MichaelBKK

In case you hadn't hear, the government finally approved an increase in taxi fares for Bangkok - the first increase in 16 years. The initial cost will remain at 35 Baht, but it will start going up after just one km instead of two. The fare will go up 5 Baht a km for the first 12 km.

The increase goes into effect as soon as they figure out how to adjust the meters (seems it's been so long, nobody knows how anymore).

Bisbee

Several people have reported this increase is already in effect, though perhaps not city wide. This is good for the drivers, although it's not much of an increase. Many Bangkok taxis run on LPG (whose price is controlled/subsidized by the govt), so the high cost of fuel has nothing to do with this. Articles say that the average taxi fare will increase about 12%. So most won't really notice much of an increase.

Kathie

Thanks for the info!

MichaelBKK

Well, taxi drivers are people, who have to eat, buy clothes, send their kids to school. Last I looked, nothing costs the same as it did 16 years ago.

Bisbee

Right. That's why I said it was good for the drivers, even though it wasn't a lot (since they aren't effected by the rising oil prices, yet). "Most" refers to the people riding in the taxis, not the drivers.