Traffic snarls to last five years

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Traffic snarls to last five years

Railway projects, vehicle boom battle for space

Published: 1 Jan 2013 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

The Transport Ministry is warning Bangkok residents to brace for what could be five years of extraordinary traffic congestion.

Traffic at the Silom-Rama IV Road intersection is flowing well, particularly now with so many motorists having left Bangkok to celebrate New Year in the provinces. The Transport Ministry is warning Bangkok motorists to brace for traffic congestion this year from a dramatic increase in the number of private cars. (Photo by Patipat Janthong)

The addition of more than 1 million new cars as part of the first car-buyer scheme, coupled with less road space during the onset of several new electric railway projects could make Bangkok commutes even more miserable.

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blob123
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Discussion 49 : 01 Jan 2013 at 21.0649
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I wonder why they dont get it, the main obstacle in Bangkok traffic and other Thai cities is the police which switch the lights in a totally wrong, far to long and uncoordinated way.
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Birdie
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Discussion 48 : 01 Jan 2013 at 20.1348
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This government is doing nothing but add more miseries to Thailand. Enough said!
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mutley
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Discussion 47 : 01 Jan 2013 at 17.3947
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I know Disc. 46. They're all in Cha Am.
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HowIWish
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Discussion 46 : 01 Jan 2013 at 17.1446
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Govt should declare 4 day weekends every week, BKK has been fanastic the last few days!!
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HowIWish
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Discussion 45 : 01 Jan 2013 at 17.0245
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Govt gives the rebate for first vehicle owners, gets the revenue returned in licence fees, yearly registration fees and daily taxes from fuel, brilliant concept, give them credit!
Now we have longer travel times for only the people who travel by road, more pollution (bangkok notorious for), drivers disobeying guide markings because they have their own self-interest ruling their brain when they drive and not being patient (always satisfying getting there 1 minute early!!).
Bangkok needs the 3-in-1 rule like Jakarta, butTten again you need police to police it, and going by the forums we know the police don't police!!
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amerman
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Discussion 44 : 01 Jan 2013 at 16.5444
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They can get an extra lane in town by having the cars drive on the walkways. The motorbikes already do that so why not cars too. People dont need to walk anymore in bkk.
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opiner
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Discussion 43 : 01 Jan 2013 at 16.4143
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I really gave up offering solutions to Bangkok's transportation problems long ago, after 15 odd years of trying. But occasionally I have to point out the crux: too many cars and not enough buses. There are too many cars because there are always parking spaces at your destination. Eliminate most of the parking spaces at places of work and shops, vastly increase the number of buses and enforce bus lanes throughout the city. This is the key to solving the congestion, measures which will force people to leave their cars at home and provide enough public transport for them. Train lines are not enough. It's how Europeans make livable cities.
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haha
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Discussion 42 : 01 Jan 2013 at 15.4542
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expect more road accidents with 1 million new drivers
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mutley
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Discussion 41 : 01 Jan 2013 at 15.3741
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Simple solution. Move the capital back to Ayuttaya. It's where Bangkok is situated that causes all the problems even on the outskirts. Try driving from Samut Sakhon to Chonburi without using the outer ring road. It's bad enough trying to get on the outer ring road at certain times from Rama 2 going east. As for the exit onto Rama 2. Was there any planning?
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sirron
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Discussion 40 : 01 Jan 2013 at 15.1640
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When I first arrived in the early 90s, my briefers described Bangkok as a mess with traffic jams occurring morning and evening. However, they went on to mention that once the sky train and the underground lines were opened, these traffic jams would become a thing of the past. This article is definitely deja vu.
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Traffic snarls to last five years | Bangkok Post: news