Curing Bangkok's travel sickness

[webfact]

EDITORIAL
Curing Bangkok's travel sickness
The Nation

The NCPO should attempt to go far beyond the "inconveniences" it hears us complaining about and address safety, economic impact, and even the country's overseas reputation

BANGKOK: -- No politician or party has yet lived up to campaign promises to resolve Bangkok's traffic woes and improve mass transit. The litany of complaints is as long and loud as ever. That makes the issue impossible for the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to ignore and, sure enough, a month after the coup, the military has come up with an ambitious plan and a pledge to make things better - in just one more month.

The primary focus is on ridding the existing system of its dire inconveniences, but of course the issue is much more complicated than that. It involves taxis, motorcycle-taxis, transit vans, trucking firms and public bus lines as well as everyone behind the wheel of a private car. All work together to exacerbate traffic congestion and all might be putting their fellow citizens' safety at risk.

Like any government administration, the NCPO has ample data in hand. It should first be weighing the complaint logs at the Department of Land Transportation from the past eight months. From October through April, 25,940 complaints were received via the 1584 hotline. Well over 18,465 of those calls were about taxi drivers, more than 500 were about public buses of all types, and 223 involved motorcycle-taxis. We all know from personal experience that this is just the tip of the iceberg. Most complaints don't reach the bureaucracy's ears. We grumble to friends and family about an insolent or incompetent taxi driver or a reckless bus driver or perhaps we add our lament to the continuous harangue found on any of the social networks. By comparison, the hotline calls seem like a faint echo of reality.

Determining the nature and scope of the problem is one thing. Solving it is another matter entirely. Traffic gridlock and dangers on the road are chronic, deep-rooted issues. The military junta must realise it will have to deal with not just drivers but also the influential owners of the private firms that run the transit lines, the police who fail to enforce the law and even many of the passengers it's attempting to help. Pedestrians who hail taxis from anywhere at the edge of the road or manage to get buses to stop for them wherever is handiest are creating unnecessary hazards and blockages too.

However, as steep a mountain as this will be to climb, we are optimistic about the military junta's chances. It is, after all, running an authoritarian administration and thus holds better odds of persuading, if not ordering, the concerned parties to mend their ways. Dampening any hope for the junta's success, though, is the likelihood that the transportation system will slide back into the murk once Thailand returns to civilian rule. It would be heartening if the military could somehow instil a lasting sense of discipline in the public conscience. The NCPO should attempt to go far beyond the "inconveniences" it hears us complaining about and address safety, economic impact, and even the country's overseas reputation. The public's collective mentality must change, whether the individual rides a bus or runs a bus line. Behind the wheel or walking along a city sidewalk, we all share the responsibility of ensuring the safety of our fellow citizens and visiting guests. The law must be obeyed not out of fear of a fine or jail time but because ignoring it widens the irresponsibility gap.

Crackdowns on illegal motorcycle-taxi stands and regulating passenger vans are mere baby steps compared to what must eventually be accomplished. Strict measures might well be needed, but a military regime seems the apt authority to impose them, providing the tighter control is intended for the betterment of society.


-- The Nation 2014-07-02

[noitom]

It's astonishing how the Thai press expects the Thai military junta to have all tis management expertise all of a sudden. Where in the world have all these military management leaders and problem resolvers been all these last years? The Thai press doesn't seem interested in pointing out the qualifications of Colonel so and so and light colonel this and that. But despite that resume check out, the Thai press is expecting them to be takeover turnaround specialists. My Lord, help us. This is the tripe that Thai folks read and trust?

[Pib]

I sure hope the military junta don't bog itself down with Bangkok traffic management problems during its hopeful limited time in power. Instead, let them focus on BIG problems affecting the "entire population/country" which can be quickly solved or at least pointed in a new direction.

[selftaopath]

It's astonishing how the Thai press expects the Thai military junta to have all tis management expertise all of a sudden. Where in the world have all these military management leaders and problem resolvers been all these last years? The Thai press doesn't seem interested in pointing out the qualifications of Colonel so and so and light colonel this and that. But despite that resume check out, the Thai press is expecting them to be takeover turnaround specialists. My Lord, help us. This is the tripe that Thai folks read and trust?

Sure, but can you show "management expertise" in any recent Thai government? Where can it be seen and at what level of decision making.

The article mentions discipline. Where can that be found? Arguably Thailand is not "community focused" as it pretends to be as the "me" mentality to almost everything prevails. How can a society be "community minded" when other people's rights are trampled by those who repeatedly want what they want when they want it????

A functioning society... or so it appears to me.... follows RULE OF LAW regardless of the reasons why. Does empathy exist in Lack of Sanctions (LOS)?

[asdecas]

I sure hope the military junta don't bog itself down with Bangkok traffic management problems during its hopeful limited time in power. Instead, let them focus on BIG problems affecting the "entire population/country" which can be quickly solved or at least pointed in a new direction.

Like it or not, Bangkok's traffic problems have a huge impact on the Thai economy. Greater Bangkok accounts for nearly forty-five percent of the country's GDP. An efficient urban transport system would be an enormous benefit not only to the city but to Thailand as a whole. It IS a BIG problem.

[Pib]

I sure hope the military junta don't bog itself down with Bangkok traffic management problems during its hopeful limited time in power. Instead, let them focus on BIG problems affecting the "entire population/country" which can be quickly solved or at least pointed in a new direction.

Like it or not, Bangkok's traffic problems have a huge impact on the Thai economy. Greater Bangkok accounts for nearly forty-five percent of the country's GDP. An efficient urban transport system would be an enormous benefit not only to the city but to Thailand as a whole. It IS a BIG problem.

Yeap, its a big problem for Bangkok. But that GDP you a stating for the Great Bangkok area (got a source?) is only partially tied to transportation. And I expect much of that GDP is factory output dealing with heavy transport by large trucks, rail, barge, etc. This article is basically talking people transport via bus, tax, motorcycle.

[Utley]

I sure hope the military junta don't bog itself down with Bangkok traffic management problems during its hopeful limited time in power. Instead, let them focus on BIG problems affecting the "entire population/country" which can be quickly solved or at least pointed in a new direction.

"BIG problems affecting the "entire population/country" which can be quickly solved"

Could you be more specific please?

[boomerangutang]

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I sure hope the military junta don't bog itself down with Bangkok traffic management problems during its hopeful limited time in power. Instead, let them focus on BIG problems affecting the "entire population/country" which can be quickly solved or at least pointed in a new direction.

Like it or not, Bangkok's traffic problems have a huge impact on the Thai economy. Greater Bangkok accounts for nearly forty-five percent of the country's GDP. An efficient urban transport system would be an enormous benefit not only to the city but to Thailand as a whole. It IS a BIG problem.

Yeap, its a big problem for Bangkok. But that GDP you a stating for the Great Bangkok area (got a source?) is only partially tied to transportation. And I expect much of that GDP is factory output dealing with heavy transport by large trucks, rail, barge, etc. This article is basically talking people transport via bus, tax, motorcycle.

In most countries, virtually anyone needing a job will take a beeline for the biggest city. Bkk has become a vortex for every type of Thai, including center of U's, of royalty, ofr most important wats, and center of industry. It would be like a person who had his heart, brain, lungs, all located in a heart-sized area in his chest. Bkk can survive, barely, but its quality is slipping downward week by week.

First thing: move industry to other places. Next, plan to move U's and other conglomerates elsewhere. Government services could be moved to outlying regions. Knowing how Thais think, I'd expect such relocations to be close to Bkk, and therefore continue to be in flood plains. Better would be to relocate to higher ground.

Concurrently: establish dedicated turn lanes at busy intersections. Currently, at nearly all traffic-light intersections in Thailand, traffic moves only one direction at any one time. With dedicated turn lanes and arrow lights, traffic could move in opposite directions concurrently. Many more vehicles could move, rather than sitting idle, polluting the the air.

Try even-odd traffic days. It's a drag, but less so, than current imbroglio.

Edited July 2, 2014 by boomerangutang

[Utley]

In most countries, virtually anyone needing a job will take a beeline for the biggest city. Bkk has become a vortex for every type of Thai, including center of U's, of royalty, ofr most important wats, and center of industry. It would be like a person who had his heart, brain, lungs, all located in a heart-sized area in his chest. Bkk can survive, barely, but its quality is slipping downward week by week.

First thing: move industry to other places. Next, plan to move U's and other conglomerates elsewhere. Government services could be moved to outlying regions. Knowing how Thais think, I'd expect such relocations to be close to Bkk, and therefore continue to be in flood plains. Better would be to relocate to higher ground.

Concurrently: establish dedicated turn lanes at busy intersections. Currently, at nearly all traffic-light intersections in Thailand, traffic moves only one direction at any one time. With dedicated turn lanes and arrow lights, traffic could move in opposite directions concurrently. Many more vehicles could move, rather than sitting idle, polluting the the air.

Try even-odd traffic days. It's a drag, but less so, than current imbroglio.

Your logical ideas would have made a lot of sense if implemented 25 years ago but to do so today would be like committing suicide by slow strangulation (IMHO).

Unfortunately "som nam na"; Thais got the Bangkok that they deserve - after all, they are the ones who allowed it to happen.

Edited July 2, 2014 by Utley

[belg]

555

police not enforcing traffic laws or any laws ... there is your root problem

[pisico]

It's astonishing how the Thai press expects the Thai military junta to have all tis management expertise all of a sudden. Where in the world have all these military management leaders and problem resolvers been all these last years? The Thai press doesn't seem interested in pointing out the qualifications of Colonel so and so and light colonel this and that. But despite that resume check out, the Thai press is expecting them to be takeover turnaround specialists. My Lord, help us. This is the tripe that Thai folks read and trust?

déjà vu all over again....

Read all about it here!!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plaek_Phibunsongkhram

[asdecas]

I sure hope the military junta don't bog itself down with Bangkok traffic management problems during its hopeful limited time in power. Instead, let them focus on BIG problems affecting the "entire population/country" which can be quickly solved or at least pointed in a new direction.

Like it or not, Bangkok's traffic problems have a huge impact on the Thai economy. Greater Bangkok accounts for nearly forty-five percent of the country's GDP. An efficient urban transport system would be an enormous benefit not only to the city but to Thailand as a whole. It IS a BIG problem.

Yeap, its a big problem for Bangkok. But that GDP you a stating for the Great Bangkok area (got a source?) is only partially tied to transportation. And I expect much of that GDP is factory output dealing with heavy transport by large trucks, rail, barge, etc. This article is basically talking people transport via bus, tax, motorcycle.

NESDB (National Economic and Social Development Board), 2012, pp. 26, 39–40, 48–49, 62–63, 218–219: http://eng.nesdb.go.th/Default.aspx?tabid=36

The impact of poor traffic management and infrastructure on the economy in any capital city is enormous, in terms of man-hours wasted, inefficiencies, wastage.

Only in a few cases, and for very short periods, has the political will in Thailand been favourable to any serious and long term planning, and even that has been half-hearted and piecemeal. While not wishing to put too fine a point on it, contrast this with a city like Shanghai, where population and economic growth in the past two decades has been exponential but infrastructure has largely kept pace. Yes, I am aware of the abuses and policy downsides in China, but Thailand's performance in this respect has, by contrast, been abysmal.

Edited July 2, 2014 by asdecas

[taony]

All the problems stem from the ridiculous "system" they have here in building roads. Need to start working on that and making it more normal. Nothing else is going to work longer than a few minutes.

[jcisco]

It's astonishing how the Thai press expects the Thai military junta to have all tis management expertise all of a sudden. Where in the world have all these military management leaders and problem resolvers been all these last years? The Thai press doesn't seem interested in pointing out the qualifications of Colonel so and so and light colonel this and that. But despite that resume check out, the Thai press is expecting them to be takeover turnaround specialists. My Lord, help us. This is the tripe that Thai folks read and trust?

Let us hope that the governments civil service has over the years developed plans to resolve the various problems. And ideally done so with valid modeling and reachable goals with effective time frames. And to boot done so by bringing in the necessary talent needed, hopefully from the likes of IBM for example.

Otherwise without decent research being done any done by anyone would be knee jerk stab in the dark. And the Junta would be damn smart if they do not bring on foreign advisors where needed. Could be a good opportunity to bring some solid science to bear on a lot of the problems, accross the board. There is just huge variances in the level of capability and methods used by the various departments accross the board. Modernization of the Civil service is a must for the Junta, they can do it, just do it right. Without politicians it might even be possible that projects developed on solid foundations might come out into the light,, over the seemingly endless feeding troughs needed to feed the machine.

I agree with you in principle in the short term, but really how long could there be a reforming going on by the Junta. could be years. I wonder how they are going to pay for a lot of this and deploy it out to the services. Military Command and Control structures are rigid with and well understood, the state of many organizations is that a weak CnC structure is usually in place.

Simple things like unclear reporting processes and responsibilities, lack of out band reporting avenues up the communication structure. The ability for communications to be halted and information reaching the top is a common failing and is usually poorly addressed by the top of companies. I could go into this in more detail but i would imagine the serious mutability in the CnC structure of the government will be the biggest challenge for the Junta in resolving the real issues they intend to reform. And I eagerly await to see if they go extreme or go military.

Remember they are military, they like to know facts, and they are in a position of not having to act on guesses. Neither do elected governments in thailand but hey with discretional capabilities to departments its open season on doing what the hell you want, accountability and free for all decision making... what win it was for everyone

[jcisco]

It's astonishing how the Thai press expects the Thai military junta to have all tis management expertise all of a sudden. Where in the world have all these military management leaders and problem resolvers been all these last years? The Thai press doesn't seem interested in pointing out the qualifications of Colonel so and so and light colonel this and that. But despite that resume check out, the Thai press is expecting them to be takeover turnaround specialists. My Lord, help us. This is the tripe that Thai folks read and trust?

déjà vu all over again....

Read all about it here!!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plaek_Phibunsongkhram

argh crap, the dude missed out on mandating that people stop littering. And respect for the commonwealth of the thais.... would'nt those to overlapping mandates if they stuck changed this country for the good of all.