Areas for improvement in Bangkok´s transportation system

From the SWOT Analysis it can be deduced that although Bangkok´s transportation system has developed positively since the introduction of the mass rapid transit lines, the weaknesses that create an instability for the system are undoubtedly greater. Having defined most of the weaknesses in the SWOT Analysis, the identification of elements for the general improvement of the system can be analysed.

As mentioned earlier, the bus network of Bangkok is extremely outdated in terms of route demands and quality. The improvement and revitalization of this network could bring great opportunities for the further development of the transport system. This is where another issue can be faced, regarding accessibility. Both buses and stations of the mass transit system lack adequate measures for all types of potential passengers. Buses need to be updated for the safer and more comfortable boarding and descending and stations need to develop better access for wheelchairs and luggage.

Secondly, a complete reorganization of the inner core of the city should be undertaken. A great adjustment they should consider is the prioritization of non-motorized vehicles, to avoid at least traffic congestion in the inner part of the city. This could be seen as a project and opportunity for restructuring the city with the needs of the pedestrian in mind. Adding green areas, making crossing and sidewalks safer, incorporating bicycle parking could all be viable options.

However, the main improvement Bangkok should engage in is rethinking the connectivity of some areas of the city. An example being the highly populated suburban areas, which lack basic transportation options to the inner city. A big part of the issue is the problem of last-mile connectivity, which is an issue many people face regarding the last mile, the last part of their commute from their home to the city centre. Seeing as there is no applicable solution to this problem right now, most people take the decision to use their own vehicle, contributing therefor to the problem of traffic congestion. A perfect and easy solution, could be the insertion of Park & Ride facilities, which would increase the amount of public transport users.

Commuters face a further problem, which is the fact that Bangkok doesn't use a common ticketing system. This means, that instead of having one ticket for all modes of transport, once the commuter changes transportation he has to buy a different ticket. An additional challenge, is the fact that many stations, although they can be considered within the same area, have different names. The reason for all these problems lies within the poor organization of the transport providers between one another. The goal is to build a public transport system with a network, that prioritizes multimodal connectivity and manages to connect the different modes of transport available.

All these ideas for improvement are beneficial for both the visitor and the resident of Bangkok. However, some aspects may be more favourable and advantageous for one more than the other. Regarding the connectivity of the areas, the resident would profit more from the improvement in last-mile connections and the prioritization of the development of a multimodal transport system than the potential tourist.

In general, one can say that the residents of Bangkok would benefit greatly from any type of improvement for their city. Visitors would also undoubtedly enjoy these developments; however, they would put more importance to the readjustment of the inner city for tourism purposes. An example is the possibility of the revitalization of the canal transport and the floating markets.

In conclusion, one can say that having a mass transport system available is a basic infrastructure, which should be part of any big city. Although, the decisive element a city needs to function properly is a viable and realistic transport system, which meets all the needs of both the local and visitor.