Public Transportation

Both images took place in a different time scale of 30 years. It exemplifies the voices of brave PWDs (people with disabilities) who stand up to demand a basic human rights, stated by the constitutions. Yet, from the past till present time, most PWDs remain unable to go out of home conveniently, to go to school and hospital, to work and make a living individually. This is a living, catastrophic summary of the basic human rights of PWDs in Thailand. What else could be worse?

[Bangkok 3 Aug 2020] After a lifetime waiting that turned my hair grey, I’ve recently got a wonderful news in regard to an accessible taxi for all, finally! Operated by Asia CABB, this high-standard taxi service offers an alternative for those on wheelchair to wander around freely (but not free😜). This is something many people have been waiting, and suffering, for generations due to extreme inaccessibility from ordinary taxi. Now that pain becomes a thing of the past. Typically, taxi ride serves as a short-medium feeder connecting passenger to get access to other public transports. This is really good.

Thailand is known for its warm service and kindness that builds great impression for any visitors around the world. And the commuter train service is simply one of them. I’ve been using the commuter train services intensely during the last 6 years. I can firmly assure you its gradual improvement of services in many areas. And I’m not alone. Recently I got a happy story from Aey regarding the service that I can’t wait to share with you.

One of our fellow networks has sent this devastating scene to me when he explored the whole area of MRT Bang O station, a newly-built station recently opened for service. I personally don’t blame the labour workers who, after all, follow the order of their boss. And their boss follows the order of their superior up further, and the superior to the more superior.

According to the image, I have just received the latest news from our associate group. I am glad that “at least” we have some positive news. Anyway, I told them not to be happy yet. We have to wait until it’s all done, make a full trial and proceed with the follow up work closely. This topic will be presented to the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) and the Transport Minister as information of problem solving and protection for the entire system.

  I just got this image from one of our networks on yesterday. Surprised by what I saw before, and sadly once again, there was a steep stairway! on the skywalk which connected right next to the Wat Phra Sri Mahathat station, a brand-new BTS station, way down to Tesco Lotus Laksi. This was annoying me so much because previously I had a meeting with the MRTA team, who’s in charge of this, and I insisted no stair on skywalks anymore. And they firmly promised my request. But is this what we got? By the way, we have quite a …

19 March 2020, we joined a meeting regarding the metro accessibility verification of those ‘under-construction’ train lines in Bangkok by checking the blueprints and the road condition over the map around the station area.

Hot update: I’m told that the new buses that would pickup the passenger to and from the train station ARE NOT ACCESSIBLE BUSES!!! To the Governor of Bangkok, the spokesman and the director of the Bureau of Traffic and Transport Bangkok, the government policy is an equality and don’t leave anyone behind that we’re all need to aware of. Please use the the accessible buses as standard on all public transport systems.

After file a complaint about Skywalk and the stairway to the building, the chairman of the commission of Thai Senate introduced us to the former governor of SRT. I got a chance to report the problem of the Southern Line platform construction’s platform high that will lower than the other lines. He promised to ask and talk in detail, I then asked to shake hand as a promise ^^

MRT Purple Line is one of the problematic metro train systems and ‘Station access level quite low’ because the station size is very large and with the method of ‘One elevator per side’ and since the road physical is very width also cars runs very fast (6 lanes on each side), people generally cross the road using a overpass only.