Songthaeo
A Songthaeo or Songthaew ( Thai สอง แถว , RTGS Song Thaeo , pronunciation: [sɔ̌ːŋ tʰɛ̌ːw] ; Lao : ສອງ ແຖວ , pronunciation: [sɔ́ːŋ tʰɛ́ːw] , literally translated: "two rows") is a motor vehicle that is used in Thailand and Laos as one Special form of the shared taxi is used in local public transport .
Songthaeo are converted commercial vehicles . These are mostly flatbed trucks or pickups , and more rarely large trucks for more than 40 passengers. What they all have in common is the roofing and a mostly half-open structure on the sides. The passengers sit on benches on the opposite side, without seat belts and mostly without armrests. If there are no more free seats, passengers are also taken on the stern platforms, where they can hold onto bars.
Songthaeo do not follow fixed timetables, which is why there are no timetable notices and fixed stops. Most of the time, the route, i.e. the starting and ending point of the journey, is fixed, the departure time and intermediate stops depend on the occupancy and the destinations of the passengers. Sole use by individual passengers is unusual, but can be agreed (e.g. for transport, excursions, urgent journeys).
Songthaeo are operated in the form of a cooperative or privately. The passengers pay independently to the driver or the passenger. In tourist areas, fixed fares are sometimes shown in English in the passenger compartment. They are also called the “baht bus” by western guests of Thailand, as in earlier times a fare of one baht was common.
There are similar constructions in other developing countries, such as the Daladala in Tanzania, Matatus in Kenya and Uganda, and Tap-Taps in Haiti. The Filipino jeepneys , which are based on jeeps, are a special case .
