Tharika Patanarunt was a hairdresser before she quit and became an Uber taxi driver.
"As a hairdresser, my income was based on the number of clients I got each day. So I am not ashamed to say that I was in financial difficulties when a colleague shared her experience of driving for Uber and how she made a lot of money from it," she said.
"Two months ago I decided to apply, and since then I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I am averaging 3,000 to 4,000 baht a week and can do even better if I put in more hours. The major adjustments I had to make were with time management.''
Sgt Maj Chinnawat Wannapalo comes from a different background, but his reason for joining Uber is the same: lots of free time after work and the desire to supplement his income.
Chinnawat, who has been chauffeuring passengers for three months, said that turning his private car into a public one has its disadvantages, but the benefits outweigh them.
"Chauffeuring commuters around town means that I need to clean my car more often than in the past. Now I need to clean it once every two days instead of once a week," he said, laughing.
"I can average 10,000 baht weekly by keeping a flexible schedule, which could mean that I drive eight hours on one day and maybe just a handful of hours the remaining days of the week. I look at driving for Uber as a hobby, I don't just make money I also make new friends."
As the new platform of public transport spearheaded by Uber and GrabTaxi gains more popularity, the traditional taxi service is going through a momentous change. The implications are felt by all involved.
The drivers are no longer the same traditional chauffeurs, but also part-timers turning their private cars into public ones through facilitators such as GrabCar, operated under GrabTaxi. For consumers, the convenience of mobile apps, namely Uber and Grab Taxi, has changed the way we "call a cab", which is sometimes an adventure in Bangkok.
Meanwhile, the authorities are in the process of accommodating new ride-sharing services, while finding ways to ensure safety standards and other complications that come when unauthorised vehicles and drivers -- by the letter of the law -- become a preferred mode of transport.
But while the law hasn't fully recognised the new services, the notorious difficulty in getting traditional taxis, not to mention reports of fraud and sometimes crime, adds to the complex equation that concerns consumer benefit and legal framework, as well as the force of technology.
Teerapong Rodprasert, director-general of the Department of Land Transport, admitted that taxi-calling mobile apps have gained increasing popularity among urban commuters as they are considered a solution to taxi headaches in the capital. The department has nothing against the new taxi-calling technology except that the vehicles must be authorised -- meaning they must have yellow license plates, which signify a public service vehicle.
"Providing taxi services by using [private] vehicles with a black license plate is against the law," said Teerapong. "In case something bad happens, the tracking process would be difficult. Also the department is not able to control the safety standard of the vehicles and drivers in the case of private cars."
Teerapong added that for consumer safety, vehicles registered for public service are required to undergo a thorough car inspection every two years. Drivers must have a public driving license, which means they must have undergone training and have had criminal record background checks. Drivers who fail to follow the regulations, including those who refuse to go on the meter, are subject to a maximum fine of 2,000 baht.
Juthasree Kuvinichkul, director of GrabTaxi Thailand, said that GrabCar works in consultation with local governments and other regulatory bodies in the six countries that the company operates to propose amendments of current transport laws to include the third-party ride-hailing app.
"We believe that co-operation with local regulators will bring about industry changes that are holistic and reasonable, and most importantly, for the mutual goal of passenger safety and towards a better public transportation system," Juthasree said.
"We are actively engaged with the government stakeholders to develop a regulatory environment that will benefit riders, drivers, and the cities of Thailand," said Chan Park, Uber Technologies general manager for Southeast Asia. "We share a common goal -- to provide all Thai people with access to safe, reliable and convenient transportation options."
The new platform also opens up job opportunities for many people -- many of them female. It seems simple enough: with a car you can earn extra money by picking up passengers through a mobile app, though the risk of crime and robbery exist.
Most people who adopt a new role as a chauffeur seem to believe it's worth it.
GrabCar driver Tiranute Lertmongkunchai, 35, worked as a clerk for many years before deciding to give up her job to look after her three children, ages 11, eight and three. While she receives an income from her family-run dormitory, she was looking to earn something extra and applied to be a GrabCar driver after a relative told her about it.
"I had no problems with driving long distances, but in the beginning I had the most problems familiarising myself with the routes. To solve this, I just asked the passenger to direct me," she said.
"In the two months that I have been driving for GrabCar I have had mostly positive experiences. There are even customers, mostly women, who ask me if it is OK for them to add me on Line. They feel if there is an emergency they can just ask me to pick them up.
"Despite being a women I have been fortunate to not have any male passengers causing trouble. It could be because most of them are very well-behaved and professional."
Tharika, the hairdresser who drives for Uber, also believes that it is safe for female drivers to accept male passengers because, firstly, they pay by credit card, so no cash is exchanged and thus no risk of foul play. She also believes that the system is set up so that both driver and passenger safety is prioritised. Uber executives also said that every Uber ride is fully insured.
"I have been hit on by customers, but it's no big deal," said Tharika. "They are also polite enough to not pursue me when they find I am not interested." Taxi-booking services are adapting themselves to meet the country's legal criteria, in the meantime the Department of Land Transport has encouraged urban commuters to notify the authorities in case they experience illegal practices of taxi drivers so as to improve service standards.
"The department has also collaborated with taxi networks for improvement in terms of quality and efficient service," Teerapong noted. "All this is so that it [the taxi-booking platform] will eventually become another transportation alternative for our people."
GrabCar's Tiranute Lertmongkunchai, left, GrabBike driver Sompob Mahakarn, middle, and GrabTaxi's Kasila Ninthat.
