Meet ‘Gigi’, the bus driver armed with a megaphone

Thitipha Khongming, or Gigi as she prefers to be called, has become one of Thailand's most recognisable bus drivers, thanks to a megaphone and a strong determination to clear Bangkok bus stops of obstructing vehicles. The bold public transport driver has gained national fame for colourfully reminding taxis that they are not allowed to remain parked at bus stops. Gigi's signature has become a readiness to employ a personal megaphone to alert cabbies idling in areas assigned to buses, defending the safety and rights of her passengers. "Have you finished (sending passengers)? If yes, please leave the bus stop. Please put yourself in other people's shoes," she was heard saying in one viral clip. Gigi even issued a warning to particularly stubborn drivers that their plates could be photographed and sent to the Land Transport Department, the state agency in charge of overseeing public taxi operations. That clip, reportedly filmed at a bus stop in front of Central Lat Phrao shopping mall, went viral online last Sunday. Gigi drives on route No. 104 - running from Pak Kret district in Nonthaburi to Mor Chit 2 Bus Terminal in Bangkok. Her megaphone tactic has been shown to work, with taxi drivers quickly moving on upon hearing her voice through the megaphone. Gigi said her usual battlegrounds with taxis are at Chatuchak park and Central Lat Phrao. Both are among the most popular transit points for commuters in Bangkok. "The bus stop is for buses. Why does the bus have to make way for vans, Grab (cars) and taxis?" Gigi said in another Facebook post that included a photo of the bus stop at Chatuchak. After the footage of Gigi gained traction and she appeared on several news programmes, traffic police have stepped in to help clear taxis away from even more bus stops, at least for the time being. "Thank you very much," Gigi wrote on Friday, directing her comment towards officials aiding in clearing away vehicles from bus stops as well as cooperating taxi drivers. Nonetheless, her message left on July 24 has remained for those who stand defiant "Anybody parking at bus stops can be sure they will meet me." To the wider public, Gigi has indicated she takes offence to being called a bus driver. According to Gigi and her colleagues at Thai Smile Group, the operator of the Thai Smile bus fleet, the official title for her role is "bus captain" while fare conductors should be referred to as "bus hostess".