"Bangkok," the capital city where life is tightly stuck on the roads, faces traffic congestion akin to a chronic disease that has accompanied its residents for decades. The position of Bangkok governor is considered a "challenge throne," with every candidate bringing their own handbook to solve this problem. Yet, in each era, the concepts and responses to the traffic crisis have appeared distinctly different.
The approaches to solving Bangkok's traffic problems by its governors have evolved according to technology and urban development ideas as follows.
The pioneering era and basic mass transit (Lieutenant General Jamlong Srimuang). At the time when Bangkok began facing severe traffic congestion, the focus was on regulating passenger vehicles, expanding road surfaces, and initiating large-scale mass transit projects (which later became the BTS Skytrain) to encourage people to leave private cars.
The "mega-project" and expressway era (Dr. Pichit Rattakul - Mr. Samak Sundaravej). This era believed that "traffic jams must be solved by building more roads." Many overpasses, elevated expressways, and underpasses were constructed, alongside the launch of the first BTS line in 1999. However, the more roads were built, the more cars appeared in tandem.
The era of connecting rail, road, and boat systems (Mr. Apirak Kosayodhin - Mom Rajawongse Sukhumbhand Paribatra). The mindset shifted from building roads to "connecting public transport systems." Efforts included promoting Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), expanding rail transit routes, and restoring canal boat services to provide more travel options.
The era of record-breaking rail transit and smart technology (Police General Aswin Kwanmuang - Mr. Chadchart Sittipunt). Bangkok became surrounded by multi-colored rail construction sites. Immediate solutions involved restoring road surfaces and introducing technologies such as Intelligent Traffic Management Systems (ITMS), coordinated traffic control with the police (Command Center), and micro-level policies like improving sidewalks and building covered walkways to facilitate access to rail stations.
