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<DIV>Dear Sunny,<BR><BR>I agree with you that if public transport was improved
more people would use it. But one needs to recognise that in Thailand the car is
a highly valued status symbol. In the public eye success is determined by the
number of expensive cars in the carport. Those who can afford to do so have more
cars than the number of drivers in the house. Those who do so are very often
high ranking police or army officials. <BR><BR>You said: many people say tht
bike travel is not safe thts the reason they don't use bikes....if it is made
safer then we can expect an increase in bike usage...<BR><BR>I seriously doubt
it. The climate for most of the year doesn't lend itself to bike usage and - as
was the case in the west a few generations ago - the bicycle is regarded as the
lowest form of transport. With increased wealth one buys a motorbike -
which is not only a status symbol, it's quicker, more comfortable in the heat
and easier to carry more passengers/luggage. <BR><BR>I think it would be more
productive and realistic to forget about bicycles and invest more energy into
improving the public transport system. The skytrain desperately needs to be
extended both in its reach and in its accessibility. But of perhaps more
importance, as its improvement would benefit far higher numbers, is to focus
some attention on the neglected bus system. The buses are probably the most
polluting vehicles on the road network, are badly driven and are on the whole
unsafe or perceived as being so. They are also cramped, hot and unpleasant. Like
the bicycle they are viewed as being the lowest form of public transport.
<BR><BR>But these of course require government policy decisions which it is
difficult to influence. At development level one could encourage developers to
promote public transport usage by providing a decent minibus service to pick up
employees from key locations such as the nearest skytrain station if too far to
walk, together with discouragement of car use by restrictions on company cars as
part of a salary package and restricted parking provision. <BR><BR>Re: I have to
agree with your comment on the 200 or 100 baht fines/bribes<BR>(in India) but
have you heard of a fine of 100 baht if you cross the<BR>road without using a
pedestrian overpass?<BR><BR>I meant bribes. I would love to see a survey of the
number of bribes taken compared to the number of tickets issued. I estimate a
ratio of perhaps 20 to 1. But that is only the visible form of corruption. Far
worse is that which goes on at the higher levels which influences what
infrastructure is built, when and by whom. It is a sad fact that corruption
governs Thailand. Until corruption is seriously tackled the transport system
will not improve. <BR><BR>I'm sure the government would enjoy being encouraged
to fine a pedestrian for crossing a road instead of providing adequate
pedestrian crossing facilities. Imposing fines would achieve nothing other than
further alienating the ordinary person and further lining the pockets of the
police. Count the number of footbridges along Bangna-Trad Road, for instance,
and you will understand why people prop ladders against the barriers in the
central reserve to help them cross - often a total of 10 busy traffic lanes with
dual 3 lane carriageway plus 2 lanes of service road each side - instead of
walking five miles to the nearest footbridge. The effects on transport at local
level do not seem to be considered as part of highway schemes.
<BR><BR>Regards,<BR>Linda.<BR><BR>.</DIV></BODY></HTML>