Pictures of Bangkok,
Thailand. The City
of Contrast.
Where ancient meets
modern and East meets
West.
Come and see the
lifestyle, culture,
places, changes,
etc.
Pok
Pok
The mini taxis for
Bangkok's huge traffic
Sep.
2005
Pok
Pok
is
a
small
open-air
truck
servicing
like
a
motorcycle
taxi
and
a
Tuk
Tuk
(motor
tricycle
taxi).
Similar
to
a
motorcycle
taxi,
they
are
mostly
available
in
sois
(lanes).
Similar
to
a
Tuk
tuk,
they
can
hold
up
to
4-5
people
and
run
around
the
10-15km.
distance.
Most
Pok
Poks
run
fixed
routes.
Special
order
is
also
accepted
provided
the
distance
is
around
10-15km.
Compared to a motorcycle
taxi,
I
believe
a Pok Pok serves
better if you come with
somebody and prefer to
go together in one
vehicle.
Even if you
commute alone they are
safer.
Fare is based on
negotiations unless
running fixed
routes.
Mostly, the fare is cheaper than
taking a taxi.
Why are they called Pok
Pok?
I
guess
it's
the knocking sound "Pok
Pok"
on the vehicle body when the
passenger wants to leave the
vehicle.
(I
believe Tuk Tuks are
also named by their engine sound as
well.)
Nowadays Pok Poks are
equipped with an electronic
bell.
Just
ring the
bell
and
the
truck
will
stop.
Bits
&
Pieces
1.
Japanese
housewives
are
a
big
client
for
Pok
Poks
in
Sukhumvit
area
especially,
around
Little
Tokyo.
These
Pok
Poks
even
have
ads
displayed
in
Japanese.
2.
Pok
Pok
fare
within
fixed
routes
is
around
10
Baht
per
ride.
Click
pictures to enlarge
Pok Pok
fare is paid when the
passenger rings the
bell, jumps off the
truck, and pays
the driver
at the front
seat.
I've never
heard of any
passenger
who jumps
off and run
away yet.
Pok Poks are
mostly found
in small
Sois (lanes).
They are
tiny Subaru
or Daihatsu
trucks owned
by an
individual
driver.
