Ride the river boat ferry

So I found out the hard way that the only way to get around in Bangkok is to take public transport. There is a subway and a sky train, and they are connected, but they don't go everywhere, so sometimes you have to take the riverboat. Taxis and Tuk tuks are no good. First because traffic is terrible, so it is way slower. Second, they always try to rip you off. Taxis have to turn on the meter, and if they do it is cheap, $2 US across town, but a lot will try to take you with no meter and try to charge you $6-10. I had one guy tell me that it should cost $40 to go to the airport, when it actually costs $4. Tuk tuk (open air three wheeled motorcycles) suck because you get to smell the city, which is so foul, so foul. Also they will run you all over town. I was trying to go to the train station, but dude took me to a tailor shop, a jewelerry store and so before we got there, and then he wanted a tip! One taxi driver took me to meet his friend in a shady alley, and the guy got in chatted for a bit, then got something out of the trunk, before we were on our way. Shady? So take the the subway, sky train and river boat, you will have to take all 3 usually to get where you are going, and it may take an hour, but this is way better, cheaper, and safer. Plus the view is nice.