Transformation of Water Transportation in Bangkok from the “Venice of East” Towards the “Jungle of Concrete”
Transformation of Water Transportation in Bangkok from the “Venice of East” towards the “Jungle of Concrete” Pawinee IAMTRAKUL1, Waleerat THONGPLU2 1Lecturer, 2Student, Department of Urban Environmental Planning and Development, Faculty of Architecture and Planning, Thammasat University, Rangsit Campus Khlong Luang, Pathumthani, Thailand 12121 Tel. +66 (0) 2986 9605-6 Abstract: Once, perhaps too long ago for the young and new generation to realize, Bangkok used to be known as the “Venice of the East”. Such pride and privilege has long perished due to the fact that the once dominating mode of city transport, the water based transport, has gradually lost its significant role to the road based transport system. Since the 20th Century, transport development in Bangkok witnessed a rapid transformation from water based transport to road based transport. Most of waterway networks have been paved over with roads that have resulted to the low serviceability of the existing system in several dimensions of problem (i.e. inadequate accessibility, lack of inter-modal linkages, safety). This paper intends to highlight the existing service of public water transportation by selecting a case study of express boat service in Bangkok. It aims to present an overview of its service together with its role and characteristics. In addition, this paper also intends to recommend actionable measures to improve the service and make it effective to share the existing burden on the road based transportation system and alleviate traffic congestion thereby. Keywords: Bangkok, Water Transport, Sustainable Transportation System. 1. Introduction Bangkok was found as capital of Thailand in 1782 by King Rama I with its ironically the original name of Bangkok, “Krupthep” in Thai also means “Great City of the Angels”.
[Show full text]