The Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) on Monday announced it will temporarily cease enforcing a ban on motorcycles using Bangkok’s flyovers and tunnels until talks with opponents of the measure are concluded.
The ban starts on Aug 1.
Transport permanent-secretary Chartchai Tipsunave said Monday the panel working on traffic problems in Bangkok and its outskirts had agreed not to allow motorcycle riders to use the Bhumibol Bridge which connects southern Bangkok to Samut Prakan.
He was speaking Monday after a meeting aimed at finding solutions to reduce traffic congestion in the city and its outskirts.
The northern bridge or the Bhumibol 1 Bridge connects Yannawa district of Bangkok to Phra Pradaeng district of Samut Prakan. The southern bridge or Bhumibol 2 Bridge links tambon Songkanong to tambon Bang Ya Plak in Phra Pradaeng district.
Mr Chartchai said the two bridges have steep inclines, putting motorcycle riders at risk of accidents.
Strong winds would hinder riders’ ability to keep their balance on the vehicles, he added.
The move came after members of a motorcycle club submitted a letter to the Transport Ministry, asking it to allow them to continue using Bhumibol 1 and 2 Bridges to cross the Chao Phraya River.
In the letter, the club had also asked the ministry to set up a motorcycle lane on the bridges.
Earlier, the ministry gave motorcycle riders a 90-day grace period to use the bridges to travel between Samut Prakan and Bangkok which will end on July 31.
Mr Chartchai said the meeting also turned down a call to set up a motorcycle lane on the bridges, citing safety reasons.
He urged riders to opt for ferries instead, which would be safer.
There are ferry services available at two piers, he said adding it would take about 5-6 minutes for a round trip and the fare is only 10 baht for each trip.
Meanwhile, the discussion also touched upon feeder services for electric train commuters between Bang Sue station of the MRT’s Blue Line and Tao Poon station of the MRT’s Purple Line.
Mr Chartchai said the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand which operates the MRT will contact the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority to provide bus services get commuters from one station to the other. He said the buses will operate from 6am-12pm.
EARLIER REPORT
Biker ban suspended
The Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) on Monday announced it will temporarily cease enforcing a ban on motorcycles using Bangkok’s flyovers and tunnels until talks with opponents of the measure are concluded.
MPB deputy chief Pol Maj Gen Adul Narongsak made the announcement after he met with representatives from the Department of Highways and City Hall’s public works and transport departments to review the temporary 90-day ban, which will end on Wednesday.
The order, which makes 39 junction flyovers and six tunnels across the capital off-limits to motorcyclists, was met with strong opposition by many bikers, just days after it went into effect on March 29.
The dissidents, led by a civil volunteer group named Help Crime Victims Club, complained the order was unfair and caused travel inconvenience. On April 25, the group petitioned the Administrative Court to issue an injunction against the order. The court has not yet ruled on the matter.
Pol Maj Gen Adul, who oversees traffic affairs, said the MPB and related agencies will invite representatives of opposing groups for a talk to find the best solution, and police will halt the crackdown for the time being. He said authorities are willing to listen to opinions from all sides and opponents of the regulations should refrain from organising demonstrations.
However, Pol Maj Gen Adul said a survey of more than 2,000 motorists in Bangkok was recently conducted and most of the respondents agreed bikers should not be allowed to ride on the flyovers and in tunnels. The respondents said a motorcycle-only lane should be added to flyovers and tunnels if the bikers were to be permitted to use them.
The majority of concerned authorities also agreed the order should be made permanent, he added.
Sujin Mungnimit of the highways department said the flyovers, bridges and tunnels in Bangkok and its vicinity were built to solve traffic problems and not designed for use by motorcyclists. Their main purpose was facilitating the flow of traffic for cars, he added.