Cabs, vans to be reorganised at Bangkok Victory Monument

[webfact]

Cabs, vans to be reorganised at Victory Monument
The Nation

Traffic police will also ensure that picking up of passengers does not create traffic jams in the area.

BANGKOK: -- FROM MONDAY onwards, public-transport vans and taxis will no longer be allowed to wait for customers at the Bangkok Victory Monument traffic circle and vans will only be allowed to wait under the Makkasan Airport Link Station.

Traffic police will coordinate with the vans to ensure they do not congest traffic when picking up passengers, according to a conclusion drawn yesterday at a meeting on the implementation of the National Council for Peace and Order's policy to discipline public-transport operators in the area.

Colonel Chalermpol Srisawat, deputy chief of the King's Guard, 2nd Cavalry Division, said the measures would be implemented in three phases. He was presiding over the two-hour meeting with police and 20 representatives of van operators.

The first five-day phase, starting on Monday, will focus on getting the vans to pick up passengers in the Airport Link station area and other public spaces. It will also ensure that passengers are charged a fair fare, that ticket-selling booths do not block traffic, and that no cabs or vans stop to wait for passengers at the traffic circle.

Motorbike taxis discussed

The second phase, which does not have a definite time frame yet, will focus on creating permanent pit stops and the registration of public-transport vans, which would also help prevent conflicts over routes.

The third phase will see the amendment of relevant laws, and licence plates that can be checked will be considered for public-transport vans.

In related news, city police and Army representatives also met to follow up on the re-ordering of Bangkok motorcycle-taxi stands. Previously, the authorities had set up guidelines to tackle this issue by requiring that stands be clearly set up, with fares clearly listed, and then getting law enforcers to check whether the stands in all 50 districts had been authorised by the Land Transport Department.

Maj-General Apirat Khongsompong, commander of the Army's 1st Division, said the teams would also ensure the stands do not block traffic or are in the way of pedestrians. They will also be asked to decide the timings of the motorcycle-taxi services. Then under the third phase, all these stands will have to be properly registered, he said, adding that these three phases should materialise within a week.

A source who was at the meeting said the issue of taxi motorcyclists, public-transport vans and taxis having to pay "protection fees" to influential figures was also discussed. Initial inquiries by an Army working team showed that this problem was passed on to passengers, who had to pay higher fares because cabbies needed to cover the "protection fees".

The police and Army also asked the Land Transport Department to issue a document listing the number of motorbike taxis and post it at each stand, as well as set up a "one-stop service" centre to accommodate the application for permits.

-- The Nation 2014-06-18

[Somtamnication]

And create a one stop service for customers to complain to!

[siampolee]

Somtamnication post # 2.

And create a one stop service for customers to complain to!

All that would do is just increase the mass of bodies spilling onto the highway ( as queue forming is indeed an unknown art to Thai's ) thus impeding the progress of said vans .

However the Guinness Book of records would probably have Thailand as the holder of the longest Conga queue ever .

[BKKdreaming]

you can get to Victory Monument traffic circle on the regular BTS and many city buses

But how are you going to get to the Makkasan Airport Link Station ? Yes I know the MRT is right there,

Probably a good idea to keep people away from an obvious protest site but there must be a better place to move them to

Edited June 18, 2014 by metisdead
Oversize font reset to normal.

[Chao Lao Beach]

I try to avoid Victory Momument.

[asdecas]

Somtamnication post # 2.

And create a one stop service for customers to complain to!

All that would do is just increase the mass of bodies spilling onto the highway ( as queue forming is indeed an unknown art to Thai's ) thus impeding the progress of said vans .

However the Guinness Book of records would probably have Thailand as the holder of the longest Conga queue ever .

As seems to be the correct use of the apostrophe to some posters.

[tomyummer]

I personally think Victory Monument is one of the best junctions for catching the whole mix of vans, taxis, busses, motorcycles and the BTS. From there you can get to practically anywhere in Bangkok and cities in Thailand. It also has the elevated walkways around the whole circle for pedestrians. Messing with the system by moving things to Makasan will make things worse. Keep it as is.

[kamahele]

Gosh, if they can bring order to this mess, I'll feel like I'm living in Singapore (tongue in cheek)

[kartman]

So all the Vans & taxi's will be going to and from Makkasan/Phayathai then i see gridlock for a lot of Bangkok.

[monkey4u]

Damn when I read the headline I thought they may be going to educate these guys in safer driving.

My BAD

[jethro69]

Makkasan is almost deserted. Might be a good move to (try) bring some life into it.

[wirat69]

Leave off.... this is "Thainess".... build an elevated railway to connect your long distance bus depots... then move Morchit Bus Depot to middle of back beyond.....

[JesseFrank]

Can they extend this action to all buses in Thailand, who stop in the middle lane of any major road to load or unload passengers ?

[NoBrainer]

If they want to use Makkasan then they need to open another Entrance/Exit on the East side of the train station. Currently all traffic has to enter & Exit onto Asoke which is gridlock most of the time. Then if you want to head south, it takes half an hour going north to make a u-turn and get back to where you started on the southbound lane of Asoke.

Open an Entry.Exit on the East end and let vehicles go straight onto Makkasan Road.

Edited June 18, 2014 by NoBrainer

[siampolee]

asdecas post # 6

As seems to be the correct use of the apostrophe to some posters.

As seems to be the valuable contribution you made to the thread topic asdecas.

[outre99]

Bravo. The buses should be next. Bus drivers continue to cause traffic jams by stopping in the middle or even right lanes to load and unload passengers. Driving 3 abrest thus blocking all traffic. Driving between lanes. Etc, etc.

A lot of traffic problems in Bkk can be eliminated by focusing on illegal parking/stopping and public transport vehicle behavior.

While they're at it incent the police with the % tickets they give out on an adjustable scale. So they get more money for enforcing rules more conducive to the smooth flow of traffic. Or maybe incent them on improvements in the flow of traffic. They might actually start doing some good for the public rather than shaking down bike riders.

[Cuchulainn]

Somtamnication post # 2.

And create a one stop service for customers to complain to!

All that would do is just increase the mass of bodies spilling onto the highway ( as queue forming is indeed an unknown art to Thai's ) thus impeding the progress of said vans .

However the Guinness Book of records would probably have Thailand as the holder of the longest Conga queue ever .

As seems to be the correct use of the apostrophe to some posters.

As seem's to be the correct use of the apostrophe to some poster's.

[Peabody]

Right now, virtually every single parking space on both Soi Rangnaam and on Rajavithii soi 3 are taken up by vans. Moving these parked vans to Makhasan and/or Phayatai would make a huge difference in the traffic flow in this area and provide more access to the restaurants, shops and residences in the area.

[outsider]

Oh dear, where am I going to get a cab after I'm done at Saxophone???

[Jonmarleesco]

'... the teams would also ensure the stands do not block traffic or are in the way of pedestrians.' That should prove interesting. I do assume they mean 'are NOT in the way'? Do they also, I wonder, intend to address the long standing issue of motorcycles riding on pavements?

[UbonRatch]

Somtamnication post # 2.

And create a one stop service for customers to complain to!

All that would do is just increase the mass of bodies spilling onto the highway ( as queue forming is indeed an unknown art to Thai's ) thus impeding the progress of said vans .

However the Guinness Book of records would probably have Thailand as the holder of the longest Conga queue ever .

As seems to be the correct use of the apostrophe to some posters.

As seem's to be the correct use of the apostrophe to some poster's.

You're joking, right?

[Cuchulainn]

Not at all. Whose say's that their is a joke hear?

[Lakegeneve]

There are 3 main reasons why traffic conditions aorund Victory are a mess;

1) Buses stop where they want (often impeded by taxis),

2) Taxis park where they like (often at the bus stops thus impeding buses),

3) Too many vans parked around the area.

1 can be solved by

a) making it a 1000 baht fine for any taxi or van stopping in the bus areas,

b ) making buses stop at designated zones/sections rather than anywhere they like and on whatever angle they like. Also the private concessionaire buses should not be allowed to loiter waiting for extra pax (this stupid mindset that I have to sit here for 5 mins and get more pax)

c) blocking off the bus areas - with bus only lanes leading into them - so that other vehicles cannot block the area.

2) Can be solved by introducing a couple of taxi ranks on opposite sides on the Monument with room for only 4-5 taxis at a time. There would be quick turnover.

3) Moving some vans services to Makkasan (which was already proposed 3 years ago by MOT & DLT as a medium term plan) makes sense but it needs to be done gradually and Makkasan needs to be directly linked with buses (Phetburi and Asoke rds) - the Phectburi bus stop is a good 400m from the intersection.

Many van routes also go directly onto the Expressway entrance just north of Victory (eg. northbound & SE bound vans use the west entry ramp and eastern suburban bound vans use the east entry ramp). At Makkasan this is harder and there is only the west bound entry ramp located immediately north of Makkasan. For vans heading east of NE they will need to head along Rama 9 for 2kms first.

Victory works well as the major transport hub in BKK. Makkasan could be a future hub for say certain vans but there is no way all vans can be moved there. The longer term solution for Victory is to rebuild the roads underground and make it a pedestrian and bus precinct.

I can't see any vans services moving to Makkasan by Monday but then again stranger things have happened.

Edited June 18, 2014 by Lakegeneve

[Bpuumike]

I personally think Victory Monument is one of the best junctions for catching the whole mix of vans, taxis, busses, motorcycles and the BTS. From there you can get to practically anywhere in Bangkok and cities in Thailand. It also has the elevated walkways around the whole circle for pedestrians. Messing with the system by moving things to Makasan will make things worse. Keep it as is.

I have always thought it an excellent location for the small buses. The Victory Monument area will continue to be served by plenty of public transport but Makkasan will mean a taxi for most folk.

[Basil B]

It will also ensure that passengers are charged a fair fare

Pattaya's Baht Buses and taxi's drivers must be ___ing themselves...

[bino]

Currently all traffic has to enter & Exit onto Asoke which is gridlock most of the time. Then if you want to head south, it takes half an hour going north to make a u-turn and get back to where you started on the southbound lane of Asoke.

Agree- this place is going to be horrible. Victory monument has relatively easy ingress and egress from the expressways. Makkasan is always traffic hell. Every journey in and out from Makkasan is going to be half an hour or more longer.

[tezzainoz]

Now it seems SRT has thrown a spanner in the works

It seems as they are the owners of the land, and they are already in the process of leasing this land

they have said no to this idea

Mr. Prapas has said they will not allow private commercial vans to use this area

so what is the next step

[kartman]

The army pointing out SRT own state land and as they are running the state bring on the vans & taxi's?.

[BKKdreaming]

I think it is easier to move Victory Monument maybe to the Makkasan area !

but really you need a BTS stop and lots of local buses , Makkasan does not have that ,

Leave it where it is ,

why not just clean up the mess, get rid of the "mafia" or Police or whoever is taking Tea money , limit the number of Minivans , make sure they have licenses and insurance , Safety inspect the vans , GPS track the vans too with the driver having to sign in when they leave so you know who is driving ,

Army guys reading this with the NSA's help , feel free to use my ideas as your own !

[15Peter20]

Next to boosting the economy, determining national budgets and policies on things like education and rice subsidies, am I the only one who thinks it strange that 'traffic at Victory Monument' should rank alongside these issues in terms of importance? Or is it that in their fevered pursuit of all things 'Shin' the junta is moving against a key constituent of red support - the taxi/van drivers?

I do hope all this witch-hunting brings joy to the masses, otherwise it would just be...well, a dreadful waste of time among other things.