A letter to the editor in Bangkok’s The Nation newspaper this week suggested that both the BTS Skytrain and MRT Subway operators should make announcements and urge passengers to stand on the far right-hand side of escalators at all stations. By doing this, the letter writer said, riders that are in a rush to reach their destination sooner would be able to “safely bypass” the slowpokes that prefer to stand in one place, “rather than the current situation whereby many users are blocked throughout the system from making any headway.”
An interesting idea, but I doubt anything will come of it. For one, it requires the cooperation and attention of those that like to stand in the middle of escalators (and stairs). These folks are, and will remain, oblivious to the presence of the other commuters surrounding them. Most of these zombies are usually doing one of the following activities: chatting on their cell phone, sending text messages on their cell phone, starting at photos on their cell phone, or singing along with their iPod. Regardless of the diversion, it prevents them from noticing that other commuters are attempting to use the same escalator/stairway/path.
Another factor that will prevent such an organized system from being implemented: this is Thailand, and most locals are not in a hurry whatsoever. They do not rush around with the same breathless abandon that is exhibited by many of us foreigners. Moving quickly equates to sweating, and that is simply not done here. “Easy does it” could not be a more appropriate motto for Thai pedestrians. But even the term “Thai pedestrian” is somewhat of a contradiction in terms. Most Thais hate to walk anywhere. They would rather hop on a bus or motorcycle to journey the equivalent of one city block rather than walk that same distance.
Since I returned to Bangkok this week I’ve been subjected to bag checks by security guards at the station entrance each time I have used the subway. This new security measure is no doubt in response to the New Year’s Eve bombings in Bangkok. I don’t mind these very quick bag checks but I have to wonder if they are effective. Are these security guards trained to know what to look for? And can these cursory checks really prevent someone from bringing dangerous devices into the stations? Curiously, there have been no similar security changes at BTS Skytrain stations.
