Pictures of 
Bangkok, Thailand
About Bankok
& the Bangkokians

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Bangkok-Thailand

Did you know
Bangkok is:
World's 3rd.
best city 2006
Asia's best
city 2006
World's top 50
places to see
before you die
2003
World's top 10 backpacking
destinations

Thai food is:
4th. thing to eat
before you die

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”

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.

Click pictures to enlarge

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The never ending notorious Bangkok traffic jam.  Here are the common scenes:
1-2. Siam square 4-5pm. weekday and 8.30pm. weekend. 
3-4. Baiyoke Tower 3-4pm. weekday.
5-6. Erawan shrine, 3-4pm. weekday.
7. Express way!  Really, especially during rush hours. 
Download movie of Erawan Shrine traffic (5 MB) 
Download movie of Siam Square traffic 3-6km. per hour (6.79MB)
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3 traffic.7.jpg (22106 bytes) 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. 
 

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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.

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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".  4 traffic.14.jpg (40731 bytes) 5 traffic.16.jpg (43961 bytes)