Taxi and motorcycle taxi drivers in the capital were once again up in arms last week when they heard that their arch-rival Grab Thailand, the local operating arm of the Singapore-based start-up hailing service app, might be getting the green light by the government to operate legally.
The presence of Grab has changed the industry since beginning operations five years ago. And since then, it has been looked upon with disdain.
The Bangkok Post reports that the emergence of ride-sharing apps in Thailand has received vehement opposition from public taxi drivers, many of whom insist their livelihoods are being jeopardised by a business that is, as of now, operating illegally.
In an interview given to Thai PBS World, Vitoon Naewpanich, chairman of the taxi co-operatives network in Bangkok, noted that there are, currently, over 40,000 taxis operating in Bangkok, and if Grab taxis, using private cars, are given permission to operate legally, there is bound to be conflict between the two groups of drivers, which may escalate as they fight for business.
It is interesting to note that Thailand is the last country in Asean where flagging a taxi from drivers without commercial licenses via mobile apps is illegal, apart from Laos, where no such service is available. Despite this legal impediment, one has to admit that Grab has thrived in Thailand despite claims its illegal status has impeded its growth.
Traditional drivers have found it increasingly difficult to compete with Grab's service largely, because, let's be honest, the drivers are polite, drive carefully and don't give you reason to get upset. The usually better-maintained private vehicles and taxis are an added bonus to the experience.
Among the slew of complaints passengers have against traditional taxi drivers is passenger refusals during rush hours and rain and metre tampering. This has driven many to use ride-hailing services.
In my opinion, owning up to one's misconduct and making amends would go a longer way than wasting time and energy protesting Grab's legalisation.
It is pretty straightforward, really: if taxi drivers learn to offer good service to passengers, they do not need to bother using an app to hail a ride. Flagging a taxi is the culture we were brought up with.
Prior to Grab, which started operations in Thailand five years ago, and Uber, which was around for a short time, Bangkok residents depended solely on local taxis to commute. When metres were added, I for one was glad, because it cut the bargaining one had to otherwise initiate.
The honeymoon period with metre taxis was short-lived as drivers began to tamper with them, and the rest is history.
Today, obviously, ride-sharing services are preferred by most commuters. Here are a couple of reasons.
First, drivers are courteous and polite. They drive with caution with the customer's safety in mind. They can use the GPS rather effectively, so no hassles with getting to your destination -- yes, even if it is in the boonies. They are rarely ever argumentative or nosy about the passenger's personal life, thus leaving the person to relax and enjoy their ride in peace.
In any business, the bottom line is service; if you can get that right you have a clear advantage over your opponent.
So instead of getting huffed and puffed about Grab stealing your customers, taxi companies, brush up on your service by hiring drivers with some understanding of what it means to be service-minded.
Teach them to build a mindset that looks at competition in a proactive manner -- use the brain not the brawn.
Taxi companies have to see Grab as a viable competitor, and so encourage better service from their drivers by offering either monetary or other incentives to them.
I believe this would surely act as an impetus for constructive change.
A huge portion of traditional drivers on the streets of Bangkok hail from poverty-stricken provinces in the northeast.
Would better incentives discourage them from tampering with the metre, or connive to rob or harm passengers. It's anyone's guess but is nevertheless worth a try. Keep in mind that the experience of living in poverty can impact people in many areas of life.
Watching how some resort to taking the law into their own hands when dealing with drivers they suspect work for Grab is one case in point. This is where proper know-how and etiquette have to be taught.
It would be encouraging to see the Ministry of Transport step in to make this a reality, and thus create an environment of healthy competition between two sides providing the same service.
It is natural to desire the lion's share of the market in any business, but let's go about doing it in a civil and professional manner -- the benefits are far longer-reaching than protests and spiteful behaviour.
Yvonne Bohwongprasert is a feature writer for the Life section of the Bangkok Post.