The Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is no less controversial three years after its inception. Proponents argue it provides them with an alternative mode of transport. Critics, however, slam the service for compounding traffic congestion.
A BRT bus picks up commuters during rush hour. The service has drawn mixed reactions from city residents. PATIPAT JANTHONG
The BRT, the brainchild of former Bangkok governor Apirak Kosayodhin, runs in a dedicated lane blocked to the main traffic. The 15-km Chong Nonsi-Ratchaphruek route is one of the busiest in Bangkok.
Losing even one lane to the BRT has squeezed the already horrendous bumper-to-bumper traffic, according to some residents of the area.
Mr Apirak initially eyed the Navamin-Kaset road to the north of the city for the project.
However, he found himself under mounting pressure from locals and picked the Chong Nonsi-Ratchaphruek route instead.
The BRT line was to have begun in 2007 at a cost of 2 billion baht. But the deadline was pushed back twice and after some delays, the project went into service in May 2010 during Sukhumbhand Paribatra's first term as Bangkok governor.
The delay was partly caused by a Department of Special Investigation probe into alleged irregularities in the procurement of buses.
Also causing a delay was the construction of a pedestrian bridge to connect the BRT Sathon station with the Chong Nonsi Skytrain station and of special bus lanes for BRT buses.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration had assigned Krungthep Thanakhom, a BMA subsidiary, to supervise the project.
The firm then hired Bangkok Mass Transit System Co (BTSC) to supply and operate the BRT buses.
To attract commuters, the BMA initially launched a three-month, free service trial run.
A 10-baht flat rate was used until MR Sukhumbhand was re-elected Bangkok governor this year. He lowered the fare to 5 baht on April 17 as promised in his election campaign.
Udom Yatprom, a private company employee, said the BRT service saved time and the fare was cheap.
BRT buses, their stations and other facilities are clean and modern and make commuters feel like they are travelling on the skytrain, Mr Udom said.
"During rush hours, the BRT buses help save 20% of time compared to ordinary passenger buses," he said.
However, he acknowledged that the BRT service isn't always speedy. The buses must wait for green lights at intersections and share a traffic lane with other vehicles on bridges.
He noticed the BRT has steadily drawn more commuters during rush hours. The ticketing system is also user-friendly.
Mr Udom said the service should be expanded to the suburbs. Designating more park-and-ride space for commuters would increase BRT patronage even more.
Palin Ngoensuk, 49, a taxi driver, said he wanted the BRT service scrapped because he thought it was not attracting enough commuters.
The BRT was more suited to the outer areas of the city rather than the congested inner city zone.
"Would you dare allow BRT buses to run through Silom Road?" he said.
Operating the BRT on jam-packed roads would surely get more people on board but that would also mean pushing traffic to the brink of permanent paralysis. "Would that be worth it?" he said.
Boonthai Watchanapeng, 50, a BRT driver, said navigating the bus through the special lanes can be tricky.
Some motorists and motorcyclists, impatient with the heavy traffic, cut into the BRT lane hoping to go faster. And the police do nothing to stop them.
At times, he waits for almost half an hour at an intersection as the traffic police are slow to switch lights to green, Mr Boonthai said.
He added the doors of BRT buses sometimes cannot be closed as too many people try to get on board the vehicles.
Many people use the BRT during rush hours. However, it is less popular during the rest of the day, he said.
Bangkok deputy governor Amorn Kitchawengkul said patronage has steadily risen.
During the initial phase of operation, about 10,000 people a day used the BRT service. A survey on June 5 showed the number of passengers had doubled to 21,000, said Mr Amorn.
"The BRT is meant to provide a cheap, convenient and fast transport option," he said.
The BMA has recently installed escalators at the BRT stations, he said.