Bus reduction proposal sparks fierce online debate

Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) Bus Operation Zone 6 director Chamnan Yoosa-art posted on his Facebook page that big buses – each can carry 100 commuters – were not responsible for the traffic jams. 

He said the very idea of reducing them went against various countries’ logic for tackling traffic congestion in big cities by promoting people’s use of public transport. Instead, he suggested other solutions that he considered more effective, such as a police crackdown on offenders and measures to reduce the number of private cars on the road.
One man, Piyapat Tosajjawong, said bus drivers often contributed to traffic problem by swiftly changing lines and pushing in front of other drivers. He suggested that police make sure the left lane is reserved for buses so they can easily pick up and drop off passengers at bus stops. He also urged police to better control song-taews, taxis and drivers who park and nip out for a quick purchase from roadside shops. 
Prakaiporn Charoenying said the proposal to reduce the number of older buses reflected the authority's view to favour middle-class people more than those with a low income. She urged the government to limit the number of private cars. For instance, those living in a house with no parking space could be excluded from buying a car.

Academic Decharut Sukkumnoed, head of Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Kasetsart University’s Faculty of Economics, said in his Facebook post that he disagreed with – and was astonished by – the police’s proposal. He said personal cars took up more space when transporting the same number of commuters – compared to buses and bicycles. 

Many also objected to the idea via the “Rotmaethai.com” Thai bus fan page, saying this solution missed the root of the problem and went against various countries’ promotion of public transport to curb jams. 
Thanarak Jingying Rutchapol said that if bus services were less frequent due to this measure, he would arrive at work much later than now. 
Rattiya Saynumpung also called for a reduction in the number of private cars and an increase in public transport use.
Keerati Panmanee said although he disagreed with removing buses, he could see why people resented them taking up so much space and added a second reason: “Because many bus drivers cut through multiple lanes to reach a bus stop for passengers, then make multiple lane changes again to move on.”
This proposal was tabled at a Tuesday meeting of a committee tasked with easing traffic jams on one of Bangkok’s busiest thoroughfares, currently even more congested than normal due to the ongoing construction of the Mass Rapid Transit Authority (MRTA)’s Orange Line. Deputy city police chief Pol Maj-General Jirapat Phumjit, who oversees traffic regulations, said after that meeting that the BMTA had been told to determine which buses were carrying the fewest passengers to best implement the bus reduction scheme. 
Another solution, also discussed at the Tuesday meeting, was to introduce Park & Ride spots at shopping mall car parks where motorists could leave their cars and board BMTA-provided shuttle buses to Ramkhamhaeng University, Rajamangala Stadium, the Ramkhamhaeng Airport Link Station and the Ban Thap Chang railway station. 
This “Park & Ride” solution was also discussed at a separate Bangkok traffic solution meeting yesterday, Jirapat said. 
The authorities have now confirmed the selection of Paseo Mall on adjacent Lat Krabang Road, with space for 900 cars, and the Thaiwatsadu Shop, which can handle 220 cars, as Park & Ride spots which should start as early as next week.