 2012 at 11:19 am
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    Of course they will take you anywhere now….. The new question is, will they turn on the meter! The last couple trips I have taken to BKK, this has been the case. Taxis are no longer not going to destinations, they are just refusing to turn on the meter and want to charge a hugely inflated price to take you there.

    Reply
    • December 21, 2012 at 11:20 am
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      Then take another taxi. There are thousands of taxis in Bangkok. Vote with your feet. If everyone refuses to take a taxi ride if there is no meter then the dinosaurs will die out.

      Reply
  • December 20, 2012 at 6:45 pm
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    i found drivers from isaan the best
    the only agro I ever had was from a native bangkokian

    Reply
  • December 20, 2012 at 4:24 pm
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    Interesting that your two stories on ‘go-anywhere’ taxis feature first a green-and-yellow and now a pink taxi. Without any empirical data, these are the two colours of taxi with which I feel I have had the fewest ‘difficulties’ over the last 8 years. Other colours I will generally let go by because they are more likely to refuse a trip, scare me witless, bear no resemblance to the licence photo or pester for off-meter or extra tips.

    Anyone else err toward green-yellow or pink taxis?

    Reply

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