Bangkok: Rush-Hour Traffic Slowing Down

[webfact]

Rush-hour traffic slowing down

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Average speeds in Bangkok dropped from 19 kilometres per hour last year to 18kph this year during morning rush hour and from 24kph to 23kph during evening rush hour, the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP) said yesterday.

As a result of the slowdown, OTP director Chula Sukmanop said the agency would propose a model of different working hours for officers at the Commission for Management of Land Traffic's meeting next week to alleviate congestion.

The plan would involve asking private schools and firms to cooperate by changing their working hours, Chula said. The office would also discuss with police the possibility of moving U-turn points or bus stops on some roads.

-- The Nation 2012-10-11

[kartman]

Nothing about changing the traffic light timing then.

[noitom]

Let's face it, the only way to stop this progressive traffic gridlock in Bangkok is to charge for parking. That's it simple and sweet. Big time fat companies will have to start absorbing parking costs, if they want to get good employees who need to drive to work. Big fat Thai condo owners who sit on empty buildings without tax will then have to start paying for those garage spaces. maybe with parking and tax it will cause a turn in real estate and cash flow back into the economy instead of just sitting there idle and empty.

Drivers will then have to think twice before driving into Bangkok if they have to pay for parking or find jobs where the employer pays. Fewer cars means lower pollution and higher revenue for the government as the result of parking fee taxes and growth in the economy and more taxes etc..

[dcutman]

Maybe instead of throwing taxpayer money away on promoting traffic jams (first car scheme). They could extend and improve mass transit.

But like most of the populous policies this government has, it only focuses on a very small part of the population, when that same money could go to serving millions, and improving a city as a whole.

[Thai at Heart]

Last year?

Waist deep water is hardly conducive to traffic moments.

They need to pedestruanise downtown under the BTS, to make it basically impossible to commutr to sukhumvit by car. It has to be residents only in those places.

[nomunynohuny]

Interesting that the picture they use is not in Bangkok at all, but the Pahonyothin Road exiting Bangkok going north, after Don Muang Airport.

[WhizBang]

Nothing about changing the traffic light timing then.

Or preventing the traffic police from interfering with the lights.

[Thai at Heart]

Interesting that the picture they use is not in Bangkok at all, but the Pahonyothin Road exiting Bangkok going north, after Don Muang Airport.

The photographer planned to go, but got stuck.

[FarangTalk]

Nothing about changing the traffic light timing then.

Or preventing the traffic police from interfering with the lights.

Tried that. The police sabotaged the system IIRC.

What are people really expecting with almost a million new cars on the roads every year and comparatively little investment in infrastructure?

It's only going to get much worse.

Edited October 11, 2012 by FarangTalk

[nomunynohuny]

Interesting that the picture they use is not in Bangkok at all, but the Pahonyothin Road exiting Bangkok going north, after Don Muang Airport.

The photographer planned to go, but got stuck.

The road into Bangkok looks relatively free of traffic . . .

[Thai at Heart]

Interesting that the picture they use is not in Bangkok at all, but the Pahonyothin Road exiting Bangkok going north, after Don Muang Airport.

The photographer planned to go, but got stuck.

The road into Bangkok looks relatively free of traffic . . .

Well you can see he's obviously stuck on the u turn. Lol

[FarangTalk]

The only solutions are unworkable, that is to either charge vehicles a daily rate in Bangkok or introduce a tax or fee on vehicle ownership.

Fiddling with the traffic lights, telling people to share cars and other such ideas are not going to cut the mustard I'm afraid.

Both aforementioned schemes have had limited success in Singapore, noting that it costs S$90,000 to buy a licence to own a car (valid for 10 years) and cars are also very expensive but Singapore is still facing major traffic problems.

Such a scheme would be contrary to Thailand's image as the Detroit of Asia and you can be sure it would be opposed by the major manufacturers.

The daily charge would require major investment but is probably the only solution IMHO.

[asiawatcher]

I wonder how long it took for the 'committee' of the ubiquitous officials to come up with a 1 kph drop in traffic speed?

I also wonder why its called 'rush' hour when it moves at a tad above snails pace...

[fareastguy]

There's no room for infrastructure, years of unregulated un coordinated building has killed inner BKK

Inner BKK needs to be pedestrianised, build huge car parks on the fringes of the town, with park & ride schemes like other countries do

a delivery lane for commercial vehicles only with a daytime time limit for use outside of peak office hours, taxi & bus lanes clearly marked & minimal private car routes, CCTV or manned surveillance on all entry points with some kind of toll/charging system.

Hit the Thai man in the pocket and he will leave the car at home & use public transport for sure.

The car park charges can be capped at a level to encourage full use, the same with public transport costs, maybe even peak time low charges.

Revenue from these facilities will be used to self maintain the system & future expansion.

[Thai at Heart]

There's no room for infrastructure, years of unregulated un coordinated building has killed inner BKK

Inner BKK needs to be pedestrianised, build huge car parks on the fringes of the town, with park & ride schemes like other countries do

a delivery lane for commercial vehicles only with a daytime time limit for use outside of peak office hours, taxi & bus lanes clearly marked & minimal private car routes, CCTV or manned surveillance on all entry points with some kind of toll/charging system.

Hit the Thai man in the pocket and he will leave the car at home & use public transport for sure.

The car park charges can be capped at a level to encourage full use, the same with public transport costs, maybe even peak time low charges.

Revenue from these facilities will be used to self maintain the system & future expansion.

They will need to put a pooyai only carriage on the bts for that to work. And one more for spoilt little kids carriage where the maids can chase the kids around the carriage f feeding them breakfast on the way to school.

[ekkamai]

City planning and infrastructure are words totally alien to the administration here. An example: In Ekkamai Soi 12 they are right now constructing 300+ condos near the Ekkamai - Thonglor 10 intersection. Brilliant !

[Kilgore Trout]

Let's face it, the only way to stop this progressive traffic gridlock in Bangkok is to charge for parking. That's it simple and sweet. Big time fat companies will have to start absorbing parking costs, if they want to get good employees who need to drive to work. Big fat Thai condo owners who sit on empty buildings without tax will then have to start paying for those garage spaces. maybe with parking and tax it will cause a turn in real estate and cash flow back into the economy instead of just sitting there idle and empty.

Drivers will then have to think twice before driving into Bangkok if they have to pay for parking or find jobs where the employer pays. Fewer cars means lower pollution and higher revenue for the government as the result of parking fee taxes and growth in the economy and more taxes etc..

Will never, ever, ever, ever happen. Keep dreaming.

So much of blocked traffic is caused by impatient idiots constantly changing lanes, or being in a turn only lane to get further up front, then blocking traffic to get back in the forward lane.

Lets face it guys; it is only going to get worse.

[Pib]

Drivers will then have to think twice before driving into Bangkok if they have to pay for parking or find jobs where the employer pays. Fewer cars means lower pollution and higher revenue for the government as the result of parking fee taxes and growth in the economy and more taxes etc..

Yes, yes, achieve the perfect world through higher taxes! I think Socialist governments have already tried that.

[davejones]

City planning and infrastructure are words totally alien to the administration here. An example: In Ekkamai Soi 12 they are right now constructing 300+ condos near the Ekkamai - Thonglor 10 intersection. Brilliant !

In fact that is the perfect way to solve the problem. Lots of condos in central areas will mean lots of amenities. People will then be able to walk instead of using their car. NYC Has high-rise condos in abundance but the traffic isn't as bad as Bangkok. Building condos away from the centre means people will drive into the centre to do things.

[davejones]

Drivers will then have to think twice before driving into Bangkok if they have to pay for parking or find jobs where the employer pays. Fewer cars means lower pollution and higher revenue for the government as the result of parking fee taxes and growth in the economy and more taxes etc..

Yes, yes, achieve the perfect world through higher taxes! I think Socialist governments have already tried that.

There is nothing socialist about charging to use roads. In fact it's the perfect capitalist solution.

In any case, there is a lot that could be done to speed up traffic - enforce traffic laws, introduce red routes (no stopping at all during peak times), etc. Most of the traffic problems I see are caused by inconsiderate drivers double parked outside shops, schools, etc. Without all these obstructions, traffic would flow more quickly. But Bangkok is a mess and it would take decades to fix, so it isn't going to be fixed any time soon. Even in richer countries they can't fix the problems, so they have no hope here. There just isn't anyone in charge that cares enough. And most would complain even something was done.

[mortenaa]

Nothing about changing the traffic light timing then.

They have tried several approaches for this during the years. During rush hours its controlled by radio, to let the traffic flow in the best possible way. Well, that's the intention anyway

[anon467367354]

maybe if the police did their job and ticketed people for double parking when they want to stop and buy noodles or something it would stop. It seems that a lot of traffic is caused by inconsiderate people creating bottlenecks because it's convenient for them. Parking is an issue, if there's no places to park, the problem just can't be resolved.

[Payboy]

Average speeds in Bangkok dropped from 19 kilometres per hour last year to 18kph this year

Yes, definitely need more Porsches & Ferraris in downtown Bangkok.

[BobTH]

I think if the government subsidized the bus companies to purchase modern airconditioned vehicles I for one would use them more. Also in Chicago and Washington DC some roads are one way into the city in the morning and the same road is one way out of the city in the evening, maybe this would be an option. Perhaps a car pool (two or more people) and commercial vehicle only lane on major commute highways during the morning and evening rush hours. At least the present government proposals are a start and they are looking at options. Being from the USA I can say the Bangkok mass transit infrastructure is among the best I have every seen in my travels, it just takes gettng the people to take advantage of it. Like someone said in another post " The Thai's love their cars" and I agree.

[robblok]

Let's face it, the only way to stop this progressive traffic gridlock in Bangkok is to charge for parking. That's it simple and sweet. Big time fat companies will have to start absorbing parking costs, if they want to get good employees who need to drive to work. Big fat Thai condo owners who sit on empty buildings without tax will then have to start paying for those garage spaces. maybe with parking and tax it will cause a turn in real estate and cash flow back into the economy instead of just sitting there idle and empty.

Drivers will then have to think twice before driving into Bangkok if they have to pay for parking or find jobs where the employer pays. Fewer cars means lower pollution and higher revenue for the government as the result of parking fee taxes and growth in the economy and more taxes etc..

I wonder if you live in BKK or not, most condo's that i have seen have parking spaces. Also you do pay at some places to park your car if you park longer as a set time. I wonder if you ever owned a car in Thailand.

[robblok]

Drivers will then have to think twice before driving into Bangkok if they have to pay for parking or find jobs where the employer pays. Fewer cars means lower pollution and higher revenue for the government as the result of parking fee taxes and growth in the economy and more taxes etc..

Yes, yes, achieve the perfect world through higher taxes! I think Socialist governments have already tried that.

There is nothing socialist about charging to use roads. In fact it's the perfect capitalist solution.

In any case, there is a lot that could be done to speed up traffic - enforce traffic laws, introduce red routes (no stopping at all during peak times), etc. Most of the traffic problems I see are caused by inconsiderate drivers double parked outside shops, schools, etc. Without all these obstructions, traffic would flow more quickly. But Bangkok is a mess and it would take decades to fix, so it isn't going to be fixed any time soon. Even in richer countries they can't fix the problems, so they have no hope here. There just isn't anyone in charge that cares enough. And most would complain even something was done.

Agree most problems come from inconsiderate driving and wanting to be first. Blocking of roads for buying stuff. Taxi's that park 2 abreast and then a bus parks next to them so they block roads. They should make sure things like that are fined harshly and get plain clothes cops to enforce it. That would really help.

[Businessman]

According to wikipedia the average bicycle speed is 10-30km per hour. Wouldn't it be great to convert 1 or 2 lanes to bicycle only, without the usual threat of being run over by motor vehicles! No expensive infrastructure to invest in, no polution, faster travel times. Of course the remains the problem of arriving at your destination all sweaty. Oh, and the fact that the indigenous population are highly adverse to any form of exercise outside of a public park.. . maybe this is linked to the sweaty problem

[Time Traveller]

Let's face it, the only way to stop this progressive traffic gridlock in Bangkok is to charge for parking. That's it simple and sweet. Big time fat companies will have to start absorbing parking costs, if they want to get good employees who need to drive to work. Big fat Thai condo owners who sit on empty buildings without tax will then have to start paying for those garage spaces. maybe with parking and tax it will cause a turn in real estate and cash flow back into the economy instead of just sitting there idle and empty.

Drivers will then have to think twice before driving into Bangkok if they have to pay for parking or find jobs where the employer pays. Fewer cars means lower pollution and higher revenue for the government as the result of parking fee taxes and growth in the economy and more taxes etc..

Most workers drive in peak hours traffic don't choose to drive in traffic like that. They do it because the have no choice. If they had to use public transport many workers would find they have to change between different buses several times between home and their workplace and usually the buses are just as slow as the cars and extremely crowded. A better solution is the encourage businesses to open later in the day and close later in the evening to spread out the traffic so it doesn't conflict with school and government workers hours. Even better would be to move the half a million government bureaucrats and ministers out of bangkok entirely by creating a new capital city.

[toybits]

That is ridiculous! What about adding more buses and taxing car usage to the max? People should be discouraged from driving cars. It used to take me 1.5 hours to drive from Asoke-Sukhumvit intersection to Klongsarn (Thonburi). It takes about that amount of time to walk (yes I have walked that distance). I figured it would be much faster to bicycle - and of course it was. I bought a bicycle after that walk and it took only 1/2 hour to travel that distance. People in Bkk will never learn because their pride take priority over practicality.

[MaxLee]

How about abolishing the first car discount act, to discourage people buying cars.

And just because public transportation would be boosted doesn't solve Bankokian's desire for cars.

The first car policy is just going to encourage people to buy more cars to make Bangkok the parking paradise of the future...

The first car policy makes traffic jams worth, as well as the "construction of new roads" which doesn't solve any traffic problems in the first place, got it?