Thread: GrabBike riders given two more months to operate without registration

Thailand’s Land Transport Department has decided to extend the July 15th deadline for GrabBike (Win) riders to operate, without registering as public transport operators, by two more months, while urging those who wish to continue providing their motorcycle taxi service to register and change their license plates.


The move follows a demand made last week by GrabBike riders for an extension to the deadline, to allow time for the authorities to come up with new measures or a new law to recognise app-based motorcycle taxi services.


GrabBike riders, estimated at 10,000 nationwide, can self-register via this link until July 26th.


After registration, the Land Transport Department will hold discussions with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), the Metropolitan Police Bureau and relevant agencies to work out measurers to regulate the riders’ service, on the basis that the service will be legalised and all riders will have to change their private vehicle license plates to those used for public transport.


Grab Thailand Executive Director Worachat Luxkanalode said today (Tuesday) that they are ready to act as a go-between in the promotion and support of Thai people who wish to make use of their private vehicles to provide an app-based motorcycle taxi service to the public.


As a company which introduced this kind of public transport service in Bangkok, he said his company will cooperate with relevant agencies to ensure that the service will continue to serve commuters and will help its riders to apply for registration.


Numerous GrabBike (Win) riders have expressed their objection to the Land Transport Department’s decision, requiring them to change their license plates, claiming that the process is complicated. They also insist that applying for a public transport driver’s license should be sufficient.

GrabBike riders given two more months to operate without registration | Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world

How much will it cost them?

Motorcycle taxis protest against extension of GrabBike riders’ service

A group of motorcycle taxi drivers, known locally as “Win” riders, rallied in front of the Transport Ministry today (Friday) to protest against the Land Transport Department’s recent decision to allow app-based GrabBike riders to operate, without registration, for a further two months after the July 15th deadline.


The group submitted a protest letter, addressed to Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob, demanding that the Land Transport Department’s decision be rescinded.


Santi Patipanrat, a representative of the Motorcycle Taxi Association of Thailand, said that the extension of the operation period for GrabBike riders only benefits the service provider, GrabTaxi despite the fact that their service is technically illegal.


He said that the illegal service has been running for about eight years and the Transport Ministry has yet to do anything to end the service.


During the two-month reprieve for GrabBike riders, a result of recent protests by the app riders, the Land Transport Department will discuss, with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and Metropolitan Police Bureau, ways to regulate the operation of GrabBike riders, on the basis that they must register and change their private vehicle license plates to those used for public transport.


GrabBike riders are required to register by July 26th if they want to continue with the app-based service.


Tensions have simmered for years between app-based riders and traditional motorcycle taxis operating in Greater Bangkok, with reports of the former being cornered and assaulted by some “Win” riders, who have to spend tens or even hundreds of thousands of baht for the iconic orange vest to operate in highly sought after locations.

Motorcycle taxis protest against extension of GrabBike riders' service | Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world

Originally Posted by misskit

Tensions have simmered for years between app-based riders and traditional motorcycle taxis operating in Greater Bangkok, with reports of the former being cornered and assaulted by some “Win” riders, who have to spend tens or even hundreds of thousands of baht for the iconic orange vest to operate in highly sought after locations.

Hundreds of thousands of baht to whom? Criminal enterprises and police, no doubt. Fuck them.

Provide a better service.

The government needs to step in and sort out this entitled thieves and shut them down.