Life On A Motorcycle Taxi Everyday -- Experience & Tips Asia

in travel •  8 years ago  (edited)

Hi Steemit friends

Hope you all had a pleasant weekend.

As I am today waiting for my ride today, why don't I share my story and experiences of passengering on motorcycle vehicles every single day from my place to where I work.

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Why Do I Take It

Yes, In many ways it is a extremely dangerous transportation to consider.However, It is the most convenient and practical for short distance transit in my opinion. I am talking about vehicles here!.

Sky Train and Underground Trains are exceptional. They are very fast and I think Bangkok has a fairly adequate system considering as we are a developing country.

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The majority of people in Thailand and other South East Asian countries require Motorcycle usage and Motorbike taxis since not all places can be arrivals by trains along with the fact that people don't really walk in 31C degree heat and many can't afford a car to go everywhere with. In my case, Illustrate this, I'd have to do a 10 minutes walk through polluted dust, humid heat and substandard foot pavement. On weekends i do actually enjoy walking sometime but during work days like most of us, I desire to arrive at work with minimum environmental impact.

Motorbike Rules 101

Never Think You Are "Dope" Like The Locals.

  • Guys, when you see Thai people sitting on the bike while they are on their phones or not holding on to anything, THAT IS NOT THE WAY!.Dont Copy That !!
    Tourist tend to copy what the locals do sometimes. But not all things that locals do are safe!. TT....Please hold on to the driver or the handle on the back. One bad break and you might turn face up right off the bike and it ain't dope for no one when that does happens.


Quit Daydreaming For A Sec.

  • "Keep your eyes on the road". Four eyes are always better than Two. In this case, better to keep a look out and not looking up to the sky and enjoy the ride to a point where you don't even look at the way. There can always be something the driver doesn't notice and you signaling calmly might safe everyone. Be cautious at all times!!.

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How to Not Flash Your Undies .

  • For us women, sitting on sideways while wearing a skirt is the best solution. It seems like a uncomfortable position to sit but unless you want to expose your underwear to the city, sitting on side-ways in better. This requires you to hold on to even more. I mostly try not to carry a lot of carriage to work on days I'm wearing skirts. One hand grabbing on the back handle and the other hand grabbing on the driver's shirt ( You can put your arm around their waist if you want, I'm sure they wouldn't mind it).

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Helmets Will save your life, Put It On.

  • There are most regulations from the government requiring Motorcycle Taxis to carry an extra helmet. Unfortunately, many of them don't go out of their ways to ask you if you want to put it on and many people don't ask for it. I highly recommend for you to request it and have it on your head.

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According to http://www.richardbarrow.com/2017/01/full-road-accident-statistics-for-new-year-2016-2017-in-thailand/
In 2016 there have been 9,517 deaths in Thailand due to road accidents. Sadly Thailand is one of the top 5 deadliest roads in the world.

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Thai gorvernment are enforcing rules and regulations to decrease motorcycle road deaths.By stricter helmet usage and handing out fines, plus requiring driver permit. The accident number has been deminishing slightly but sadly not fast enough.

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Motorcycles are so favorable to weave through traffics and saves an incredible amount of time you waste sitting in cars. Personally, It saves me at least 15-20 of time everyday instead of taking the car. I have time to sleep longer, exercise in the morning and even get some work done. Despite all disadvantages, If you are cautious and have understanding on how to use it the right way to increase safetyness it can be a great transport. Saving 15 minutes a day, 5 days a week, 52 weeks a year. That is 3,900 minutes or 65 hours. Plus in my case it's a really short root and I love being outside and getting some air before sitting in the office all day long.

I hope this post can be by some means helpful for Steemit travels out there.!!!!

Here's a related to the topic joke!

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Have a Great Day guys !!!
Oxox,Suzana


*Pictures From Pinterest*
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  ·  8 years ago (edited)

I am pretty scared as motorbike passagers but as driver i feel free and enjoy adrenaline of the speeed, feel the wind, hear sound of powerful motor.
Be so close to the road when i turn that i can touch it with my knees.

Mortobike are so great, a bit dangerous as most of the really exciting things in life.

You should try motocross!

Excellent post, thank you for sharing!

Thank you !!! 😌 this means a lot.

☺☺☺☺☺

I noticed lots of women taking these motorcycle taxis when I was in Bangkok. It's really a great way to get to work without being stuck in the massive jam!

Yes it's the fastest for short distances. Many women with heels also. I'm no at that level just yet. Lol !!!

I ve enjoyed having my own scooter a lot on the islands like koh lanta fe.

Atm I am in phuket and there the traffic is almost to much for me and I dont enjoy driving this much and most of the time i get a grab.

In BKK I would not even think about getting my own scooter ;-)

I used to love bike rides when i was living at home.But Phuket has a lot of steeply hills and bad drivers. Be careful and stay safe.!! :)

Cool post.. The thing with motorcycle helmets is once they are dropped they have to be replaced.. not sure if I would trust a motorcycle taxi to honor that.. but it looks like a lot of fun ;)

Wow same ride here. Going to NAIA Airport (Philippines) boarding Cebu Pacific to Boracay. I rode a motorcycle-taxi in Libertad just to avoid traffic and delay on my flight. Hehe, I love it! It's a great experience! Thanks for sharing :)

upvoted you and its great to read all your posts because it adds a great skills and knowledge in myself, already followed you and inspired from your posts, hope that you also follow me back so that it will be a great pleasure for me and a big contribution from ur side for me , thanks kindly follow me and resteem my post aswell
@shanzaylizay

555 good post! But the motorbike taxis in Thailand are safe and tame compared to Vietnam :D

If you have a second please check out my blog, I live in Thailand and post photos and videos from here. Following you!

Nice....
Thanks....

Ha, funny comic! Yes multitasking can be good but also go very wrong. Traffic will surprise you always. You need to be aware, on a motorcycle even more so. Good rules to stay safe while taxiing from one place to another. Good post @suerisue.

I find this your post very interesting although i have not been to your country but in your write up, you have given a detail narrative of how riding a motorcycle in your country is like, the gain and risk involve in it, and the pricutions that riders should take while on their way. The way you used pictures to drive your story is fantabulous, i wish i cant write like you. My opining on this is that time is money, that is why i can agree for people to ride on motorcycle but cution should be taking to avoid not geting to where your rushing to get to. Nice one keep it coming. I have upvoted already and follwing you for more cretive content .i enjoy this pices. I just send my introdoctory post today.

Ok your welcome

Thank you so much !!. I just started a month ago so i am new too!!. On your introduction post try posting a picture of yourself holding a steemit sign. It's a friendly way for people to notice!. and dont forget to #Introduceyourself. Best wishes :)

If someday your motorcycle delivery is broken, I want to take you to where @suerisue want for free 😁😁

Lovin the blogs... you have a new follower :)

Thank you so much, oxox

Doesn't matter which part of the planet you are in, helmets are mandatory!

Yes !!! Everything changes without one!

Hi @suerisue interesting post and useful tip, so true, when choosing a mototaxi in Bangkok i always carefully look into his eyes, making sure they are sober :-) ..except that they are great drivers, and it is the car driver that are careless most of the time using there smartphone while driving.....resteemed, following you :-)

Thats definitely a good point that i left out. Thank you for mentioning this.Yes! Choose the drivers too.

Awesome post Suerisue!! Love your glasses! I never been on a motorcycle before, would like to try sometime. :) I love the cartoon also.

hahah, Many people love it, yet some get really nervous!, it's a fun experience to try. :)

Saving 15 minutes a day, 5 days a week, 52 weeks a year. That is 3,900 minutes or 65 hours.

I count like that too xD

I'm not a math person >< but i get through. Fail Managerial Accounting 2 times during Uni!!>. Woops

I would love to read more! Keep up

Sounds like such a great adventure.
I hope nothing goes wrong, stay well! :)

น่ารัก แชร์เรื่อยๆๆๆคอยติดตามๆๆๆ

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ ขอบคุณค๊าบบบบ

👍👍👍👍👍

Great post Sue. I live in Thailand and have taken many motorcycle taxis while in Bangkok. I live in near the mountains in the city of Chiang Mai and have my own bike here. Helmet is worn most of the time. :)

What 'they' don't tell you, is that when wearing a helmet, you lose a lot of your hearing as well as overall perception. Sometimes wearing a helmet can be more dangerous while moving at low to medium speeds. (at high speeds, yes--a helmet is best, me thinks.)

I would like to delve into this more; to find out if there are more injuries as a result of wearing a helmet, opposed to not wearing one. I think it makes more sense to wear a helmet as a passenger, than as a driver, at least in the city. Of course, this is not practical in many cases.

Remember those leather football helmets from the 50's? That would be something useful to carry around because it can be stowed and carried fairly easily. As a passenger, you'll always have a helmet.

It just wouldn't look very flattering, however. :)

Thanks for the post.

EDIT: Following...

I have never heard about the helmet lose of hearing but it does makes senses. I have never drove a motorcycle in my life and don't know how to.🙈 If I'm not mistaken, they are trying to regulate both driver and passenger to wear helmets. Are u planning to come back and live in Thailand again ? :)

Hi Suerisue, I have been living in Chiang Mai for the past four years. Have you been here before? If you haven't been, it's really nice here.

This is crazy! Haha. Followed for not only a good article, but a beautiful woman. Keep it up.

Thank you for your kind words !!! I appreciate it !! 😌

Love you sense of humour! Thanks for sharing and remember to wear a helmet @suerisue!

Thank you, Yes the picture I took was a selfie before I put the helmet on. I'm glad you enjoyed it. I'm just a beginner writer that want to improve my skills and share my stories that will beneficial to others. :) have a great day

Beginner writer? Well you are very good!
Keep up the great work and you will certainly go far. Thanks for sharing your amazing stories from across the globe. I love reading about travelling and people's adventures :) I will certainly follow.

Sorry skipped reading... just looked at the photos :) pretty too! (oops typical male comment)

i work in Indonesia and i can't believe that there aren't more accidents its like organized chaos lol

Omg I can imagine that it's pretty much the same to here 🙈

I like that this is both a blog for your personal like AND a musing of your thought. I like that you share your first-hand thoughts of safety.

Also are you taking Grab-bike? or what is it called.. wow, lucky bike guy hahaha!

Thank you so much... I'm learning through the process on how to write better and just being honest about my experiences. It's something very close to me as I experience it almost everyday. I do take grab-bike,uber and taxis to which is most convenient due to the situation. I'm quite tall so sometimes my legs annoys them. 🙈😂 Have a great day !!! 😁

nice post, keep our head with use helm

Fantastic post! I love motorcycles and I think you've got the points bang on! Nice pictures too and I enjoyed the writing very much! :D

Good post indicating the need to wear helmet and be safe...I like the drawings too, thanks for sharing

I found the drawing from Pinterest. It's lovely isn't it :)

Absolutely lovely, you too. Following you in order to see more posts from you. Thanks for sharing

The best post I've read. :) Please write more about this :) Follow you

Awee Thank you so much !!!

Great post! That is funny stuff. Thanks for sharing! I hope I do not get stuck in steemit traffic!!!!! LOL I upVoted

Great idea ....and great post ...can be used in India and China too....heavy populated country and heavy traffic

Yes!!! I most experience in Thailand and South East Asia countries I have visited. I don't know how it is in China and India. Is it pretty similar ?

nice post which helps people to save and be cautious during motor riding

Thank you so much. Yes I want to sent this massage out as too many travelers have suffered from tragic incidents related to this topic.

Nice post, great advice.. funny picture, upvoted. Keep up the good work

Thank you :)

Loved the illustrations girl and I know the feeling... That's why I take my bike everyhwere.

Thanks boo!! Stay safe on the road !! Will be following your journey!!! 😘

and lets not forget its the most fun !

Motorcycle taxi really cool

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Wish i was your driver ... but then again i dont know how to drive a motorcycle :(

Hahaha good one !!!

Nice Blog. Thanks for sharing :)
Up and Followed

Thank you 😊

I like bykerieder

Very good post....I like it :)

I think...Helmet is the most important thing when riding something with two wheels... anyway I recently bought same style of glasses. maybe it's in fashion!

Sound advice regarding always wearing a helmet! I came back from Thailand in 2003 with a fractured skull and was lucky to be alive, I world never ride without a helmet again!

Have a nice commute and day!

Wowww you're lucky. I have been fortunate to have never been in an accident nor seen one in real. Fingers cross it stays that way. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger right. 😌

Right! That's exactly what my brother said to me and i will always remember this!

Fingers crossed you remain free of accidents, with your guide to safety i think you will do fine :D

Funny you mentioned the locals on the back of taxi's and they are either sitting 'side saddle' or not holding on to anything. I've even seen a family of 4 on one Moped, I'm not sure how they were able to accomplish that. The most interesting thing is that the dad who is driving is the only one who wears the helmet.