City Hall plans to install traffic light buttons at another 14 pedestrian crossings in communities across the city next year under steps to make Bangkok more livable for its senior residents.
Silapasuai Rawisaengsun, permanent city clerk of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), said installing traffic buttons at pedestrian crossings helps make life safer for the city's elderly residents, whose numbers are expected to grow as Thailand becomes an ageing society.
“BMA is on a mission to provide better services for Bangkok's elderly residents that will allow them to overcome their physical challenges," Ms Silapasuai said.
Over the past several years, BMA has installed 288 pedestrian crossing buttons across the city.
Within the next three year years, Thailand is forecast to become an ageing society, with up to 20% of its residents considered as senior citizens.
In Bangkok alone, the number of retirees and elderly residents is expected to increase by 2-3 million over the next couple of years.