Traffic & Transportation - Pattaya and Bangkok - ASEAN & Songkran

[Gaybutton]

I think it may be a good idea to use this thread to keep track of traffic and transportation problems, both in Bangkok and Pattaya.

 

As most of you know, the Red Shirts managed to break through the barriers and police and have reached the gates of the Royal Cliff Hotel, where the ASEAN summit is taking place, which is creating a traffic nightmare in that area.

 

Lvdkeyes posted, earlier today:

 

Still no northbound traffic on Thrappaya Rd and no eastbound traffic on Theppasit Rd.

 

I just received a message from a friend who lives in Bangkok that bus service from Bangkok to Pattaya has been suspended. I have no word as to whether there is bus service from Pattaya to Bangkok.

 

Along the Jomtien Beach Road, forget it. Don't even try.

 

Meanwhile, out on Sukhumvit Highway, in Pattaya, the traffic is light and flowing beautifully. While yesterday there was massive police presence along Sukhumvit, today there are no police out there at all. Maybe they moved them all to try to deal with the Red Shirts. Along Sukhumvit the police have posted portable "no parking" signs along the areas at which people do normally park, so that is making traffic even more smooth.

 

This morning I went to the Big-C on Sukhumvit and Pattaya Tai. There was no problem at all and Pattaya Tai seemed to be clear.

 

If anyone has anything to add, please do.

[Gaybutton]

The latest news reports are saying that the taxi cab siege in Bangkok will end, voluntarily on the part of the taxi drivers, at 5:00pm today.

[Guest Oogleman]

Now the protestors have a dilemna. Go home for songkran or stay outside the royal cliff where no food/water etc etc can get to them easily.

 

Im betting they will go home sometime tomorrow.

[Guest lvdkeyes]

We, foolishly, ventured out to Central this afternoon. From Jomtien Complex we had to go south to a road that would go through to Sukhumvit. The one we took soon became gridlocked. From Sukhumvit we turned onto Pattaya Tai to go to Second Rd. Jammed! We saw that Second Rd going toward Jomtien was blocked. We finally go to Central after 1 1/2 hours. Coming home we decided to take Pattaya Klang to Sukhumvit. Easy moving traffic, but could not turn off to Theppasit to go home. The U Turn spots were blocked until way past the floating market. We made the U Turn back to some soi that took us to Jomtien Beach Rd. All was fine until we got to Soi 5, then it was blocked. We turned up Soi 5 then left to the Son of Hanaman (sp) statue. We wanted to turn right to get home. The police tried to make us turn back, but my bf talked to him and told him we lived "just there". He let us through. Almost an hour for that trip!

[Gaybutton]

Almost an hour for that trip!

The next logical question is why? Why are the police doing all this road blocking in the first place, or at least why are they continuing it? What are they protecting or preventing by doing this? The Red Shirts managed to get right through to the Royal Cliff without any serious problems despite all this and, according to the latest news articles, a lot more of them are expected tomorrow.

 

So, what is the reason for all this road blocking and traffic diverting? Unless someone has an explanation that makes sense, this is another addition to my "I Don't Get It" list.

[Guest lvdkeyes]

The next logical question is why?

Have you forgotten where you are?

 

If we had just turned around when the police waved us to go the other way there would have been no way to get home.

 

One thing I noticed on Wednesday was that on Beach Rd. there was no parking and traffic moved along well. What would happen if they stopped parking on Beach Rd. all together and only allowed the baht buses to drive in the one lane closest to the shops. There would be no traffic problem on Beach Rd. and there would be no need to widen it. That would save millions.

[Guest jtrack33]

I was told by a pretty lady at Top Chaeron Optical on Thepawhatsit Rd( the one from Tesco, Sukumvit to Jomtien complex area,) that the one way system and restricted parking on the highways was officially done to make the highways and byways of Pattaya appear open and free-flowing for the ASEAN deligates....who arrive in dribs and drabs at unscheduled times hence the prolonged restrictions. She was told this by a senior police officer from her district. She was very forthcuming because, A: she said she was looking for a farang boyfriend. I told her I could fill that role as long as she didn't mind sharing the bed with a blue-eyed Thai boy and B: I bought some blue-tinted contact lenses for my boy.

I found it to very refreshing to drive around on Thursday on my 24-hour flying visit to Jomtien and easy to figure out the possible routes..largely by following taxi-pickups.

[Gaybutton]

From what I understand, now that the state of emergency has been lifted, now that the Red Shirts have left Pattaya, and now that all the foreign ASEAN delegates are safely on their way back home, traffic in Pattaya has returned to normal (which still is a mess anyhow) . . .