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Ringwormer
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Hi,
I've never taken the bus in Bangkok. But if I am just going up and down the same street, I figure just hopping on the bus might be ok?
How much is it to take the bus or the train in Bangkok?
I like to know if there's a great difference in taking buses around town such as quality of people and safety. I wouldn't want to end up in wrong neightborhoods or getting pickpocketted.
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Thai Girls : Meet Sexy Thai Girls
Posted on: 6:20 pm on Sep. 12, 2003
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aeroman
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public transportation is overrated. It would help to speak and read Thai!
just go up the first moto driver and tell him you'll pay him to take you where you want to go. That should be enough adventure!
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Bangkok Women : Meet Sensual Bangkok Women
Posted on: 6:27 pm on Sep. 12, 2003
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haam sup
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First, Ringy, you are MOST likely to get pickpocketed in tourist areas, NOT in Thai neighborhoods. And the further away from the tourist/farang ghetto, the nicer people will be, generally.
Lack of Thai language ability will make it harder, though, but I'm sure you can find a Thai who speaks enough English to help you find the correct bus to your destination.
The buses are really simple to take, and there are bus route maps for sale in any book store and some 7-11s for about 100 baht that show the numbers and routes.
Open-air (non-aircon) buses cost 3.5 baht, and regular aircon buses cost around 10 baht, depending on how far you are going.
Once you try it, it's easy, but it takes a LONG time to get anywhere during rush hour. The combination of the BTS and shuttle bus is often the best way...for the advanced course, add a canal boat ride (very handy to get from, say, Sukhumvit, to Banglampoo (west) or Ladprao (northeast), about 8 baht (don't drink the water).
Fear not.
If you really want to get to know Bangkok, get on a bus, ride until you see something interesting, and get off. Walk around the area, and then try to get back to your hotel by bus again. Last resort is a cab, which I have only had to resort to once (got VERY lost near Nonthaburi, a long time ago). Believe me, NO ONE will make you feel uncomfortable.
haam sup
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Thai Girls : Meet Sexy Thai Girls
Posted on: 7:45 pm on Sep. 12, 2003
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DrLove
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Update:
Red non-aircon / green minibusses THB 3.50
White non-aircon THB 5
Blue aircon THB 8-16 *
Eurobusses (Yellow Brown) 10-? *
Microbus THB 20-25 **
BTS 10-40 Baht *
* depending on distance
** depending on the route
Note that to use the BTS shuttle you must have coupons (given upon purchase of pre-paid cards).
As HS said, a map is quite easy to use. Be aware, though, that some maps are outdated because aircon buses have changed numbers ....
IE Aircon 1 is now 501, Aircon 17 is now 517, Aircon 126 is now ..... 545
Some buses carry the old number on the side, but you have to look very quickly.
Also when you get out, be prepared to wrestle with a few people trying to get in.
Good luck ....
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Sexy Bangkok Girls
Posted on: 2:41 am on Sep. 13, 2003
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eyeswideopen
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skytrain (BTS) is better than any in US (BART, NYC, CHI(ugh))
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Thai Women : Meet Matured Thai Women
Posted on: 3:55 am on Sep. 13, 2003
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thaiprivateeye
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Aircon bus is fine at times, if your at world trade/MBK etc, and want to get back to Sukhumvit, allowing the bus lane is the only direct route, will be far quicker than a cab, and about quarter the price, most big orange aircon buses are 12bt these days, also can get a nice selection of girls with day jobs travelling on them at times !
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Bangkok Women : Meet Beautiful Thai Girls
Posted on: 7:16 am on Sep. 13, 2003
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Mr Alan
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Anyone at world trade/MBK etc, and who wants to get back to Sukhumvit should take BTS Skytrain. Skytrain should always be the first choice if the start and end points are near BTS stops. Sometimes I have taken cabs to get to the nearest BTS stop.
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Attractive Thai Girls
Posted on: 9:26 am on Sep. 13, 2003
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Mr Alan
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CITY BUSES: Commuters on the run
The Nation, Sep 13, 2003
Passengers rattled by robberies and student brawls, survey shows
Commuters have had enough of the perils of Bangkok's public bus services as incidences of accidents, violent brawls and armed robberies continue to rise.
A recent survey of 1,171 passengers found that 43.9 per cent of respondents felt insecure on bus journeys. Their main concerns included purse-snatching, bloody clashes between teenagers, armed robberies and sexual harassment.
"I often see students fighting on buses. They also carry guns and knives," said Preeya Srinan, a third-year university student. "I know buses are not safe, but what can I do? I still need to use them."
Preeya used to hope that she would be lucky enough to avoid danger. But events did not turn out that way.
Last month three robbers stole her gold necklace at knifepoint on a bus carrying dozens of passengers. All of them were forced to hand over their valuables.
"One almost stabbed my boyfriend when he pleaded with them not to take my necklace," she said.
Preeya said she had become more careful since the attack. She now keeps her money in her socks and her cell phone in a shoe when travelling on buses. She also keeps a close watch on fellow passengers.
Apart from robbery, other bus-related hazards threaten.
Last October Bundharika Littilanont, 27, and six others were crushed to death when a racing bus ploughed across a traffic island, uprooting trees and power poles before crashing into her car, a van, a pickup truck and another bus as they were waiting at traffic lights.
Natthapol Littilanont, Bundharika's younger brother, said his sister had always observed traffic rules and driven carefully and never been involved in an accident in eight years of driving.
"Then, a careless bus-driver killed her," Natthapol said. His family members now have had to live with bitter and painful memories.
His mother, Yaowarat, has required psychiatric counselling and drugs to help her cope with her grief.
"I cannot get over it, and I still keep breaking down in tears," she said, "At first I felt numb. But when the numbness wore off, it hurt badly. I know now what a broken heart means."
Natthapol said nothing would be able to heal the emotional scars arising from his sister's death - not even the five-year jail term handed down to the reckless bus-driver.
"I can't accept it. This bus-driver had been jailed before for a similar offence. My sister should not have died so young. The people who hire the drivers should be held accountable," Natthapol said.
Dr Praphansak Buranaprapha, who heads the Transport Ministry's Safety Centre, admitted that the country still could not really protect people's lives and property.
"Compensation cannot make up for the losses that often arise from lax measures and carelessness," he said.
Praphansak himself said he was hoping that the National Transport Safety Board - which was established in 1998 - would speed up its work and deliver some concrete measures soon.
"The board has yet to convene a meeting to lay out any measures," Praphansak said, adding that his centre planned to propose the redesign of bus doorways and introduce queue rails at bus stops.
"Bus steps should be low enough for passengers to board safely while queue rails will ensure that passengers do not crowd onto buses," he said.
But the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) - which operates 3,500 buses in the capital - believes the centre's ideas are not feasible.
"These proposals will need legislative changes and a huge budget to implement them," BMTA public-relations chief Viroj Nilayothin said.
However, he quickly added that the BMTA was not deaf to passengers' concerns and was planning to install safety measures on buses.
"We plan to install flashing alarm lights on the 501 buses serving routes from the city centre to suburban areas," Viroj said. In addition, he said our 2,000 bus-drivers and conductors are already trained in how to alert police about crimes taking place on buses.
In case of accidents relating to BMTA failings, Viroj said, compensation will be paid to victims or their families.
Napanisa Kaewmorakot
THE NATION
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RIDING RISKS
1. "Fast and reckless" The most common complaint from passengers is bus drivers racing and driving dangerously.
Worst: #8 from Happy Land to Rama I Bridge.
2. "Black exhaust fumes" Buses are not well maintained and emit choking smoke.
Worst: #92 from Klongton to Victory Monument, #126 from Samrong to Nonthaburi, and minibus #1 from Thanon Tok to Thatien.
3. "Battlefield" Vocational students brawl on the bus with other passengers often getting caught in between and becoming innocent victims.
Worst: #26 from Min Buri to Victory Monument.
4. "Robbery" Not frequent, but when it happens, there are often disastrous consequences. Pickpocketing is far more of a problem than thefts.
Worst: #207 from Ramkhamhaeng 1 to Ramkhamhaeng 2, #1145 from Bang Plee to Samut Prakan.
5. "Molestation" On crowded buses, gangsters or mentally disturbed men take sexual advantage of women.
Worst: #56 from Banglampoo to Thon Buri, #29 from Hua Lampong to Rangsit, minibus #97 from the Public Health Ministry to Sangha Hospital.
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Thai Girls : Meet Active Thai Girls
Posted on: 1:07 pm on Sep. 13, 2003
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eyeswideopen
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Quote: from Mr Alan on 1:07 am on Sep. 14, 2003
5. "Molestation" On crowded buses, gangsters or mentally disturbed men take sexual advantage of women.
Naughtius have you been riding the buses again?
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Thai Women : Meet Matured Thai Women
Posted on: 2:35 pm on Sep. 13, 2003
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buxeda
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Ringwormer
on sukhumvit there a little box house with tourist information. they will help you and tell you which number of bus you have to take. i find busmaps in bkk hard to read, but i am not a talent i must admit.
bts is great, fast and aircondicioned, easy to use.
cheers
el gringo loco
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Attractive Thai Girls
Posted on: 2:51 pm on Sep. 13, 2003
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