Songtaew, Tuk Tuks and Rickshaws . The famous - infamous - Tuk Tuk - Agree the price before you set off and hang on. Good fun and a must on a first visit to Thailand. Personally not recommended for sitting in hot traffic on busy days but Chiangmai is usually free moving. The drivers may offer to show you some other sites. That is up to you to use your discression. If something seems exceptionally cheap there is usually a reason for this! Tuk Tuks operate like taxis and are more expensive than red minibuses. Expect to pay 40 - 50 Baht for a journey from the middle of town to a destination near the "super-highway" ring road.
Rickshaws:
A Samlor - For shorter trips, agree price before setting off. There are quite a lot of these in Chiangmai especially around the markets where the older locals still use them for shopping trips. Processions of 40 Samlors are often seen along Changklan Road each carrying a happy tourist complete with video cameras running. Quite a sight. If you see one parked up late at night the chances are that the driver will be asleep in it! You can rent rickshaws (tricycles) for a tour to the sights of Chiang Mai, 100 Baht for a half day. Short journeys are quite inexpensive, too (10 to 20 Baht). Many rickshaws are waiting in front of the hotels or at Thapae Gate for customers.
A Songthaew is a pickup that has been converted into mini-bus with two long seats on each side - State your destination and see if it is going your way. If it is then you can pay just 10baht and the driver will allow more people to join in the same way that you did.
It helps if you know where you are going first! If you wish to 'charter' the whole bus then negotiate the fee. This is especially useful if there are a group of you. Gung will take you up the windy road to Wat Doi Suthep. Catch these songthaews near to Chiangmai University at the foot of Doi Suthep. The fares are posted on signs. Be sure to stop at the viewpoints and for a small extra charge visit the Doi Pui hill tribe visit. Quite an adventure. There are several thousand of these 'buses' in Chiangmai so you will not wait long for one. Outside main hotels you will often find one or two 'waiting' for tourists . Generally songthaews ply the city's main routes and look for passengers along the way. They can also be privately hired to take you wherever you want to go Prices are around 700 - 1,000 baht for eight or nine hours. Bargaining is required. The songthaew defy accurate description. Some keep to preferred routes and others go according to demand, rather like a taxi. Local people pay a flat fare of 10 Baht for a short journey. If the driver has to go down a lane to a destination, the fare will be higher. Longer journeys are by negotiation.  

Indications for prices from downtown Thapae area, assuming the driver will pick up other passengers, are as follows:
10-20 Baht;
The railway station
Chang Khlan Road
The Airport Plaza
Chang Phuak
Chiang Mai University
Chiangmai Zoo
Huay Kaew Falls
30 Baht
To or from Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep
(minibuses queue by the front gate of
Chiang Mai University, Huay Kaew Road)
300 - 500 Baht
Half-day rental: approx.
700 - 1000 Baht
For the whole day.

Vehicles for rent
Those who wish to be independent, and explore Chiang Mai at leisure, can rent motorcycles. Rent a bike and go it alone. Around 150 baht per day. Negotiate for a longer rental or in the quiet season. You will have to hand over your passport and bring the bike back as you find it to get it back.
Chiangmai has a lot of reliable rental shops and we have not heard of any problems with these.
Please remember the laws of the road are widely abused and be especially careful at night when the drink driving rule is stretched a lot! The law in Thailand requires the use of a helmet by all riders. Don't take risks as you only have one life. Up to You! See the Directory for listings of rental shops.. Rental shops can be easily found within the city. 90cc Honda Dream or Suzuki Crystal bike costs around 150 Baht/day while 250cc trail bike costs 450 Baht/day. Visitors are advised to shop around, and consult local tourism publications, for different companies offer different prices and conditions. An international driver license is required. Bicycle Renting a bicycle is a simply way to getting around the town.