Issues & Problems

On behalf of T4A (Transportation for All), we were invited to join a regional dialogue held by the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR). The topic this year was “2018 AICHR Regional Dialogue on the Mainstreaming of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in the ASEAN Community” / Accessibility through Universal Design) AICHR is an intergovernmental commission whose goal shares the same with us: human rights. Some of our leading activists and networks were presented in the event including Mr. Monthian Buntan. The topic was mainly about Universal Design. Once my turn has come, I began with… “We have …

The answer is “NO”. The cost of the installation of elevators and ramps on every access point on every station account for just about 1% of the whole project’s cost. To say, no matter the cost, this is a thing that needs to be done. There is no excuse of not doing that and even the law has regulated this clearly since 13 years ago. Importantly, given this emphasis, the Prime Minister has stated firmly that “We won’t leave anyone behind.”

Because it fails to provide, by law, the accessible infrastructure and its additional supports with perfect conditions which make PWDs, as well as less-abled persons, difficulties in getting access with maximum comfort and safety. This is especially true on elevators, with its ramps, in which there are only two of them installed on each station although each station comprises of four entrances-and-exits.

The disability rights activists and networks issuing a prosecution toward MRT Purple Line. The Declaration of Thailand’s National Day of Persons with Disabilities. Thailand’s law has been composed clearly regarding the provision of accessible infrastructure and public services. Thailand’s Prime Ministers, from former to current generations, have regarded this as necessity with the responsive awareness from the Minister of Transports. Although they realise that the provision of accessible infrastructure and its additional supports would approximately account for just less than 3% of a whole project’s cost, and although they recognise that this is such an essential element that every one …

I got tragic news of Taiwan high-speed train derailed. The news read that the driver admitted he shut down automatic train protection system in an attempt to compensate for the previous delay. The accident costed 18 lives of passengers, many injured. Accordingly, today I would like to stress a concern on human error. Taking about humans, we are undoubtedly the topmost of all the food chain, the most intelligent creature this planet has ever seen. Yet mankind is still under some, if not many, limitations. For instance, if we were asked on the afternoon that what we had for breakfast, …

This incident was a story while I was travelling in Japan at the beginning of this year. It took place at Bic Camera, Namba Store in Osaka. Bic Camera is a leading consumer electronics retailer chain in Japan. The store was extremely crowded at the day. Most of them were seemingly foreign visitors. I was waiting for an elevator for so long to go to the upper floor. Due to the crowd, every time the lift opened, it was packed with tons of customers that I wasn’t able to get in it. Believe it or not, I had been waiting …

[visualizer id=”11040″] Firstly, I would like to state that before I committed dedicating to what I’m doing now, I sincerely asked myself “What do I really want?”. I had a clear answer that “I want constructive changes to my beloved country.” Yes, it sounds too broad and looks much bigger than what I can do alone, but that’s what I really want. Any movements and activities that you have seen, I’ve planned to work as independent as I can although I realise that this approach would face some hindrances, especially monetary issue, “No money, no jobs done.” 

I came across here since I got a business discussion with my friend. I couldn’t help but went observing its priority parking down there at 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th floor of the mall. The result was that only the 4th-floor one was left for the parking. It seemed there was a high demand on this type of parking. I always saw those ineligible people who were indeed unnecessary to park on this spot but insisted to do so: pregnant but perfectly good condition, or an elderly with good health.

I got this image from my young colleagues who was studying in the UK. It’s a priority park in Bicester Village, a large outlet in Oxford. At first sight, you must recognise immediately that it’s located in a developed country. Deep down you could see that: 1. It’s mostly unoccupied 2. No barrier on each lot 3. No staff authority or security officer Let’s do an anatomy, why this scene can happen: 1. Strict regulations and penalty 2. Justice law enforcement by authority 3. Respected by people In fact an violation and misuse of priority parking by selfish people happens …

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 …