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Bangkok’s Idle Taxis Used To Set Up Mini Rooftop Gardens

Bangkok’s Taxi fleets have been transformed into creative “rooftop garden” by using vehicle roofs as small vegetable plots.

The Covid-19 pandemic has brought harsh consequences to all the world’s countries, including Thailand, whose usually busy streets have remained oddly quiet, leaving several taxi drivers out of work.

When fares dried up and many drivers were forced to leave the city for their hometowns, the so-called taxi graveyards appeared.

But one company found a better use for the idle vehicles and has started assembling miniature gardens parked taxis’ roofs.

Ratchaphruek Taxi Cooperative’s workers set up small vegetable plots using black plastic garbage bags stretched over bamboo frames and then planted various crops, including cucumbers, chili peppers, courgettes, and tomatoes. The initiative seeks to feed drivers and other employees who lost their jobs amid the health crisis.

Bangkok’s transportation sector, especially taxis, is highly dependent on tourism.

However, strict restrictions on entering Thailand have led the local economy to stagnate.

Thapakorn Assawalertkun, one of the company owners, told AFP news agency: “This is our last option,” adding that many vehicles had large outstanding loans.

The Ratchapruk and Bovorn Taxi cooperatives, which only see 500 cars circulating on Bangkok’s streets today, have 2,500 idle taxis across the city, Thapakorn stated.

Since restrictions were imposed in the capital, there has been too much competition from taxis for a few fares, resulting in a drop in drivers’ income. Although the daily charge for vehicles was halved, many drivers cannot afford such payments, Thapakorn explained.

As a result, many drivers surrendered their vehicles to return to their homes in rural areas. “Some left their cars at places like gas stations and called us to pick the cars up,” he recalled.

While the taxi-top gardens do not offer an alternative income stream, the cultivated food is expected to help the drivers. Also, leftover food could be sold in local markets.

“Growing vegetables on top of the roofs won’t damage the taxis since most of them have already been damaged beyond repair. The engines are broken, tyres are flat. There’s nothing that could be done,” Thapakorn stated.