Why Bangkok Has "Good" Public Transportation but Horrible Traffic

Summary

This video script explores Bangkok's traffic congestion despite a robust public transport system, including the BTS skytrain and MRT. It delves into the high vehicle ownership rate, the first mile-last mile problem, and the cost and convenience of driving versus public transport. The script suggests that while Bangkok's public transport is advanced, it doesn't fully address the accessibility to all areas of the city, leading to continued reliance on cars. It concludes with ideas for improving the situation, emphasizing the need for effective public transport to reduce traffic and pollution.

Takeaways

• 🌆 Bangkok, Thailand is a vibrant city known for its food, people, and shopping, but also its notorious traffic.
• 🚗 The city has seen a significant increase in vehicle numbers, from half a million in 1980 to over 9.7 million today, with a vehicle ownership rate of 69%.
• 🌐 Despite having a high population and vehicle density, Bangkok's public transportation system includes the BTS skytrain, MRT subway, buses, boat taxis, and car taxis.
• 🚶‍♂️ Bangkok's urban design features mixed uses, allowing for walkability with amenities like food carts and stores within a short walking distance.
• 🔄 The 'first mile/last mile problem' affects the convenience of public transportation, where the final leg of a journey to a destination can be inconvenient.
• 💸 Driving in Bangkok is relatively inexpensive with low parking fees and cheaper fuel prices compared to other parts of the world.
• 🚌 Bangkok's public transport, while extensive, does not cover all areas effectively, and buses can get stuck in traffic, reducing their appeal.
• 🏙 High population density and narrow streets contribute to Bangkok's traffic issues, even with the presence of public transportation.
• 🌐 The script suggests that public transportation networks should be expanded thoughtfully to ensure they are convenient and accessible to the public.
• 🚦 The network effect in transportation implies that the more connected and extensive a system is, the more valuable and effective it becomes.
• 🚗 Car ownership in Bangkok may be more about status than necessity, hinting at a cultural preference that could be shifted towards public transport.
• 🛣️ The video suggests potential improvements for Bangkok's traffic, such as removing minimum parking requirements, implementing congestion pricing, and enhancing bus and boat taxi systems.

Q & A

What is the current vehicle ownership rate in Bangkok?

The vehicle ownership rate in Bangkok is roughly 69%.

How has the number of vehicles in Bangkok changed since 1980?

In 1980, there were just over half a million vehicles in Bangkok, whereas now there are over 9.7 million vehicles.

What is the metropolitan area population of Bangkok?

The metropolitan area of Bangkok has a population of 14 million people.

Why does the speaker initially believe that Bangkok should not have extreme traffic issues?

The speaker believes Bangkok should not have extreme traffic issues because it has good public transportation like the BTS skytrain.

How does the speaker compare Bangkok's vehicle ownership rate with Tokyo and Seoul?

The speaker compares Bangkok's vehicle ownership rate of 69% with Tokyo's 23% and Seoul's 50%, indicating that Bangkok has a notably higher rate.

What is the concept of 'mixed uses' in city planning and how does it relate to Bangkok?

Mixed uses in city planning refers to having various services and amenities such as food carts, convenience stores, banks, and clothing stores within a short walking distance. Bangkok exemplifies this concept, contributing to its walkability.

What is the 'first mile last mile problem' mentioned in the script?

The 'first mile last mile problem' refers to the difficulty of reaching the final destination from a public transport stop, often due to long walking distances, which decreases the convenience of public transport.

Why does the speaker suggest that owning a car in Bangkok might be more about status than cost-effectiveness?

The speaker suggests that owning a car in Bangkok might be more about status because despite the availability of public transport, cars are still seen as a symbol of wealth and convenience.

What are some of the public transportation options available in Bangkok according to the script?

Bangkok offers various public transportation options including the BTS skytrain, MRT subway, buses, boat taxis, and cheap car taxis.

What are some potential solutions the speaker suggests for Bangkok to improve its traffic situation?

The speaker suggests solutions such as expanding the transportation network, removing minimum parking zoning requirements, implementing peak congestion pricing, building out the boat taxi network, and upgrading buses to work with the BTS cards.

What is the 'network effect' in the context of transportation networks mentioned in the script?

The 'network effect' in transportation refers to the increased value and utility of a transportation system as more stops or stations are added, benefiting the network as a whole.

Outlines

00:00

🚗 Bangkok's Traffic and Vehicle Ownership

The script introduces Bangkok, Thailand, highlighting the city's rich culture and notorious traffic problem. It discusses the rapid increase in vehicle numbers from half a million in 1980 to over 9.7 million today, against a population of 14 million in the metropolitan area. This results in a vehicle ownership rate of 69%, exceeding the city's capacity. The narrator expresses surprise at the traffic levels, given the availability of the BTS skytrain, and contrasts Bangkok's situation with other major cities like Tokyo and Seoul, which have lower vehicle ownership rates.

05:03

🏙️ The Impact of Public Transportation on Traffic

This paragraph delves into the reasons behind the heavy reliance on cars in Bangkok despite the presence of public transportation. It compares the city's mixed-use urban planning, which facilitates walkability, with the lack of walkability in many American cities due to sprawl and mixed-use absence. The narrator acknowledges that public transportation is more logical in such mixed-use environments but points out that the convenience of driving, due to the city's layout and the affordability of vehicle ownership, still prevails. The paragraph also touches on the first and last mile problem, where public transport does not always bring people close enough to their final destinations, thus reducing its convenience.

Keywords

💡Bangkok

Bangkok is the capital city of Thailand and the main subject of the video. It is known for its vibrant culture, food, and friendly locals, but also notorious for its traffic congestion. The script discusses the city's vehicle ownership rate and the challenges it faces with traffic due to its high number of vehicles relative to its infrastructure.

💡Vehicle Ownership Rate

The vehicle ownership rate refers to the number of vehicles per capita in a given area. In the video, it is mentioned that Bangkok has a vehicle ownership rate of 69%, which is unusually high and contributes to the city's traffic problems.

💡Public Transportation

Public transportation encompasses various modes of transport that are available to the public, such as buses, trains, and subways. The script discusses the availability and effectiveness of public transportation in Bangkok, including the BTS skytrain and MRT subway, and how they compare to other cities.

💡Traffic Congestion

Traffic congestion refers to a situation where the number of vehicles on a road exceeds its capacity, leading to slow-moving or stationary traffic. The video script highlights Bangkok's traffic issues, which are exacerbated by its high vehicle ownership rate and the inefficiency of its public transportation system in certain areas.

💡Mixed Uses

Mixed uses in urban planning refers to the combination of different types of land uses, such as residential, commercial, and industrial, within a single area. The script mentions that Bangkok has mixed uses, which makes it walkable and potentially reduces the need for driving.

💡First Mile Last Mile Problem

The first mile/last mile problem refers to the difficulty of reaching the initial and final destinations of a journey using public transportation. The script discusses this issue in the context of Bangkok, where public transportation may not be conveniently located near all residents' homes or workplaces, making driving a more attractive option.

💡Network Effect

The network effect is a phenomenon where the value of a product or service increases as more people use it. In the context of the video, the network effect is applied to transportation networks, suggesting that the more extensive and interconnected a public transport system is, the more beneficial it becomes to its users.

💡Status Symbol

A status symbol is an item or behavior that signifies a person's social or economic status. The script suggests that owning a car in Bangkok may be more about status than necessity, despite the availability of public transportation.

💡Air Pollution

Air pollution refers to the presence of harmful substances in the air, often caused by vehicle emissions. The video mentions that Bangkok faces air pollution issues, which could be mitigated by reducing traffic through improved public transportation and other measures.

💡Jane Jacobs

Jane Jacobs was an influential urbanist known for her ideas on city planning and the importance of diverse, walkable cities. The script references Jacobs' conditions for a diverse city, which Bangkok is said to meet, including mixed uses, aged buildings, high density, and short blocks.

💡Bogota

Bogota is the capital city of Colombia and is mentioned in the script through a quote attributed to Gustavo Petro, the Mayor of Bogota, about the use of public transportation by the rich as a sign of a developed country. This quote is used to reflect on the societal implications of car ownership versus the use of public transportation.

Highlights

Bangkok has an unusually high number of vehicles, with over 9.7 million vehicles and a vehicle ownership rate of 69%.

Despite having good public transportation like the BTS skytrain, Bangkok still faces extreme traffic issues.

Vehicle ownership rates in other major cities like Tokyo (23%) and Seoul (50%) are much lower compared to Bangkok.

Bangkok has mixed uses with food carts, convenience stores, banks, and clothing stores easily accessible within a 5-minute walk.

Bangkok meets Jane Jacobs' conditions for a diverse city with mixed uses, aged buildings, high density, and short blocks.

Bangkok's population density of 5,294 people per sq km contributes to its traffic problems.

The BTS and MRT cover only certain areas of Bangkok, leaving large parts of the city without access to public transportation.

Buses in Bangkok get stuck in traffic and are less user-friendly than the BTS, making them less convenient for commuting.

The 'first mile/last mile problem' refers to the inconvenience of reaching the final destination after getting off public transport, which can deter its use.

Driving is cheap in Bangkok with no expensive parking fees and lower fuel prices compared to other countries.

The network effect in transportation networks means that adding more stops or stations benefits the overall system.

Building a transportation system without a well-thought-out expansion plan may not be effective and could be a waste of resources.

Buses are a valuable and flexible means of transport that can be a cost-effective alternative to expensive rail systems.

Bangkok could improve its traffic situation by expanding its transportation network, removing minimum parking zoning requirements, and implementing peak congestion pricing.

Owning a car in Bangkok may be more of a status symbol rather than a financially better option.

A quote by Gustavo Petro suggests that a developed country is where the rich use public transportation, not where the poor have cars.

Transcripts

Welcome to the great city of Bangkok, Thailand.

Amazing food, friendly people, shopping…and traffic.

Lot’s of it.

The city of Bangkok has an unusually high number of vehicles.

In 1980 there were just over half a million vehicles in the city.

Now, there are over 9.7 million vehicles in Bangkok and 14 million people in the metropolitan

area.

Roughly speaking, that’s a vehicle ownership rate of 69%.

Bangkok is well above its vehicle capacity, and the number of cars keeps increasing each

year.[a]

But Bangkok has the BTS, and I always thought that cities with good public transportation

wouldn’t have the problem of extreme traffic.

I think most big cities will have some traffic because of the sheer population, but Tokyo

has a vehicle ownership rate of about 23% and Seoul is at 50%.

Now, when there’s bumper to bumper traffic, and you’re sitting in place, watching people

walk past your car, that’s the kind of traffic that would make me say, “No way I’m driving,”

especially when public transportation is an option.

So, why do so many people drive[b] here?

* There’s Great Public Transportation See in most cities in America, it still makes

sense to drive because cities are extremely sprawled out.

The nearest grocery store might be a 30 minute walk, but a 5 minute drive.

The nearest convenience store might be a 20 minute walk, or a 3 minute drive.

The sad fact is that a large number of American cities lack a key component of what makes

cities walkable, and that’s mixed uses.

And this means that yes, driving is the far more convenient and I hate to say it, but

it's the more logical option.

But Bangkok HAS mixed uses.

Just pick a street in the city and find a food cart, a 7/11, a bank and a clothing clothing

store.

So in fact, if you’re looking for food or a cafe or some shopping you can find somewhere

within a 5 minute walk.

In fact, if we look at Bangkok in the context of Jane Jacob’s conditions for a diverse

city, Bangkok has them all: mixed uses, aged buildings, high density, and short…enough

blocks.

* But There’s Still Traffic?

Bangkok is a huge city with a population of roughly 10.7 million people in the urban core

and a density of 5,294 people per sq km.

Combine this with an abnormally high car ownership rate and narrow streets and you get this.

This is to be expected in a crowded city with no public transport, but Bangkok has public

transportation and a pretty decent one at that.

Or, so I thought.

But let’s dive into that.

Compared to my city, where the only public transportation is the bus, Bangkok’s transportation

seems years ahead.

While it’s not yet at the level of a city like Tokyo, they have the BTS skytrain, the

MRT subway, buses, boat taxis, and cheap car taxis.

And the first time I visited Bangkok, I stayed really close to a BTS station.

I had no problems getting around by public transport and couldn’t understand why there

was still so much traffic.

So let’s think about this: People will use public transportation if:

* It’s considerably cheaper than driving * It’s more convenient – this means it

takes a shorter or equal amount of time, does not require too many connections, and doesn’t

require too much walking

And here lies the problem.

* The First Mile Last Mile Problem

Let’s talk about cost.

Cities like Singapore have made it incredibly expensive to drive cars by tacking on additional

fees and taxes.

Other cities have expensive parking or city entry tolls that deter people from driving.

Fuel prices may be a minor deterrent to driving.

But the fact is, it’s cheap to drive in Bangkok.

There aren’t expensive parking fees, if any.

And fuel is a lot cheaper in Thailand than in other parts of the world.

So if someone can obtain a car through purchase or a company car, there’s not much cost

wise that would make someone stop to think twice about driving.

What about time and convenience?

I said earlier that I thought the BTS worked well to get me most places in the metropolitan

area in a reasonable amount of time, but that was because I was staying near a station.

Here’s the map of Bangkok.

The BTS covers the main arteriole of Bangkok.

Quite convenient if you live and work along the line.

Not quite as useful out here.

Now the MRT covers this area, but when combined you can see that Bangkok actually has large

areas without access to public transportation.

Are there buses to cover this area?

Yes, but there are no dedicated bus lanes, so the buses get stuck in traffic just like

the cars.

And the buses are slightly less user friendly than the BTS.

It was explained to me that to get to homes in the more suburban areas, you might have

to take the BTS, a rural bus, then a motorcycle taxi, and this isn’t even in the country

side.

So although they may be able to walk for food and basic shopping, to get to work or a specific

destination, its easier to drive.

This is called the first mile last mile problem, that refers to the fact that a train might

get you into the general vicinity of your destination, but if you still have to walk

more than 15/20 minutes to get to your end destination, the convenience of public transport

decreases.

And clearly, although the public transport is there, it is not yet extremely successful

in bringing people close enough to their destinations.

This is not to rag on Bangkok’s traffic or transportation.

As I said, it’s better than anything my city has.

* Cities, Beware But there’s something called the network

effect that typically refers to things like social media being more valuable as more people

use it.

For example, if you have instagram but none of your friends use it, it’s not very useful

at all.

I think a similar concept can be applied to transportation networks, where the more stops

or stations you add, the more the network as a whole benefits.

Why is this important?

Well, because other cities around the world are starting to understand the importance

of public transportation.

But, to have a transportation system for the sake of having a transportation system is

as good as not having one all together.

How effective is it really to build this multi-BILLION dollar rail when people still need to drive

to the stops or transfer multiple times?

Cities want to add trains or light rails but don’t want the hassle and cost of going

through populated areas of cities, so they add stops in the suburbs outside of the city

center.

Well, if I have to drive to get to a station, I may as well drive the whole way.

Just something to think about, because why spend billions on a transportation system

that no one’s going to use?

I guess the message is: when it comes to public transport, go big or go home.

If you’re going to spend a ton of money on a rail or metro, it better be useful or

have a well thought out expansion plan.

Otherwise, let’s not forget that buses are valuable and FLEXIBLE means of transport as

well, and they don’t cost nearly as much.

I have hope that the traffic will get better, as Bangkok expands its transportation network.

As much as I know this scene is quintessential south east asia, Bangkok does face some serious

air pollution and would benefit from some reduction in traffic.

Like many other cities are doing, Bangkok could start to remove minimum parking zoning

requirements and add peak congestion pricing.

They could build out their boat taxi network, upgrade their buses to work with the BTS cards

and perhaps upgrade their buses in general.

I would say dedicated bus lanes, but I’m not sure how well that would work with all

the motorcycles and tuktuks.

I highly doubt it’s financially better to own a car in Bangkok.

Rather owning a car is a status symbol, but as they say, "A developed country is not a

place where the poor have cars.

It's where the rich use public transportation."

A quote probably by Gustavo Petro, Mayor of Bogota.

Well, this has been a high level dive into Bangkok’s traffic situation.

Thanks for watching me attempt to dissect the random thoughts I have while on vacation.

Curious to hear your comments and thoughts below!