Jun has been pushing for just this kind of idea for a very long time. Looks like someone listened . . .
__________________________________
Congestion charge planned for Bangkok
by Gary Boyle
October 18, 2024
The government plans to impose a congestion charge of 40-50 baht on motorists who enter inner Bangkok streets to raise money to subsidise a flat 20-baht fare policy for all electric rail lines in Greater Bangkok.
Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit said the pay-to-drive charge would be similar to the one successfully used in seven cities in Britain, including London, and could be at 40-50 baht in the first five years.
Mr Suriya said the congestion charge could be imposed on streets where there are electric rail lines, such as Ratchadaphisek, Silom and Sukhumvit roads, which are used by about 700,000 vehicles daily.
Charging drivers, he said, should reduce vehicle numbers on those roads to 600,000 a day, while the government should be able to collect about 10 billion baht a year in fees.
To realise the goal of a 20-baht maximum flat fare across all systems, Mr Suriya has also recommended the government buy out existing concessionaires and let them continue to operate their systems.
He estimated the cost of buying back the concessions at 200 billion baht, with funds to be raised from investors and subsidised with the congestion charge.
Mr Suriya said a consultancy would be hired to study the plan, with details expected to be available by mid-2025.
The congestion charge could also encourage motorists to use public transit systems and reduce air pollution in Bangkok, he said.
The 20-baht flat fare has been used on parts of the Red Line and the Purple Line since 2023.
At present, fares range from 14 to 62 baht depending on the railway operator and travel distances.
See also: https://www.gaybuttonthai.com/viewtopic ... 48#p115048
https://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/ad ... or-bangkok
Bangkok's powers-that-be finally listening to Jun
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Gaybutton
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Re: Bangkok's powers-that-be finally listening to Jun
About time too. This is long overdue.
One of the most reliable ways of making policy ought to be to look at what works elsewhere and copy it. One far more advanced ASEAN country already had road charging when I was in school.
In my opinion, BTS & Skytrain fares are far too expensive for a country with a minimum wage of less than 400 baht per day.
I think they will also need to invest in longer & more frequent trains on most of the rail services. Some trains are already crowded. Plus various other improvements.
I suspect they will need to raise that congestion charge faster than initially declared too. I suspect 40 baht is not a sufficient deterrent for middle class motorists & they will need to spend more on improving public transport, converting roads for pedestrians & so on.
However, politically it's probably a good idea to start with something modest & then ramp it up.
Incidentally, if I were mad enough to want to drive my car in central London, it would be £15 for the congestion charge PLUS £12.50 for the ULEZ, so a total of £27.50. Or 1190 baht. Then add the parking charges... London is wealthier than Bangkok, but not by that much.
The train is faster, cheaper and is much less stress.
One of the most reliable ways of making policy ought to be to look at what works elsewhere and copy it. One far more advanced ASEAN country already had road charging when I was in school.
In my opinion, BTS & Skytrain fares are far too expensive for a country with a minimum wage of less than 400 baht per day.
I think they will also need to invest in longer & more frequent trains on most of the rail services. Some trains are already crowded. Plus various other improvements.
I suspect they will need to raise that congestion charge faster than initially declared too. I suspect 40 baht is not a sufficient deterrent for middle class motorists & they will need to spend more on improving public transport, converting roads for pedestrians & so on.
However, politically it's probably a good idea to start with something modest & then ramp it up.
Incidentally, if I were mad enough to want to drive my car in central London, it would be £15 for the congestion charge PLUS £12.50 for the ULEZ, so a total of £27.50. Or 1190 baht. Then add the parking charges... London is wealthier than Bangkok, but not by that much.
The train is faster, cheaper and is much less stress.
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KeithAmbrose
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Re: Bangkok's powers-that-be finally listening to Jun
I never understood why the BTS platforms are designed for longer trains, right from the beginning, and longer trains are not introduced. I assume that its something to do with brown envelopes, most things are. It's near enough impossible to get on a southbound train at Sala Daeng in rush hour, has been for years. Quite rightly the network expand, and the trains do not!
Re: Bangkok's powers-that-be finally listening to Jun
In the case of the BTS & MRT, I think designing longer platforms was a good idea. Remember, when the network was in it's early years, the lines were much shorter, so there were fewer customers and far less overcrowding.KeithAmbrose wrote: ↑Fri Oct 18, 2024 10:28 pmI never understood why the BTS platforms are designed for longer trains, right from the beginning, and longer trains are not introduced. I assume that its something to do with brown envelopes, most things are. It's near enough impossible to get on a southbound train at Sala Daeng in rush hour, has been for years. Quite rightly the network expand, and the trains do not!
Now when the BTS and MRT lines are far longer, they should have already introduced longer trains to add capacity. And more frequent trains.
I'll agree the airport rail link starts to get silly. Makkasan is a huge white elephant. Excessive size and poor location makes the station far less useful than it could be. Other airport rail link stations are also over sized. Rather than big stations, what they need is far higher train frequency and easy short connections to other lines at interchanges.
The national rail network upgrades are also terrible. Some of the platforms in new stations are about 5 times longer than the trains. That is silly. Including for small stations so far out in the countryside, it's hard to spot where the nearest village is.
Krung Thep Aphiwat is about twice as long as Berlin Hauptbahnohof, whilst still running a third world train service. That has to be corruption.
Bear in mind, once they have upgraded those lines, they desperately need to increase train frequency as well. Which adds capacity even before they put on longer trains.
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Gaybutton
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Re: Bangkok's powers-that-be finally listening to Jun
All eyes on Bangkok congestion charge plan
by Supoj Wancharoen, Mongkol Bangprapa and Wassayos Ngamkham
October 27, 2024
The Transport Ministry's proposal to introduce congestion charges on motorists using busy roads in Bangkok has reignited intense debate.
This initiative aims to tackle traffic woes by encouraging drivers to leave their cars at home and use public transport. The fees will help fund a 20-baht flat-rate fare for the city's electric trains, making them more affordable and accessible. The ministry plans to spend six to 12 months studying the proposal's feasibility.
The Bangkok Post spoke to the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP), experts in urban planning and consumer rights, police, and road users to explore whether the measure can ease traffic snarl-ups as hoped, and whether the capital's mass transit system is sufficiently developed to support the shift.
Data for study
The OTP's director-general, Panya Chupanich, said a pre-feasibility study was conducted from 2019 to 2022 in collaboration with the German development agency GIZ.
With support from the UK Pact (Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions), a consultant is being selected to continue the study. The consultant will be named in December, and a full study is expected to be completed within two years.
Mr Panya said the study is designated for inner city areas covering 107 square kilometres, including parts of Klong Toey, Phaya Thai, Dusit, Din Daeng and Sathon.
The study will evaluate if imposing a fee, estimated at 45-50 baht, can reduce the number of private vehicles and identify the most likely to benefit. Cameras will be installed in designated zones to record licence plate numbers.
He also provided the daily traffic volumes of private cars at six major intersections: 83,368 at the Sathon-Narathiwat intersection, 68,473 at Pratunam, 62,453 at Pathumwan, 62,453 at Silom-Narathiwat, 60,112 at Phetchaburi-Thong Lor; and 56,235 at Ratchaprasong.
Mr Panya said congestion fees have been imposed in several cities worldwide, including London, where they were initially criticised before becoming widely accepted. Milan has introduced measures to control the number of cars and combat air pollution.
"We'll first target the areas accessed by the electric train system so they have alternatives. The revenue will also support feeder services, such as buses and song thaews, not just electric trains," he said.
Mr Panya said those living in the designated areas may receive discounts or not have to pay the congestion fees.
Learning from success
Assoc Prof Panit Pujinda, head of the Department of Urban and Regional Planning of Chulalongkorn University, said the measure is in place in major cities worldwide, where modest fees are charged, and the objectives are clear: easing traffic congestion and tackling pollution.
New York City has studied this approach and is preparing to implement it. The aim is to collect revenue to improve the city's century-old subway system.
Singapore, meanwhile, intends to tackle traffic gridlock by setting clear traffic flow targets. Data is collected for assessment every six months, and if traffic flow stays within the target range, the current fee rate will be maintained.
He said the Transport Ministry's objective differs from that of other countries because it aims to use congestion charging mainly to subsidise mass transit fares, not to reduce traffic congestion or air pollution, which are secondary benefits.
However, he pointed out this approach might not be practical because Thai commuters face the "first-mile and last-mile issue". As a result, the time and money people spend are not solely on the electric train system.
"They use motorcycle taxis or taxis to get from home to access public transport. The government should spend the congestion fees on developing the feeder system and make it cheaper," he said.
Assoc Prof Panit said congestion fees are often used as a last resort in many countries, implemented after other measures have been tried and failed, such as collecting windfall taxes or raising money from commercial development around train stations.
He suggested the government take it step by step, first promoting commercial development around train stations and collecting windfall taxes from those who benefit from this development.
If this generates insufficient funds to subsidise the 20-baht flat rate fares, the congestion charges should then be considered and allocated toward improving the feeder systems as well, he said.
Importance of feeders
Saree Aongsomwang, secretary-general of the Thailand Consumer Council (TCC), said the government should first improve bus services so they can better serve as the primary feeder for the electric train system.
Public bus services are insufficient, she said, adding funds worth 34 billion baht earmarked for the second phase of the expressway should be allocated to support bus services.
She said bus routes should be redesigned to connect with the electric train systems, and passenger vans and song thaews can also be used to support the feeder network.
Ms Saree also stressed the need to develop an urban plan alongside a comprehensive public transport system.
"Bangkok should spend the revenue from vehicle registration taxes to fund free bus services. More than 50% of people might leave their cars at home and use the rail system if this materialises," she said.
Regarding the government's plan to buy back electric train systems, she said the government should examine financial and maintenance records to assess costs and ensure transparency in the buyback process.
"Otherwise, the public may perceive the government is using their tax money to help those operators who are running at a loss," she said.
Ms Saree said the government must show how its actions contribute to addressing the climate change issues that have wreaked havoc in various regions. This will raise awareness and encourage people to reduce their car use.
She said that last year, around 10 million people fell ill due to PM 2.5 ultrafine dust pollution, costing the government approximately 7 billion baht for healthcare. "This cycle will repeat itself yearly [unless meaningful actions are taken]," she said.
'Motorists willing to pay'
Pol Col Jirakrit Charonpat, deputy commander of the Traffic Division, said congestion fees will likely not deter people from using cars if they remain the most convenient option for commuting.
Mass transit systems are often overcrowded during rush hours, and the weather plays a key role in people's decision to use public transport, especially when it involves walking in hot and humid conditions, he said.
Pol Col Jirakrit said it remains unclear how the fees will be collected and what impact they will have on residents and motorists who regularly travel through those areas.
What works in other countries may not work here due to various factors. However, he said traffic police are ready to help implement the government policy, and if public transport services are improved, more people will choose public transport over driving.
Voices of motorists
Chor Sua-klin, a 45-year-old taxi driver, said the measure is unlikely to make a difference because there will always be those willing to pay if they believe it is worth it.
He disagreed with the measure because it would affect his job. He believes passengers would use taxi services less frequently if required to pay a congestion fee.
A more effective approach might be to limit the age of vehicles allowed in inner-city areas. Older cars contribute to traffic jams when they break down, and this method would also reduce the number of cars entering the city.
Worawit Prungpaopan, a 42-year-old office worker, agreed there are those willing to pay for convenience.
"It isn't convenient to walk on the pavements in this weather or to use public transport, which still does not cover all areas," he said.
However, he said he was sceptical about whether the congestion fees would improve public transport services.
Ploypapas Siwatjirakit, a 45-year-old business owner, said the introduction of congestion fees will increase business costs, which will inevitably hit consumers if these costs rise.
Ms Ploypapas said the city's public transport systems need improvement, whether in terms of routes, efficiency of services or safety. Even the electric train systems can't accommodate passengers during rush hours.
"The public needs to prepare if this measure is to be implemented. If we follow the example from developed countries, we must also consider the cost of living and the educational backgrounds of our people," she said.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/sp ... harge-plan
by Supoj Wancharoen, Mongkol Bangprapa and Wassayos Ngamkham
October 27, 2024
The Transport Ministry's proposal to introduce congestion charges on motorists using busy roads in Bangkok has reignited intense debate.
This initiative aims to tackle traffic woes by encouraging drivers to leave their cars at home and use public transport. The fees will help fund a 20-baht flat-rate fare for the city's electric trains, making them more affordable and accessible. The ministry plans to spend six to 12 months studying the proposal's feasibility.
The Bangkok Post spoke to the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP), experts in urban planning and consumer rights, police, and road users to explore whether the measure can ease traffic snarl-ups as hoped, and whether the capital's mass transit system is sufficiently developed to support the shift.
Data for study
The OTP's director-general, Panya Chupanich, said a pre-feasibility study was conducted from 2019 to 2022 in collaboration with the German development agency GIZ.
With support from the UK Pact (Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions), a consultant is being selected to continue the study. The consultant will be named in December, and a full study is expected to be completed within two years.
Mr Panya said the study is designated for inner city areas covering 107 square kilometres, including parts of Klong Toey, Phaya Thai, Dusit, Din Daeng and Sathon.
The study will evaluate if imposing a fee, estimated at 45-50 baht, can reduce the number of private vehicles and identify the most likely to benefit. Cameras will be installed in designated zones to record licence plate numbers.
He also provided the daily traffic volumes of private cars at six major intersections: 83,368 at the Sathon-Narathiwat intersection, 68,473 at Pratunam, 62,453 at Pathumwan, 62,453 at Silom-Narathiwat, 60,112 at Phetchaburi-Thong Lor; and 56,235 at Ratchaprasong.
Mr Panya said congestion fees have been imposed in several cities worldwide, including London, where they were initially criticised before becoming widely accepted. Milan has introduced measures to control the number of cars and combat air pollution.
"We'll first target the areas accessed by the electric train system so they have alternatives. The revenue will also support feeder services, such as buses and song thaews, not just electric trains," he said.
Mr Panya said those living in the designated areas may receive discounts or not have to pay the congestion fees.
Learning from success
Assoc Prof Panit Pujinda, head of the Department of Urban and Regional Planning of Chulalongkorn University, said the measure is in place in major cities worldwide, where modest fees are charged, and the objectives are clear: easing traffic congestion and tackling pollution.
New York City has studied this approach and is preparing to implement it. The aim is to collect revenue to improve the city's century-old subway system.
Singapore, meanwhile, intends to tackle traffic gridlock by setting clear traffic flow targets. Data is collected for assessment every six months, and if traffic flow stays within the target range, the current fee rate will be maintained.
He said the Transport Ministry's objective differs from that of other countries because it aims to use congestion charging mainly to subsidise mass transit fares, not to reduce traffic congestion or air pollution, which are secondary benefits.
However, he pointed out this approach might not be practical because Thai commuters face the "first-mile and last-mile issue". As a result, the time and money people spend are not solely on the electric train system.
"They use motorcycle taxis or taxis to get from home to access public transport. The government should spend the congestion fees on developing the feeder system and make it cheaper," he said.
Assoc Prof Panit said congestion fees are often used as a last resort in many countries, implemented after other measures have been tried and failed, such as collecting windfall taxes or raising money from commercial development around train stations.
He suggested the government take it step by step, first promoting commercial development around train stations and collecting windfall taxes from those who benefit from this development.
If this generates insufficient funds to subsidise the 20-baht flat rate fares, the congestion charges should then be considered and allocated toward improving the feeder systems as well, he said.
Importance of feeders
Saree Aongsomwang, secretary-general of the Thailand Consumer Council (TCC), said the government should first improve bus services so they can better serve as the primary feeder for the electric train system.
Public bus services are insufficient, she said, adding funds worth 34 billion baht earmarked for the second phase of the expressway should be allocated to support bus services.
She said bus routes should be redesigned to connect with the electric train systems, and passenger vans and song thaews can also be used to support the feeder network.
Ms Saree also stressed the need to develop an urban plan alongside a comprehensive public transport system.
"Bangkok should spend the revenue from vehicle registration taxes to fund free bus services. More than 50% of people might leave their cars at home and use the rail system if this materialises," she said.
Regarding the government's plan to buy back electric train systems, she said the government should examine financial and maintenance records to assess costs and ensure transparency in the buyback process.
"Otherwise, the public may perceive the government is using their tax money to help those operators who are running at a loss," she said.
Ms Saree said the government must show how its actions contribute to addressing the climate change issues that have wreaked havoc in various regions. This will raise awareness and encourage people to reduce their car use.
She said that last year, around 10 million people fell ill due to PM 2.5 ultrafine dust pollution, costing the government approximately 7 billion baht for healthcare. "This cycle will repeat itself yearly [unless meaningful actions are taken]," she said.
'Motorists willing to pay'
Pol Col Jirakrit Charonpat, deputy commander of the Traffic Division, said congestion fees will likely not deter people from using cars if they remain the most convenient option for commuting.
Mass transit systems are often overcrowded during rush hours, and the weather plays a key role in people's decision to use public transport, especially when it involves walking in hot and humid conditions, he said.
Pol Col Jirakrit said it remains unclear how the fees will be collected and what impact they will have on residents and motorists who regularly travel through those areas.
What works in other countries may not work here due to various factors. However, he said traffic police are ready to help implement the government policy, and if public transport services are improved, more people will choose public transport over driving.
Voices of motorists
Chor Sua-klin, a 45-year-old taxi driver, said the measure is unlikely to make a difference because there will always be those willing to pay if they believe it is worth it.
He disagreed with the measure because it would affect his job. He believes passengers would use taxi services less frequently if required to pay a congestion fee.
A more effective approach might be to limit the age of vehicles allowed in inner-city areas. Older cars contribute to traffic jams when they break down, and this method would also reduce the number of cars entering the city.
Worawit Prungpaopan, a 42-year-old office worker, agreed there are those willing to pay for convenience.
"It isn't convenient to walk on the pavements in this weather or to use public transport, which still does not cover all areas," he said.
However, he said he was sceptical about whether the congestion fees would improve public transport services.
Ploypapas Siwatjirakit, a 45-year-old business owner, said the introduction of congestion fees will increase business costs, which will inevitably hit consumers if these costs rise.
Ms Ploypapas said the city's public transport systems need improvement, whether in terms of routes, efficiency of services or safety. Even the electric train systems can't accommodate passengers during rush hours.
"The public needs to prepare if this measure is to be implemented. If we follow the example from developed countries, we must also consider the cost of living and the educational backgrounds of our people," she said.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/sp ... harge-plan
Re: Bangkok's powers-that-be finally listening to Jun
A few excuses have been raised there. Absolutely none of them are unique to Thailand & there are obvious solutions to every one of the problems.
They can run trains more frequently.
They can put on more buses in the centre and the suburbs. They could put in dedicated bus lanes which would make the buses faster.
As for inadequate pavements, they could simply close some road lanes and widen the pavement. Silom has 3 lanes in each directions & a narrow pavement, so the balance is all wrong.
Better still, close certain roads completely.
The reward for doing this properly is cleaner air, faster transport & more space for the public.
They can run trains more frequently.
They can put on more buses in the centre and the suburbs. They could put in dedicated bus lanes which would make the buses faster.
As for inadequate pavements, they could simply close some road lanes and widen the pavement. Silom has 3 lanes in each directions & a narrow pavement, so the balance is all wrong.
Better still, close certain roads completely.
The reward for doing this properly is cleaner air, faster transport & more space for the public.
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Gaybutton
- Posts: 23445
- Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 11:21 am
- Location: Thailand
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Re: Bangkok's powers-that-be finally listening to Jun
Why only when there is fine dust pollution? Why not all the time, preferably banning them completely unless they at least get proper repairs and can prove it? And unless I'm misinterpreting the article, whenever they impose the ban, it is for only 3 days. Maybe some of you can make sense of that. I can't. And as long as these trucks keep out of the 9 designated districts they are free to pollute all they want? Another addition to my "I Don't Get It" list.
All I know is there is no reasonable excuse for that kind of pollution to be tolerated at all.
______________________________________________
Polluting trucks to be banned from 9 Bangkok districts
Measures to take effect whenever fine-dust air pollution reaches hazardous levels
by Supoj Wancharoen
October 29, 2024
Nine districts in Bangkok will be designated as low-emission zones next year, with polluting trucks having six wheels or more to be banned from entering when fine dust particles reach hazardous levels.
The ban is among the measures announced on Tuesday by Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt to fight PM2.5 pollution, which tends to worsen in the cool season.
Trucks with six wheels or more that emit exhaust fumes above a certain level will be banned from the nine designated districts for three days when air pollution from fine dust particles in five districts reaches the red zone, defined as 75 microgrammes per cubic metre of air or more. Only vehicles proven to have clean engines based on a checklist of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) will be exempted from the ban.
The ban order will be announced 24 hours in advance and will take effect for three days. Violators face fines up to 2,000 baht and/or up to one month in jail.
Starting next month, the BMA will allow all trucks to apply for the “green list” if the owners can prove that their vehicles and engines have been well maintained to meet City Hall guidelines. Once they are on the “green list”, they will be excluded from the ban.
Mr Chadchart acknowledged that the BMA has no authority to control traffic, but he said City Hall would use the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Act to enforce the ban. The law permits provincial governors to crack down on the causes of pollution in their jurisdiction.
Mr Chadchart said 257 closed-circuit cameras installed all over Bangkok would aid officials in checking all trucks violating the ban. Officials would also be sent to visit sites suspected of emitting pollution into the air.
He encouraged office workers to work from home whenever five districts reach red-zone levels of pollution, for two consecutive days to keep cars off the roads.
The nine districts designated as low-emission zones are:
* Bang Rak
* Dusit
* Klong San
* Pathumwan
* Phaya Thai
* Phra Nakhon
* Pomprap Sattruphai
* Samphanthawong
* Sathon.
The districts are located within the boundary of the inner ring road that connects Ratchadaphisek with Charan Sanitwong roads.
Bangkok in recent years has been facing growing problems from fine-dust air pollution from November to the start of summer around March.
The capital ranked 50th for the world’s dirtiest air at 3pm on Tuesday with an IQAir index of 50 microgrammes per cubic metre, designated “moderate” or yellow. The worst air in the world was in Lahore in Pakistan, at 240.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... -districts
All I know is there is no reasonable excuse for that kind of pollution to be tolerated at all.
______________________________________________
Polluting trucks to be banned from 9 Bangkok districts
Measures to take effect whenever fine-dust air pollution reaches hazardous levels
by Supoj Wancharoen
October 29, 2024
Nine districts in Bangkok will be designated as low-emission zones next year, with polluting trucks having six wheels or more to be banned from entering when fine dust particles reach hazardous levels.
The ban is among the measures announced on Tuesday by Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt to fight PM2.5 pollution, which tends to worsen in the cool season.
Trucks with six wheels or more that emit exhaust fumes above a certain level will be banned from the nine designated districts for three days when air pollution from fine dust particles in five districts reaches the red zone, defined as 75 microgrammes per cubic metre of air or more. Only vehicles proven to have clean engines based on a checklist of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) will be exempted from the ban.
The ban order will be announced 24 hours in advance and will take effect for three days. Violators face fines up to 2,000 baht and/or up to one month in jail.
Starting next month, the BMA will allow all trucks to apply for the “green list” if the owners can prove that their vehicles and engines have been well maintained to meet City Hall guidelines. Once they are on the “green list”, they will be excluded from the ban.
Mr Chadchart acknowledged that the BMA has no authority to control traffic, but he said City Hall would use the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Act to enforce the ban. The law permits provincial governors to crack down on the causes of pollution in their jurisdiction.
Mr Chadchart said 257 closed-circuit cameras installed all over Bangkok would aid officials in checking all trucks violating the ban. Officials would also be sent to visit sites suspected of emitting pollution into the air.
He encouraged office workers to work from home whenever five districts reach red-zone levels of pollution, for two consecutive days to keep cars off the roads.
The nine districts designated as low-emission zones are:
* Bang Rak
* Dusit
* Klong San
* Pathumwan
* Phaya Thai
* Phra Nakhon
* Pomprap Sattruphai
* Samphanthawong
* Sathon.
The districts are located within the boundary of the inner ring road that connects Ratchadaphisek with Charan Sanitwong roads.
Bangkok in recent years has been facing growing problems from fine-dust air pollution from November to the start of summer around March.
The capital ranked 50th for the world’s dirtiest air at 3pm on Tuesday with an IQAir index of 50 microgrammes per cubic metre, designated “moderate” or yellow. The worst air in the world was in Lahore in Pakistan, at 240.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... -districts
Re: Bangkok's powers-that-be finally listening to Jun
I agree completely.Gaybutton wrote: ↑Tue Oct 29, 2024 6:08 pm Why only when there is fine dust pollution? Why not all the time, preferably banning them completely unless they at least get proper repairs and can prove it? And unless I'm misinterpreting the article, whenever they impose the ban, it is for only 3 days. Maybe some of you can make sense of that. I can't. And as long as these trucks keep out of the 9 designated districts they are free to pollute all they want? Another addition to my "I Don't Get It" list.
All I know is there is no reasonable excuse for that kind of pollution to be tolerated at all.
Also, I suspect most of the obvious pollution countermeasures don't have a net cost to the economy, but a net benefit.
Financial benefits from various measures would include:
Reduced healthcare costs
Reduced absenteeism from sickness
Reduced congestion
Increased tourism revenue
Also, the GDP of London has only gone up & up since they started introducing countermeasures to reduce pollution.
I suspect it's the same in most other cities.
If people in a city go to work by public transport, they don't have the stress of driving. Which means there's a good chance they will be more productive at work.