Sorry - No more UBER and GRAB in Thailand

[Gaybutton]

DLT to terminate GrabBike, UberMoto services

17 May 2016

The Department of Land Transport on Tuesday ordered Uber Technologies and Grab to immediately halt their motorcycle taxi-hailing services and warned all motorcycle taxi drivers that they had to register or face maximum fines under relevant laws if they continue their services.

DLT deputy director-general Nunthapong Cherdchu said the UberMoto and GrabBike services had caused inequality and injustice to the motorbike taxi drivers who already registered under the government’s reorganisation programme.

He said department officials had invited company executives for a meeting on Tuesday to inform them they were breaching the laws but only the representatives of UberMoto came.

Mr Nunthapong said Tuesday’s meeting would be the last talks with the companies and after this, decisive action would be taken to shut down their motorcycle ride-hailing applications.

He said DLT had ordered UberMoto and GrabBike motorcycle taxis to stop picking up customers during their last meeting in March because they were not registered for public transport. However, they continued the services and competed for passengers with legally registered motorbike taxis.

DLT officials, police and soldiers would launch a crackdown on the UberMoto and GrabBike service providers who still use their personal motorcycles to pick up passengers.

First-time offenders would face a fine of 2,000 baht for the offence and another 1,000 baht each for failing to wear government-provided motorcycle-taxi queue jackets and for not displaying public vehicle driving licenses, totaling 4,000 baht. They will have their licenses suspended for repeat offences.

There are over 186,000 motorcycles registered to provide taxi services in Thailand, almost half of which serve in Bangkok, according to government data.

GrabBike said in a statement it was working with the government to resolve the issues.

"GrabBike offers a service that reduces traffic in Bangkok, one of the world's most congested cities," Singapore-headquartered Grab said in a statement. "Staff are well-trained and insured."

Uber representatives were not immediately available for comment. Uber launched its services in Bangkok in February.

Authorities have arrested 66 motorcycle drivers working for Uber and Grab Bike, Mr Nunthapong added.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general ... o-services

[Gaybutton]

UberMoto suspends operations

by Amornrat Mahitthirook

19 May 2016

Ride-sharing service Uber has suspended its motorcycle taxi operation in Thailand following a ban issued by the Department of Land Transport (DLT) on Tuesday.

UberMoto was suspended as of noon Wednesday and its registered members have been informed, said Amy Kunrojpanya, a spokeswoman for Uber.

The DLT insisted UberMoto and GrabBike, both smartphone-based motorcycle taxi services, are illegal and were required to stop their operations or face stiff legal action. In response, GrabBike said Wednesday it is working with the government, but has not specified how it will proceed with its service.

The department said the firms' operations were also unfair to the roughly 100,000 motorcycle taxi drivers who are operating legally, threatening their jobs. The firms also failed to pay taxes, it said.

DLT deputy chief Nanthapong Cherdchoo said UberMoto and GrabBike must comply with regulations if they want to provide their services. Motorcycle taxis must be registered with the DLT.

Those using unregistered motorcycles to run their service are in breach of the law and are subject to arrest, Mr Nanthapong added.

Ms Kunrojpanya said Uber will discuss a way forward with the DLT so the company can resume its services.

However, Uber is pressing ahead with its UberTaxi car taxi service, and also will focus on its food delivery service UberEats, and courier service UberRush, Ms Kunrojpanya said.

She denied allegations Uber's service was draining jobs from Thais, saying 80% of the income from the service is shared among Thais. The service also creates jobs for Thais.

Motorcycle taxi drivers registered with Uber use their own vehicles to provide the service, she said.

Passengers can feel safe because drivers can be tracked on the GPS system. The drivers also identify themselves, she said.

She conceded there is still no law regulating UberTaxi and UberMoto in the country and the firm is in the process of holding talks and creating an understanding among agencies concerned about this technology, which is popular in many countries.

The DLT had ordered UberMoto and GrabBike motorcycle taxis to stop picking up customers during their last meeting in March because they were not registered for public transport. However, they continued the services and competed for passengers.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general ... operations

[Up2u]

Let them eat taxis
Published: 22/05/2016
Writer: Alan Dawson
Word reached the Department of Land Transport last week that disruptive technology is the single coolest and awesomest fad around, so those cool shufflers of extreme paper immediately disrupted the latest and coolest item they could find, and thought it was pretty cool.

Hours later, Bangkok had lost an actual cool start-up, a world's first, in fact.... (read more)...
http://m.bangkokpost.com/news/983429?re ... ost.com%2F

[Bangkokian]

Well, here's a surprise turn ------

Officials ordered GrabBike and UberMoto to halt their services last week and conveniently, only four days later, the Motorcycle Taxi Association's “GoBike” was released.

Full(er) story at: http://bangkok.coconuts.co/2016/05/23/g ... app-gobike

[Up2u]

Sasiwan Mokkhasen
24 May 2016
Most of What You Heard About ‘GoBike’ Service is Wrong
BANGKOK — A lot was misunderstood when “GoBike” became a trending topic on social media overnight, but one thing was true: It is the first legal, on-demand motorcycle taxi service.... (read more)...
http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 6&section=