[sustran] Re: (fwd) [UTSG] transport strategy transfer

[Jonathan E. D. Richmond]

That is an interesting question, but before we get too hung up on Bus
Rapid Transit, it is worth mentioning that the crying need in so many
cities is for decent service for the urban poor, who depend on local
buses and who are too often neglected.

Here in Bangkok the 4 baht nonaircon buses, with dusty wooden floors and
filled with traffic fumes which come through their glassless windows,
remain packed out -- and not only with local low income people. I
discovered that some of our AIT students cannot afford to transfer to the
(30-40 baht) Skytrain, but sit out journeys by bus across town that take
an hour or more longer to save a few baht.

What risks happening is that busway transit will come to town and, as with
the new rail services, with it fares will go up. I know busway fares have
been controlled to decent levels in South American countries, but in
places like Bangkok there is a tradition of charging more for "premium"
services, and I can easily see major increases happening.

Of course, what may happen is that the nonaircon buses will continue
operations on parallel routes, going as slowly and uncomfortably as ever,
simply accentuating the differences between services made available
according to income.

It seems to me that there is a strong case for improving existing ordinary
services before investing in bus rapid transit, yet I do not hear advocacy
for this from the busway gurus any more than from the rail people. Perhaps
we need to abandon planning based on specific modes and start instead by
looking at the needs of people as clients and as human beings we are to
serve.


                                                         --Jonathan
 -----

Jonathan E. D. Richmond                               02 524-5510 (office)
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Transportation Engineering program
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Asian Institute of Technology                 Intl.: 662 524-8257
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