DLT must look at big picture

In a desperate bid to regulate passenger van operations, the state last year launched a series of measures to make them safer. The goal of getting this extremely popular service in order as part of the regime’s “return happiness to the people” policy was laudable. But the implementation, using a centralised, top-down bureaucratic style, has been riddled with errors. Some measures have simply missed the point.

The ultimate goal is to gradually phase out passenger vans, a type of vehicle that has proved unsafe and been involved in a series of crashes with heavy casualties over the past years. The authorities want the vans to be replaced with microbuses though most crashes have been caused by human error with drivers violating traffic laws. A batch of microbuses, with assistance in the form of soft loans to van operators, hit the roads late last year.

Apart from safety issues, passenger vans have been blamed for city traffic problems. This is because of several departure and arrival points mostly downtown that make them a convenient choice for passengers. Some points are located near commercial complexes and indeed this does worsen traffic congestion.

Last year their biggest departure-arrival point at Victory Monument was relocated to three bus terminals, Ekamai for the East, Mor Chit for the North and Northeast, and Sai Tao bus terminal in Thon Buri for the West and the South.

While it is true that those passenger van points caused traffic problems and this issue must be taken care of, the relocation was not well-thought as it adversely affected not only the van operators but also passengers.

With no link to the rail system, travelling to the respective terminals, except Ekamai, takes a very long time, especially in the period ahead of long vacations such as Songkran and New Year. Worse, there have been reports that the Ekamai terminal will soon be relocated even further away to Bang Na as the land owner plans to turn the plot into a commercial area.

The relocation plan initially faced public opposition. Some voiced concerns that because the terminals are poorly designed, with no plans to accommodate the vans in the first place, passengers would be inconvenienced, while the relocation simply shifted the problem from one place to another, with no real solutions. As a result, traffic near the terminals has become congested. Under such circumstances, passengers, mostly low- and middleincome people, have borne the brunt.

It seems those who ordered the relocation lack any understanding and knowledge of the public transport system and, in trying to solve one problem, have opened the door to others.

Some had recommended that the Department of Land Transport (DLT) consider relocating the van departurearrival points to areas with a rail system link. One ideal site is the Airport Link’s Makkasan station, which has ample suitable space.

It is unfortunate that the department shrugged off the idea and, instead, promised to provide a shuttle bus service, which has also raised concerns as it was entirely impractical and caused a heavy burden on the state budget. Why did the state have to fork out such money when other options were available?

Due to its impracticality, the shuttle service came to a halt, a breach of promise on the part of the DLT. This week, van passengers plan to take the case to the Administrative Court in the hope that this will force the department to honour its pledge. But the DLT should not repeat its mistake.

In fact, it’s high time the DLT looked at the big picture, learned its lessons and listened to public opinion. The ultimate goal should be making public transport convenient, safe and affordable.

To achieve that, a comprehensive plan is needed to deal with the issues, not just easy ways out that impose a burden on others, especially passengers.