Footpath Problems

From a short clip I previously shared without any explanation, today I want to tell you the story behind it… On August 21, 2024, I had an important meeting to attend. Normally, I prefer to use public transportation whenever possible. Around 2 PM, I arrived at my destination, BTS Ploenchit Station, and had to “walk” another 800 meters.

June 4, 2023 The Yellow Line BTS (Skytrain) has started its operation. I saw locals trying it out and having fun, so I decided to give it a try as well. However, I know what I’d like to see. I didn’t have much time, so I couldn’t explore the footpath below Hua Mak Station extensively. Based on my observation, “We have excellent footpaths that are convenient, safe, and of high standards!” — #BangkokActNOW

Just a few days ago, there was news about a wheelchair user killed in car crash while hauling his wheelchair on the street. I would like to discuss this incident from my experience. What is the cause? Obviously, the unaccommodating sidewalk leaves wheelchair users with no choice but to continue their way on the street.

Cohabiting, the orderliness of the country and the laws and enforcement Ultimately, the answer is on yourself Which one do you choose? 1. The Sidewalks, convenient, clean, safe. traders sell only places that do not interfere with traffic. 2. Let it be – like this, we’re all stay together…

Because we want our city to change. In order to do so, we must identify the problem first. [Saba] led [Ice+Book+Rew] to explore the new train station to let them see by their own eyes. The new generation will take care of our society in the future. Let’s listen to them. SabaLive / Thailand Tomorrow – the series

Jern-jern is a young PWD with muscular weakness (ALS – Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis). Still fresh from university, she has been working for 2 years. Her office is at Ratchada (read as Rat-cha-da) area, adjacent to her place in about 300-meter wheeling distance. Along the way on sidewalk, she has to encounter with a shit called ‘S-Guard’. It’s a traffic-calming invention built to prevent motorists driving on sidewalk. The S-Guard  can’t do the job, preventing motorists but blocking Jern-jern. She has no choice but to get down on the road and find her own way out. And we all know that …

A daily scene of motorists driving on sidewalk or against the road direction has become a common thing. Occasionally, the governmental agency has put some efforts to address this problem. But with lack of constant determination and enforcement, the same scenes are always back again.

A barrier preventing motorcycle is also known as S-Guard barricade. It is a novel innovation brought to you by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) in an attempt to prevent motorists driving on the sidewalk. This weird thing is increasingly enlarging in scale throughout the city of Bangkok, especially at the major intersections. The point is that I have a strong belief that those authorities, who have the power to initiate this execution, might perhaps derive this idea from Japan where the innovation already existed. It might appear interesting in their eyes. However, it’s just a superficial inspiration and lacks scrutiny on …

There is a rule of thumb on the use of sidewalk and the Governor of Bangkok is trying to implement the law enforcement toward those wrongdoers. The misuse of sidewalk has become a hazardous social problem as we can always see from the mainstream and in real life such as riding a motorcycle on the sidewalk. Seen from higher perspective, this selfish and undisciplined behavior of the driver reflects a problematic system, not just individual level.

The motorcycle runs over the footpath we see on every single day. We feel nothing, they’re all doing this all over our city. No need the road they use the footpath as a shortcut. All everybody is having trouble while we’re walking and wheeling. No one will but ours, to make the better city. Do you feel any shame ??