Community BKK Pushes Forward with ‘Universal Design’ for Public Buildings to Promote Disability Access

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of The Standard.

 

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is accelerating efforts to ensure all public buildings are accessible and inclusive by adopting the principles of Universal Design, with the goal of creating a city that supports equal opportunity for all, including people with disabilities.

 

Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt inspected a newly completed wheelchair-accessible ramp at the main Bangkok City Hall building near the Giant Swing. The ramp, situated at the main entrance, was previously nonexistent, making access difficult for wheelchair users. The construction was spearheaded by Phanumas Sukkamphon, the governor’s advisor, in alignment with the BMA’s inclusive development policy.

 

Governor Chadchart explained that while the ramp is now in use, ongoing assessments will be made to improve it further, to enhance safety and ease of use.

 

The initiative forms part of the wider “Bangkok for All” vision, which promotes equitable access to city infrastructure. A key aspect of this vision is upgrading public buildings under BMA administration, such as district offices, public health centres, and hospitals, to meet Universal Design standards. These improvements aim to benefit both service users and staff with disabilities by providing necessary facilities such as ramps, elevators, tactile flooring, and accessible restrooms.

 

In 2024, the BMA successfully upgraded 11 such buildings. A further 11 are slated for completion during 2025 and are currently under construction. As of now, over 80 buildings managed by the BMA have been fully renovated to comply with Universal Design principles.

 

“These upgrades are not just about compliance with regulations, but about creating a city where everyone, regardless of physical ability, feels welcome and supported,” said Governor Chadchart.

 

The initiative reflects Bangkok’s broader commitment to becoming an inclusive city that upholds human dignity and promotes equal access for all its residents.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from The Standard 2025-07-06

 

 

 

[Harsh Jones]

More dumb egalitarian ideas being adopted from the west. This kind of thing pushes up the price of new builds astronomically 

[Henk Langeweg]

What he's really saying is leaving the ' mai pen rai' indifferent attitude/'culture'.

[ChipButty]

Thailand has got a long way to go, lets just take one area where I live, there is no pavements you are walking in the road or in your wheel chair, People need to be educated to give way to people with disabilities, most 7/11's do have some kind of ramp at the entrance which helps, 

Thai's take no notice of Zebra crossings and Red lights, so if you are disabled you've got no chance, 

[Emdog]

It's a good move, but even more important is making sidewalks and streets safe for those in wheelchairs... which I assume would also make those areas safer for pedestrians. 

Maybe those who think this is a "dumb egalitarian move" ought to try renting a wheelchair for a few days and see how he likes the level of current accessibility. 

[ChipButty]

1 hour ago, Emdog said:

It's a good move, but even more important is making sidewalks and streets safe for those in wheelchairs... which I assume would also make those areas safer for pedestrians. 

Maybe those who think this is a "dumb egalitarian move" ought to try renting a wheelchair for a few days and see how he likes the level of current accessibility. 

I have mobility problems I dont need a wheel chair but I have a walking aid which is well designed bye the way, In the mornings we drive to an area which is easy for me to walk to get my exercise, I cannot walk along the road and then you have all these stupid steps, we do Makro on a Sunday is ok it's a level floor so I can use a trolley and then in Central is not to bad but there is some areas where it is not easy accessible, out by the main entrance there is steps everywhere, we walked all the way round to find a ramp, 

I remember my daughter staying in a 5 star hotel a couple of years back in Karon, I didnt need my walking aid then but they had this ramp which was like a ski slope even though you could walk was dangerous. 

I cant walk along the road where I live maybe 50 meters in the soi, that's it, 

[billd766]

8 hours ago, Harsh Jones said:

More dumb egalitarian ideas being adopted from the west. This kind of thing pushes up the price of new builds astronomically 

Obviously you are not disabled and have no problem in accessing public buildings 

 

However despite your "Pull up the ladder, Jack. I'm all right", attitude, many thousands of Thai people DO have a problem with steps, slopes and even accessing the odd disabled parking spot, which is occupied by fit lazy people.

[billd766]

4 hours ago, ChipButty said:

Thailand has got a long way to go, lets just take one area where I live, there is no pavements you are walking in the road or in your wheel chair, People need to be educated to give way to people with disabilities, most 7/11's do have some kind of ramp at the entrance which helps, 

Thai's take no notice of Zebra crossings and Red lights, so if you are disabled you've got no chance, 

Whereas in the "big" village near to where I live in rural Kamphaeng Phet there are pavements and even pedestrian crossings mainly near the schools. 

 

I use a stick when I walk and cars do stop for me to cross, and sometimes local Thai people will stop what they are doing, go out into the road to stop the traffic and even help me across the road.

 

Bear in mind that this is only a small village and not  a big tourist city.

 

I think that it all depends on where you live.

[ChipButty]

1 hour ago, billd766 said:

Whereas in the "big" village near to where I live in rural Kamphaeng Phet there are pavements and even pedestrian crossings mainly near the schools. 

 

I use a stick when I walk and cars do stop for me to cross, and sometimes local Thai people will stop what they are doing, go out into the road to stop the traffic and even help me across the road.

 

Bear in mind that this is only a small village and not  a big tourist city.

 

I think that it all depends on where you live.

I wouldn't dare to go out on the road here they would just mow you down, I have found a place in Rawai is perfect on the pier it's 400 meters long with flat concrete, with no traffic, easy park the car and recently the weather has been good early in the morning, 

[timendres]

I remember when the US started "forcing" access laws. I am absolutely for accommodating disability access.

Any one of us could find ourselves disabled, and it makes sense to promote these designs.

The problem I had with the US was the implementation.

It makes sense to force all new builds to meet these standards.

The cost and effort in a new build it relatively small and reasonable.

The issue was with existing buildings where compliance was impractical.

New builds should meet disability standards.

Existing buildings should be incentivized, not forced.

Bangkok is a nightmare for anyone in a wheelchair (or otherwise disadvantaged).

It will take decades to correct. But progress is being made and should continue to be made.

[ChipButty]

They need some rules and regulations regarding Disabled Parking spaces and someone to enforce them rules, especially in the shopping centers, I guess that would have to be the management to enforce that, We went to central Sunday around 4 pm, them disabled spaces were being abused, I think they need to issue a badge for your car, 

[billd766]

20 hours ago, ChipButty said:

I wouldn't dare to go out on the road here they would just mow you down, I have found a place in Rawai is perfect on the pier it's 400 meters long with flat concrete, with no traffic, easy park the car and recently the weather has been good early in the morning, 

Where is here please?

[ChipButty]

Just now, billd766 said:

Where is here please?

Rawai, Phuket. 

[billd766]

Just now, ChipButty said:

Rawai, Phuket. 

Too many grockles down there for me. I much prefer rural Thailand where the pace of life is slower and with far fewer tourists from the big cities and from abroad.

[ChipButty]

Rawai is ok, tourist come and go, here it's more expats live here, in the evenings it's quiet and peaceful, 

[Will B Good]

The right thing to do, but good luck getting to any of these buildings in the first place.

[billd766]

1 hour ago, ChipButty said:

Rawai is ok, tourist come and go, here it's more expats live here, in the evenings it's quiet and peaceful, 

It is quiet most of the time here except at the weekends, when a lot of tourists on scooters, motor bikes, pick ups and SUVs head up to Mae Wong national park and Chong Yen (which is the end of the road) on Saturday mornings and back home on Sunday afternoons.

[John Drake]

On 7/6/2025 at 8:00 AM, ChipButty said:

most 7/11's do have some kind of ramp at the entrance which helps, 

 

Cannot. That's where the dogs congregate to get the aircon

[connda]

BKK Pushes Forward with ‘Universal Design’ for Public Buildings to Promote Disability Access

 

AAAAHHH HA HA HA HA HA HA HA.

Typical sidewalk to get to said building.