[sustran] Re: Bangkok bike parking

[Carlos F. Pardo SUTP]

I sometimes have the hope that Bangkok has taken some of our suggestions
seriously, and that they will use the bike park designs we've given them, as
well as all other aspects we've pointed out in various meetings (and the
countless documents and presentations!). If they really start riding
bicycles and building facilities, we can take credit!

The Thai government also had a regulation effective in 2005 which made all
government offices turn off their A/C systems or keep it above a certain
temperature. Interestingly, I was once in a meeting and saw a deputy mayor
stand up and change the temperature to the one being "enforced". I hope the
same starts happening with transport, but it will take a bit more than
turning a dial.

Best regards,

Carlos F. Pardo 
Project Coordinator 
GTZ Sustainable Urban Transport Project (SUTP) 
Room 0942, Transport Division, UN-ESCAP 
ESCAP UN Building 
Rajadamnern Nok Rd. 
Bangkok 10200, Thailand 
Tel:  +66 (0) 2 - 288  2576 
Fax: +66 (0) 2 - 280  6042 
Mobile: +66 (0) 1 - 772 4727 
e-mail: carlos.pardo at sutp.org 
Website: www.sutp.org

-----Mensaje original-----
De: sustran-discuss-bounces+carlos.pardo=sutp.org at list.jca.apc.org
[mailto:sustran-discuss-bounces+carlos.pardo=sutp.org at list.jca.apc.org] En
nombre de D. Scott TenBrink
Enviado el: Jueves, 04 de Mayo de 2006 06:25 a.m.
Para: sustran-discuss at list.jca.apc.org
Asunto: [sustran] Bangkok bike parking

 From today's Bangkok Post:

Bicycle parking at BMA offices

Parking areas are being set aside for bicycles at all Bangkok Metropolitan
Administration (BMA) offices. The move, prompted by the soaring price of
fuel,
is to cater for employees who cycle to work and to encourage more people to
follow their example and at the same time help reduce air pollution.
Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin said yesterday the move is part of 
the BMA's
energy-saving campaign.

As a first step, bicycle parking has been provided at the BMA's 
headquarters on
Dinso road and its second office in Din Daeng district.

As well, the 50 district offices and all BMA-run agencies have been
instructed
to designate parking areas for bicycles.

Mr Apirak said the city is urging people to use public transport instead of
private cars and, with this in mind, is expediting the extension of the
skytrain route.

-------------------------------

While it is always nice to see the word "bicycle" show up in the Thai press,
this article does more to confuse than to promote cycling.

The program was set up to "reduce air pollution" as part of an
"energy-saving
plan".  As I understand it, he energy-saving plan was initiated to reduce
fuel
consumption in order to limit the expense of fuel subsidies (as opposed 
to just
eliminating the subsidies).  The program had nothing to do with clean air.

The bike parking is a perfect addition to the city's spuratic bike 
trail system
that is completely unconnected and goes nowhere. (I've got to post some
pictures of those "bike lanes" some time) This token effort thrown out 
in hopes
that people will feel an obligation to leave their cars, has defined 
Bangkok NMT
policy for a long time.

The trend of "urging" a reduction in fuel consumption instead of encouraging
a
reduction via pricing seems to be continuing with the city's plea for 
people to
use public transport like the Skytrain.

If the BMA was serious about managing fuel consumption, improving air
quality,
or promoting NMT, there are many more effective programs, which they have
previously turned down (many from people on this list!), that they may want
to
reconsider.

-Scott





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