A Facebook page representing taxi drivers urged authorities to modernise public-transport laws and allow metered fares based on the type of vehicle used and the time of day.
The Voice of Taxis page published a message Wednesday referring to a "No Japanese" sign some Suvarnabhumi airport taxi drivers purportedly placed in their windows retaliation to an online rant by a Japanese educational volunteer about his experience with the driver of a sports-utility-vehicle cab who refused to use the meter.
Drivers of large-sized taxis like this one are demanding a different metered rate from compact taxis. (Photo by Thanarak Khoonton)
The group said that the problem has been building for a long time and its attempts to publicise and alert authorities to the problem always have been ignored. Now, the issue has exploded on the national scene, so the government, including the Transport Ministry and Land Transport Department, should seriously look into core factors, Voice of Taxis said.
The group suggested that authorities adopt practices used in Japan, where fares are based not only on the size of the taxi used, but the time of day the trip occurs.
It wants the authority to amend the Vehicle Act B.E.2522, the Public Vehicle Act B.E.2522 and its amendment in 1998 by not lumping all types of public-transport vehicles under the single category of "public vehicles not more than seven seats".
The page stated that the recent increase in meter rates was not new, as it had been promised since 2008. But the government at that time allowed only half the promised increase.
"After almost seven years, taxis are just allowed now to get the rate promised long ago," the group said.
The Voice of Taxis page was created to provide a space for drivers to air their problems and demand change in meter rates, which they deem too low. The group said it was time for the majority of people to open their minds and accept the truth that, over the past 10 years, vehicle models used for taxis have diversified, but rates have not changed for a long time.
"Large vehicles or vans have to carry lot of stuff, but have never (legally) been allowed to charge for passenger's extra belongings," it said.
The group believes the problem will never be resolved if the few people who have the authority to handle the issue don't look into the problem.
Jirut Wisanjit, deputy director of the Department of Land Transport, said the authority was studying requests to allow negotiated fares at Suvarnabhumi airport, raise metered rates and charge for additional luggage.
However, as meter rates were just adjusted last month, it's unlikely they will be changed again soon, he said. Mr Jirut noted, though, that airport taxi drivers can charge an additional 50 baht surcharge for airport service.
As for baggage charges, the department is studying the proposal, which would have to be applied to taxis nationwide. Mr Jirut also admitted it might be possible to create a classification for premium taxis with extra storage charging higher rates.
On Thursday, Voice of Taxis published a supplemental post complaining that its efforts to explain rate issues and suggest solutions have been met only by insults by "close-minded" people who just only want condemn taxis drivers and make them a "bad guy" to the public.
Despite pleas from drivers asking for understanding, most people commenting on Facebook disagree with Voice of Taxis' views. Its Wednesday Facebook post was shared by the popular Drama-Addict page, where it also was met with hundreds of negative responses.