Pictures of Bangkok,
Thailand. The City
of Contrast.
Where ancient meets
modern and East meets
West.
Come and see the
lifestyle, culture,
places, changes, etc.
Bangkok
traffic
From “Venice of the
East” to “Asia’s
largest parking lot”
Feb.
2006
Did
you
know
that
Bangkok
was
called
"Venice
of
the
East"
about
fifty
years
ago?
There
were
hundreds
of
canals
and
people
commuted
by
boats.
Presently,
while
Venice
is
still
Venice,
Bangkok
has
become
“Asia’s
largest
parking
lot”.
Those
canals
became
roads
and
flyovers.
The
growth
in
car
sales
drastically
outperform
the
speed
in
road
construction.
If
the
turtle
represents
the
roads
and
the
rabbit
represents
the
cars
as
in
Aesop’s
fables,
the
turtle
in
Bangkok
never
wins.
A
study
in
1996
showed
a
car
speed
of
3-6
kilometers
per
hour
during
rush
hours
in
some
Bangkok
areas.
Traffic
has
become
the
Bangkokian
lifestyle.
Here
are
samples
:
1.
People
wake
up
and
drive
to
work
before
sunrise.
Upon
arriving
at
the
office,
they
continue
to
sleep
for
some
more
before
office
hours.
2.
Students
have
breakfast
in
the
car
on
their
way
to
school.
3.
People
rent
or
buy
a
place
near
the
office
(in
Bangkok)
and
visit
their
family
at
home
(in
Bangkok
as
well)
during
the
weekend.
4.
People
work
late
after
sunset
to
avoid
traffic
after
office
hours.
5.
People
buy
(street)
food
on
their
way
home
because
they're
too
exhausted
with
the
traffic
to
do
any
cooking
at
home.
At
times,
Bangkok
traffic
is
not
always
hell
on
earth.
There
are
clear
traffic
days
and
some
people
take
this
opportunity
to
learn
about
the
zigzagging
Bangkok
roads.
Here
are
some
common
samples:
1.
During
the
long
weekends
when
Bangkok
people
go
to
the
provinces.
(And
cause
traffic
jams
in
those
areas
instead.)
2.
After
the
completion
of
an
infra
structure
(but
sometimes
causes
traffic
jam
to
nearby
areas
instead.
It's
a
never
ending
story.)
3.
Between
midnight
to
6am.,
Monday
to
Sunday.
(Except
on
festivals
like
the
New
Year
Day
or
Songkran.)
It
is
believed
that
there
is
no
way
to
combat
Bangkok’s
heavy
traffic
by
the
use
of
roads.
The
only
alternative
is
by
the
use
of
the
mass
transit
system
like
the
subway
or
the
skytrain.
And
when
the
transit
network
is
largely
covered,
Bangkokians
will
no
longer
experience
the
“Before
sunrise,
after
sunset”
lifestyle.
Many
people leave their
home before dawn
to avoid rush
hours and here's
what some would do
upon arriving at
the office:
1-2. A lady making
up in her car.
3. A man taking
more sleep in his
car before office
starts.
Bits
&
Pieces If
you
know
the
characteristics
of
Bangkok
traffic,
you
can
avoid
the
traffic
jam
(more
or
less).
Here
are
some
cases
to
avoid:
1.
During
rush
hours,
generally
between
6.30-9.30am.
and
3.30-7.30pm.
2.
Friday
Eve
of
any
monthly
payday.
People
get
rich
before
weekend
and
would
eat
out
or
shop
late.
3.
During
and
after
the
rain.
And
if
it's
a
heavy
rain,
be
prepare
for
hell.
Almost
100%
accurate.
4.
When
a
new
shopping
mall
is
opened.
5.
During
the
construction
of
an
infra
structure
eg
flyovers,
roads,
bridges,
etc.
6.
After
the
completion
of
a
nearby
infra
structure.
Sometimes,
traffic
along
the
new
infra
structure
may
move
smoothly
but
those
in
nearby
areas
may
get
worse.
7.
When
police
conduct
the
traffic.
Really,
this
sometimes
causes
the
traffic
to
flow
unnaturally.
8.
On
big
festivals
Eve
such
as
New
Year,
Valentine's
Day
(sometimes).
9.
The
day
before
long
festivals
(eg
Songkran,
New
Year).
People
would
finish
things
off
before
the
holiday
and
millions
of
them
would
rush
off
at
the
same
time
to
the
provinces.
10.
Fridays.
Friday
traffic
is
mostly
the
busiest
of
the
week
because
everyone
wants
to
finish
things
off
before
the
weekend.
11.
The
weekend
right
after
the
monthly
payday
(ie
end
of
the
month).
People
get
rich
and
all
department
stores
would
hold
their
sales
campaigns.
1
2
Sep.
2006
1-2.
To
assist
drivers
in
traffic
conditions,
Bangkok
Metropolitan
has
an
overhead
“Traffic
Guide
Board”.
This
board
displays
a
small
road
map
which
changes
colors
in
green,
yellow,
and
red.
Any
roads
in
green
lights
means
good
traffic
and
the
like
for
yellow
and
red.
3.
This
board
reports
on
traffic
directions
and
driving
safety.
The
board
here
reminds
drivers
to
fasten
seatbelts
and
motorcyclists
to
turn
the
lights
while
riding.
3
4-5.
Getting
stuck
in
the
traffic
without
knowing
when
the
red
light
will
last
is
a
great
frustration.
This
is
true
for
Bangkok
traffic
because
most
red
lights
last
longer
than
other
lights.
Consequently,
many
intersections
are
equipped
with
a
count
down
traffic
light.
Thais
unofficially
called
these
"Cool
down
lights".
