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Category: Road Transport

Uber launches motorcycle service in Thai capital

Saturday, 5 Mar 2016 12:23:47 | Liam Cochrane

Uber has started trialling its new UberMOTO service in several suburbs of Bangkok. (Reuters: Damir Sagolj)

The popular ride-sharing app Uber has launched a new motorcycle service in Bangkok.

The trial has begun in just a few parts of Thailand's sprawling capital, but could be expanded throughout Asia.

"This is the first city to launch UberMOTO, as we call it, anywhere in the world," said Douglas Ma, the head of Uber's Asia-Pacific expansion.

The service will work just like the car booking app, with passengers using their smartphone to book freelance motorcycle riders, who will give them a helmet.

A similar concept, called Grab Bike, already exists in Thailand as well as more than 83,000 registered motorcycle taxis riders who wear orange vests and wait for customers on street corners.

"For me, it depends on the waiting time ... if it takes longer than a moto taxi, then it will be my second choice," said a young man waiting for a bus.

Price is also a major concern for passengers.

While traditional moto taxis negotiate rates for each journey, UberMOTO has set the booking fee at $0.38, plus an additional $0.13 for each kilometre.

A rating system will encourage safe riding and details of the trip can be shared with friends and family for security.

Moto taxi riders not concerned by new competition

Each rider will have their own insurance, in case of an accident, and Uber says its policy will act as a backup to insure injured passengers for up to $9,500.

Around the world, Uber has been criticised by traditional taxi drivers and unions for undercutting the market and not offering fair working conditions.

But Bangkok's existing moto taxi riders seemed nonplussed.

"They can't compete with me — how will [UberMOTO] have enough time to pick someone here and go out there?" one rider said as he waited for customers in Asoke.

"This is much faster, getting us right away."

Kei Blyth, one of the first riders to sign up for the ride-sharing app, said he was giving UberMOTO a try because the work suited his lifestyle.

"I can control my time — I can choose when I go holiday [and the] salary is not too low. [It's the] same as working at a normal company," he said.

The trial will initially be limited to the suburbs of Sathorn, Siam, and Silom, but there are plans to expand the UberMOTO across Asia, with Bangalore launching as the second trial city.

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