What should you do if you need to get somewhere fast, but the roads in Bangkok is the world's biggest parking lot? The answer to that is quite simple, by hopping on the back of a "Motocycle Taxi" ofcourse! Now what the heck is a "Motorcycle Taxi" you asked? Well, it's just your average motorcycle, no meter, no space for luggages, and definitely no special safety aparatus. You're given a helmet (in most cases) and you just hop on the back of motorcycle and then hold on to the driver's back for dear life!

The motorcycle will zip through and zigzag pass all the immoblized cars on the roads and you'll be at your destination in no time at all! The ride is generally safe as these motorcyclists are quite experienced in their profession. They know how to squeeze in between cars, go safely against traffic on a one-way street, and even if the road is jammed packed, they can safely go on the sidewalk and avoid the food carts and pedestrians. In all my years of driving and living in Bangkok, I've never seen a motorcycle taxi accidently running over anything or anyone. On the contrary, I saw a Farang ran over a motorcycle taxi one time on the sidewalk. Apparently he was jogging and turned back to look at something and then BAM! Luckily everyone was OK, just a few scrapes on the elbows (This is the reason why you don't see Thai people jogging on the streets). :)

The motorcycle taxi service is very popular amongst the Bangkok locals. It's an indispensible service that can't be without given the nightmarish traffic conditions here. From businessmen to schoold kids and office girls, Thai people from all walks of life takes the motorcycle taxi. The first time on one of these babies can be quite hair-raising, I almost peed my pants the first time! After you get the hang of it, it becomes quite thrilling and you get a sense of relief and satisfaction for beating the traffic mess and getting to your destination on time.

So if you need to get somewhere in a hurried and get a cheap thrill at the same time, just hop on the back of one these motorcycles. You can't flag them down on the street like a taxi, but you can find a gang of them stationed at various intersections or next to a BTS station. They can be easily spotted wearing their bright orange or purple vest. You need to negotiate the price first before getting on, and once you're on, the trick is to trust in the driver's ability and just relax. Try to not flinch or sway, as you may throw the driver offcourse and cause him to crash. Good luck and do share your Xperience with us!