Accessible Facilities

  Mega Bangna is the only shopping mall in Thailand that its quantity of accessible parking exceeds the minimum requirement by law. Months ago, we had intensively received numbers of reports about the misuse of priority parking, especially at its underground parking, Blue Zone. We decided to conduct a field work there so many times and have a honest talk with security officers who was in charge there.

08/22/2018 10:00pm Bangkok, Thailand. I visited FoodLand Sri-na-ka-rin for my late dinner sawing this black car already parked on a priority parking. I asked to check CCTV whether if the driver is eligible, after clearly proved, I waited patiently at the exit.

Yesterday, we had a chance to show those international reporters both the MRT and BTS stations. I started our conversations with “I am concerned about Thailand’s big picture” and gave a scenario “Mr. Sam who is in a wheelchair and came to Thailand and faced several inconveniences due to the lack of facilities for disabled people. What impressions would he convey back home, about Thailand?” We started our journey from Su-wan-na-phum Thailand International Airport by taking the ARL, then the MRT and finished the journey at A-sok Train Station which is in Bangkok’s Central Business District.

A problem and misuse regarding accessible parking exist everywhere else throughout Thailand. For the developer, their major responsibility is to correctly build it according to the legal regulation as well as keep it in good management and maintenance. We’re invited to go to Khon Khaen province for work. It’s such a lovely and unforgettable trip. After the official job, we were on our way and went exploring at a Tesco Lotus. I had made a field observation and met with in-charged people as well as their management executive to discuss this topic of accessible parking. It’s delighted that they’d already recognised this …

25 June 2018 The Khon Kaen Smart City masterplan is one of many projects in the National Economic and Social Development Plan. The city is going to be elected as the leading model for urban development in every dimension. This is great since making things right at first would reduce any costs of modification in the long-run.

28 May 2018 As a chairman, on behalf of Rail System / Transportation For All (T4A) leading by Mr. Theerayuth, to discuss on accessibility problems and plausible solutions regarding the extension of BTS Green Line (Bearing – Sa-mut Pra-karn). Mr. Jeerasak Sripamma, Deputy Director of Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, was the guest of honor who performed as a chairman. The meeting involved other relevant parties as well.

9 May 2018 A group of PWDs activist, Transportation For All (T4A), is gathering with other groups of PWDs networks to proceed prosecuting Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) for failure to completely install all BTS elevators and infrastructure. This inability to comply is against the order from the Supreme Court which had issued the mandate previously. The group also claimed that the incidence has terribly costed the estimated damage of 1,436 million Baht.

Now, shall we move to abroad and see how it looks like? I have known a young Thai man who is studying in the city of Guildford, about a 45-minute ride by train from London. He’s also part of our assistance. Recently, he sent me a group of pictures as you can see. It’s a parking space in front of a sports centre. What you see are: 1. The priority parking is totally free of use while those ordinary lots are so full. 2. Well design: clear marks and colours.

Days ago, I visited a shopping mall and got to see this car parking on a priority parking with the obviously healthy driver. I then went to question the driver to ensure that he’s eligible. As you later can see on the video, he did a very good job on lying to me before getting in the mall. But at the moment I had no proof. With curiosity and a sense of something gone wrong, I insisted to wait there until eventually the driver returned. I rushed to him and tried to have a conversation about why he did that. …

“Doubling Failure at a Priority Parking: Days ago, I visited a shopping mall and got to see this car parking on a priority parking with the obviously healthy driver. I then went to question the driver to ensure that he’s eligible. As you later can see on the video, he did a very good job on lying to me before getting in the mall.