Bangkok Thailand - Bangkok Traffic - Choked by its traffic

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.Bangkok Traffic

Getting around in Bangkok can be a real Chinese puzzle, especially during rush hour. Despite considerable efforts by the authorities to reorganize public transport, the city remains stuck in its daily imbroglio.

6pm on Phetchaburi Road in Bangkok -the traffic, which is getting heavier and heavier, has already brought this stretch of road to a standstill. This will soon spread to other major routes and the whole city will affected.

.Choked by its traffic

>> It's a tricky subject in all major cities, but the traffic in Bangkok is a complete nightmare for the people that live here. Despite all the diversion systems and the increase in public transport, the traffic jams choke the city everyday.

The few rare moments where you can drive freely around the city are essentially at night or perhaps the morning after a holiday. During the day, whichever road you're on, the traffic is heavy and fraught and during the rush hours (7-9am; 12-2pm, 6-9pm - sometimes even later especially at weekends) it's chaos.

The deployment of traffic police at each major junction with their good intentions makes no difference, it's total confusion. Cars, taxis, tuk-tuks and buses bumper to bumper surrounded by motorbikes, can stand for an hour, 2 hours without moving an inch.

Continual efforts are being made to ease the city's heavy influx, some successful, some not. So many people need to get around the city on wheels (transportation of goods, staff, taxis...) and the recent construction of extra highways is simply not enough. The new underground network due to open in 2004 is currently under construction. It proposes a new alternative to the problem but will this alone prove to be the solution? (/LA)