[sustran] [sustran] Re: Bangkok Transit System ('Skytrain')

Craig Townsend townsend at central.murdoch.edu.au
Fri Nov 26 03:58:44 JST 1999


Alok,

>The point you note is indeed a valid one but you have to consider the
>peculiar characteristics of Bangkok "CBD" where the landuse is not
>categorically defined. First of all, tell me what is considered as CBD of
>Bangkok - Silom area or Sukhumvit area? I did some work few years ago as a
>part of my masters thesis and used Silom as CBD (a number of people 
>differed in opinion). Both Silom and Sukhumvit has a high level of
residential
>landuse unlike Hong Kong and Singapore (I guess Tokyo too). This is one of
>the reasons why parking ratios are higher in Bangkok CBD. High car 
>ownership does not necessarily mean higher level of car travel. Car
ownership is a
>reflection of affluence, nothing else but car travel is certainly an issue
>which affecting sustainability of transport systems.


I do agree that definitions of "CBD" in Bangkok are problematic. The
definition of Bangkok's CBD used for those 1990 parking figures was
comprised of five districts: Phra Nakhon, Pom Prap Sattru Phai,
Samphanthawong, Bang Rak (Silom area), and Pathum Wan. I believe an updated
definition (in fact, the location of "CBD activities" continues to shift
and expand rapidly) is needed and should include Ratchathewi, Khlong Toei
(Sukhumvit), and Sathon districts. However, I suspect that those additional
districts would include an even higher level of parking, so I'm not sure it
would help your argument.

Furthermore, I would suggest that in Bangkok car ownership (which is
substantially higher than in wealthier cities like Hong Kong, Seoul &
Singapore) reflects more than just level of affluence. 

>In Hong Kong, Park'n'ride is planned not only in new towns but also in 
>urban fringes.
>
>I never thought that PnR in Bangkok should be at all staions but at the end
>stations it certainly is a good idea. I am not very familiar with the
>alignment (I left the city before they started the construction) but if I
>remember correctly the alignment ends at Morchit and Onnui which as I 
>recall are not central urban areas. They are urban fringes and can certainly
>provide an opportunity to reduce congestion in central areas.

I don't think I would classify Morchit as "urban fringe" (I would call it a
middle suburb but that's open to interpretation), but that is where the one
line terminates and I will concede that providing PnR at that location may
be feasible. If the lines are actually extended further as is currently
planned, the opportunities for providing PnR facilities will increase.
However, I'm still not convinced that PnR is necessarily a good idea in
Bangkok, where people have a remarkable tolerance for long commutes and a
PnR may just encourage more sprawl and a greater shift toward private
automobiles. 

Best wishes,

Craig
________________________________________________
Craig Townsend
Institute for Sustainability & Technology Policy
Murdoch University
South Street, Murdoch
Perth, Western Australia 6150

tel: (61 8) 9360 6293
fax: (61 8) 9360 6421
email: townsend at central.murdoch.edu.au



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