Bangkok sets target to reduce private car use by 30 percent in 15 years

[webfact]

BMA sets target to reduce private car use by 30 percent in 15 years



BANGKOK: -- Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has set an ambitious target to reduce the use of private cars in the city by 30 percent in the next 15 years and to encourage more motorists to turn to mass transit as an alternative mode of travelling, announced Bangkok Governor M.R. Sukhumbhand Paribatra at the Bangkok Car Free Day 14 at Sanam Luang this morning.

In order to achieve the target, the governor said that five measures were to be implemented. They include: implementation of 13 rail routes which will be the main system of travelling in the city; acceleration of the construction of the Grey monorail system and the extension of the Green Line from Bang Wa to Taling Chan; implementation of feeder system to facilitate the travelling of commuters from their houses to train terminals; publicity campaign to encourage motorists to walk or to use bicycles instead of their cars; and improvement of traffic management.

The governor said that the City Hall planned to double bicycle lanes from currently 30 routes so cyclists will have greater choices of travelling.

Mr Prinya Thevanarumit, vice rector of Thammasat University’s studeyt affairs, hailed the city administration’s attempt to promote the use of bicycles in the city. He suggested that a law on the use of bicycles should be introduced.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/bma-sets-target-reduce-private-car-use-30-percent-15-years/


-- Thai PBS 2014-09-22

[thesetat2013]

Hehee! I guess the scheme of YL to give rebates back to first time car buyers is backfiring. What did they think all those people would do with their new cars?

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[terryp]

slight problem with this grand plan is ALL THE PUBLIC TRANSPORT IS ALREADY OVERCROWDED...but as the BMA bosses will never use it how do they know

[daveAustin]

Having a flash car is the ultimate face-gainer in these parts. Instill the notion that Buddha thinks fawning over owning a car is bad luck.

[jcisco]

Though you have to wonder what sort of government promotes buying your first car and include those who live in metropolis with widespread public transport. And probably well above 5% more like 15% (im guesstimating) of land already given over to roads, placing a quite definite limit on capacity expansion vs its cost.

[NE1]

Make people take a proper test for their license.

[chainarong]

One wonders if there is any forward planning like 25 years ahead and plan to that in Thailand , as stated what happened to the PTP buy a car vote buying exercise, Thailand seems to run its planning on a weekly basis, every week we see a knee jerk underfunded, no risk assessment thought out proposals , that disappear of a natural death in about 1 month, going by the mish mash of roads, poorly designed intersection , the BKK planning department has been on the piss since the Vietnam war.

[englishoak]

just make the entire BKK road system into a tram system 24/7 with thousands of carriages ... problem solved

[kurnell]

There are 30 bikes lanes in Bangkok? The only one I ever saw was the one on the footpath, under the flower stall outside Villa.

[WhizBang]

Easy. Halt all new car imports and sales in Thailand. Starting NOW.

I think we could even beat the 30% goal.

[ezzra]

It seems that this is the pie in sky declaration's seasons, with all the "crackdowns" and the vowing

this and that, and now comes reducing traffic in 15 years that is more like " let's put it out there,

as none of us will be around in 15 years anyway" gambit....

[alantheembalmer]

At least less people are killed and injured when all the traffic goes at a snail's pace. Just imagine the carnage with all that open road in front of the average Thai driver!

[stickyrice2000]

15 years from now? It's almost like telling the readers that they're not doing anything as of this moment.

Edited September 22, 2014 by stickyrice2000

[thesetat2013]

There are 30 bikes lanes in Bangkok? The only one I ever saw was the one on the footpath, under the flower stall outside Villa.

I believe the bike lanes they are referring to are the lanes police use to make you pay if you don't drive your motorcycle in.

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[CWMcMurray]

I'm sure I speak for all other drivers in Bangkok when I say that it will be great when the government. Convince 30% of the other drivers on the roads to use public transportation instead.

It will certainly then be more convenient for me to drive my car on the roads with 30% less cars on the road

(Of course thats the problem... Which 30 % want to sacrifice for the other 70% ' a convenience )

[SoFarAndNear]

What public transortation? The only convinient public transportation like BRT,MRT and BTS just connects maybe 15% of the city.

[Thai at Heart]

Reduce from todays figure?

Bangkok will be twice the size in 15 years.

[rametindallas]

Since the bulk of the money, and power, in Thailand resides in Bangkok, the PTP Thaksin government thought this would be a good joke; Make Bangkok roads impassable through gridlock and then all those non-Northern, non-Isaan, Bangkokian 'Elites' would have to sit in traffic with the regular Somchais. Most people in Bangkok didn't vote for PTP Thaksin so what does he care.

As for reducing traffic by 30% in fifteen years? More power to them. I wish them all success. I think it is a lofty goal. Targets are always nice to have so you know in which direction to shoot. 50% percent traffic reduction would be better; go big or go home.

Bangkok could cut its congestion by nearly 50% overnight by following Mexico City's traffic congestion plan. All cars with even numbered license plates are allowed to drive on Monday/Wednesday/Friday and odd numbered license plates on Tuesday/Wednesday/Friday and everybody is allowed to drive on Sunday. Very large fine for driving with the wrong license plates. Delivery vehicles pay for a permit to drive all days. Rich people have cars with both types of number plates.

[soalbundy]

Bike lanes are places for stall vendors to place their stalls and a money making method for town hall ''public servants'' to extort money from the vendors,'rent a lane', it's a nice little earner.

[rametindallas]

There are 30 bikes lanes in Bangkok? The only one I ever saw was the one on the footpath, under the flower stall outside Villa.

I believe the bike lanes they are referring to are the lanes police use to make you pay if you don't drive your motorcycle in.

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This 'bike lane' on lower Sukhumvit (odd numbered sois) was cut off completely by vendors in many places.

[mike324]

They simply need to decrease the fare for the BTS, most low income workers can't afford to take the BTS. If you live in the outskirts of Bangkok, you would need to pay around 70-80 baht round trip compare to 20-30 baht by bus.

[ChrisY1]

There are 30 bikes lanes in Bangkok? The only one I ever saw was the one on the footpath, under the flower stall outside Villa.

But.....there's Lumpini park...Chutuchuk park....um....???

I personally, would love to be able to ride the bike around town.....but not a Thai town!

[arthurwait]

With all the re-pos they can do it in 15 months. Another result of the Shins policies.

[Cheops]

If they started firstly to see upon correct use of the bicycle lanes (ONLY bicycles and NOT motorcycles!) AND not double, but create about 5000 bicycle lanes it would be a start!

I would love to come to work by bicycle, but I don't want to die yet!

Another option they should start to promote immediately is carpooling! Let them create special lanes for cars with more people and reduced toll fares etc. This works in different countries, so why not here?

[8OA8]

Of course if they introduced the licence plate restriction, odd numbers on alternative days and even numbers on the other days, this could have a double bonus.

1. Reduce the number of cars on the road each day by 50%

2. Increase new car sales in order that everyone that can afford it, to purchase a second car with the odd/even licence plate.

Please don't let anyone take the above comment seriously

[almafudd]

Must be time for another car rebate scheme then ...

[almafudd]

just make the entire BKK road system into a tram system 24/7 with thousands of carriages ... problem solved

UMM... Not really what about delivery vehicles, disabled people, elderly? What happens when these trams break down (which I would guess would take 2 days), and if they need to maintain or upgrade the system? - there goes a flying pig. And one last one - where is the money coming from?

[rijit]

congestion charge, it works!!!

[anon467367354]

the population growing, maybe. More eligible drivers, and they want to reduce the number of cars?

Wouldn't it make more sense to fix the infrastructure to not only handle it but make is more efficient all the way around?

that would create jobs, especially for the migrant workers.

[Time Traveller]

I'm sure when the BMA fix the air pollution problem, get rid of all the aggressive rabid street dogs and crazy drivers/motorcyclists, they might find more people using bicycles.

As for public transport, well they better think about something to replace the BTS....many people don't want to walk up and down flights and flights of stairs carrying shopping and bags or those with children or bad knees.

Oh and probably the should think about reducing the fares as well, for my family is still cheaper (and easier) driving than it ever will be riding the bus or the train.

My advice is, since Thailand has some many public servants, just move all government ministries out of Bangkok? That could relocate about million people.

Edited September 22, 2014 by Time Traveller