Ladies-only bus service set up

PHUKET TOWN: A local company has started a bus service exclusively for women on the long distance route between Phuket and Bangkok. Phuket Travel plans to do 14 trial runs of the “ladies bus” during the month of August. The company has provided this service for the past two months, but few people know that it is available. However, most women choose to take the ladies bus when informed of this option while buying their ticket, according to Vimon Jareonraj, a salesperson at Phuket Travel. K. Vimon said that many women consider the bus trip to be safer and more comfortable with no male passengers. But not everyone sees a need for this service. Watcharaphong Anuntakool, managing director of Phuket Central Tours, told the Gazette, “It is not necessary to have a ladies bus service in a small province like Phuket.” He added that, “This kind of service is difficult to coordinate in the low season. If we promise a ladies-only bus and can’t find enough female passengers, we’ll be left with empty seats.” A female bus passenger, Morokot Chutamanee, 20, who recently bought at ticket from Phuket to Bangkok, prefers to ride with both male and female passengers. She told the Gazette, “I didn’t choose to go on the ladies bus because of the long distance between Phuket and Bangkok. Anything could happen along the way, so I’d feel safer having men on the bus with me.” The ladies bus runs every second day on odd dates until the end of August. Phuket Travel has not yet determined a long-term schedule for the service.