[sustran] Re: Information on 'Bike Taxi'

[Jonathan E. D. Richmond]

Walking is not likely to sell in Bangkok. The extreme heat is an enemy,
and walking is also seen as very low status. The heat also makes cycling
unattractive relative to motorized travel.

There is no question that improving bus services in the centre-city would
make a big difference. If clean modern buses operated on their own rights
of way on the major thoroughfares, they would be very attrctive. My
motorbike trip down Silom would have been unncessary if a bus came
cruising by every couple of minutes and travelled without encountering
conditions of congestion. Alas, convincing the Bangkok authorities that
prioritized bus service is needed is no easy matter so, for now, the
motorbike is really the one way to cut through traffic quickly unless you
are lucky enough to be able to take a boat (and, crazy though it may seem,
the main boat service terminates just after 6 pm, even though this is a
period of prime demand for tourists going out to dinner or just interested
in seeing Bangkok at night!)

I don't see any easy alternative to the motorbikes in the suburbs, where
they connect with bus services and help low-income residents avoid lengthy
walks in the harsh sun.

                                        --Jonathan

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Jonathan E. D. Richmond                               02 524-5510 (office)
Visiting Fellow                               Intl.: 662 524-5510
Transportation Engineering program
School of Civil Engineering, Room N260B               02 524-8257 (home)
Asian Institute of Technology                 Intl.: 662 524-8257
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Thailand                                      Intl:  662 524-5509

e-mail: richmond at ait.ac.th               Secretary:  Ms. Nisarat Hansuksa
        richmond at alum.mit.edu		              02 524-6051
					      Intl:  662 524-6051
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