[sustran] Re: Information on 'Bike Taxi'

[Jonathan E. D. Richmond]

Craig has excellent points to make. There is a very deep need for
serious systematic research, but this is unlikely to be funded unless an
international agency takes it on: units of government are far more
concerned with prestige projects.

Not only women with children but the elderly and handicapped are poorly
catered for in general, although I might add that it is common to see a
whole family on a motorbike. The walking infrastructure is a disgrace and
makes travel hard for people without cars. Many walkways are broken and
dangerous. Difficult obstacles are common -- to get from the major bus
arrival point at Rangsit to Future Park, one of the largest shopping malls
in Thailand, requires using a highway overpass whose first step is more
than a foot high and running across several traffic lanes after crossing
the first highway.

As to Singapore, the government has made a strong effort to provide
pleasant walking environments. The covered passageways in the housing
estates are a case in point. Still, when light rail was introduced,
requiring longer average access walks than for the previous bus service,
there were many complaints, and pressure has resulted in restoration of
some of the bus services. The walking environment in Bangkok is in dire
need of a complete overhaul, but I doubt the political will can be found
to do this, and I also doubt this would in itself change cultural
attitudes.

                                         --Jonathan

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

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