Tackling the car culture

EDITORIAL

Published: 13 Oct 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

Playing the numbers game in recent weeks have been two of the agencies paid to solve Bangkok's worsening traffic problem. It all started when the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) posed the question of what would happen if all seven million cars registered in Bangkok tried to occupy the capital's road space, sufficient for only 1.6 million vehicles, at the same time. This puzzle of what to do with an exploding car population that is now 4.4 times greater than the space available for it gave rise to some good cartoons but no solutions. Nor was there much enthusiasm for the BMA's plea that citizens use their cars less and public transport more.

Now it is the turn of a government transport agency to warn that the 1,200 cars a day being registered in Bangkok have reached an unsustainable level. Proof lies in the fact that traffic flows are slowing down and bottlenecks are worsening. But unlike the BMA, the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning has some suggestions for improvements.

Short-term recommendations are to eliminate many of the worsening bottlenecks on major roads by relocating some U-turns and bus stops. But the agency's main proposal is to vary the hours of government offices, schools and businesses to lessen peak traffic loads. In other words, businesses would open and close later to avoid clashing with the hours at which students and government workers are on the roads. At present primary school students start first and department stores open last with the main crush coming in between. Some companies have avoided this by using flexitime, satellite offices in the suburbs and home telecommuting.

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lungstib
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Discussion 18 : 14 Oct 2012 at 13.1118
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This article makes it sound like the people of Bangkok don't have any choice in buying or not buying a car. When will the average Nit or Noi understand that the roads are full and traffic hardly moves? Maybe a ban on any car adverts that shows conditions on the road that are nothing like the reality would be a start. You do not buy a new 'Hondota' and cruise about on empty highways with a smiling happy family full of the joys of life. Lets get real, it will only get worse and new roads will not suddenly materialize.
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whatajoke
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Discussion 17 : 14 Oct 2012 at 08.4117
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The fundamental problem here is a culture of patience and unwillingness to complain. Seems that Bangkok drivers might be tired of traffic but would still rather sit 4 hours a day in their air conditioned ego mobiles than push for shared car schemes, high CBD access rates and more public transport. Of course, you can never out rule the selfish agendas of some players, those who get to sell more and more cars, mafia dominating the sidewalks and so on.
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fundeena
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Discussion 16 : 13 Oct 2012 at 22.5816
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From what I have seen, most Thai people should be limited to driving motorbikes.
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bluebottle
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Discussion 15 : 13 Oct 2012 at 21.1815
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Hear we go again re invent the wheel,Take a look at how other countries have succeeded in solving the problem.May be they should have looked at the London system instead of football last month.
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Ian
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Discussion 14 : 13 Oct 2012 at 18.3614
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I think let Darwinian forces apply, the Thais are obviously incapable of sorting themselves out.So once permanent gridlock sets in and Bangkok becomes a carpark, people can either abandon their cars or stay in them and die. I understand in places like Calcutta drivers have already installed beds and TVs in their cars.
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Lazarisbk
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Discussion 13 : 13 Oct 2012 at 18.2513
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A better solution to deter people from driving would be to introduce a Bangkok congestion fee similar to Londons. But there must be more public transport available more frequently.
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Renaissance
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Discussion 12 : 13 Oct 2012 at 17.4112
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It would be very interesting if the Bngkok Post would investigate who stands to gain from promoting the purchase of cars. Start by looking at who has a large number of shares in PTT and car companies; which political party each car company supports, for example. Some taxi drivers seem to know, so start there.
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commonman
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Discussion 11 : 13 Oct 2012 at 14.4711
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I'll take a pass on any possibility of "firm political resolve".
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loong
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Discussion 10 : 13 Oct 2012 at 14.0010
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Get rid of sidewalk stalls will smooth out traffic flow. Tessakij is the useless agency, get rid of them will save a lot of money.
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pete
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Discussion 9 : 13 Oct 2012 at 12.119
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Disc 8: robins

Since when did Orwellian mean fact and not fiction? The Singapore and London systems actually work very well. Pricing cars off the roads, especially during peak periods, and making people use public transport is probably the best solution. Neither prices are draconian as they mostly affect commuters who should be using public transport anyway.
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Tackling the car culture | Bangkok Post: opinion