🚶‍♀️ It’s Car-Free Day (tomorrow)! Get early access to Soiciety’s Public Transit Guide by becoming a Soi Builder. Check out Bangkok Climate Action Week’s events between this and next week. New parks in Bangkok Yai and Lat Phrao will open soon.

📣 Shoutout: Thanks to Andrea Ossi Perretta, George Halet and Jim H. for becoming our newest Soi Visionaries and to Bob Wilson for becoming a Senior Soi Builder!

Cars account for 35% of daily trips in Bangkok, a study on travel behavior found.

Yes, but… While this is a significant portion, it’s not the majority. The remaining 65% of daily trips use public transportation (27%), motorcycle (18%), walking (12%) and bicycle (8%), according to the report from the city’s Traffic and Transportation Department.

Why it matters: The report highlights the opportunity for the city to reduce traffic congestion and its negative economic and environmental impacts by encouraging the 35% of residents who use cars to switch to other transit options for short trips.

📍 A useful tool: Use this map for bike-sharing locations across the city.

A new learning and cultural hub is set to transform a historic part of Bangkok’s Old Town, promising a modern hub for creativity and knowledge on Ratchadamnoen Klang Road. The buildings are called Ratchadamnoen Center 1 and 2.

Why it matters: The center will create a much-needed “third place” for residents — one that isn’t a mall. Officials confirmed last week it’s on track for a 2028 completion.

Details: Both buildings will be located at the former Government Lottery Office headquarters, just across from the Royal Rattanakosin Hotel. TK Park will also relocate from its Central World home here.

Zoom in: The 20,000-square-meter facility will be more than just a library, according to the Office of Knowledge Management and Development, which is spearheading the project. Plans include:

🎞️ Check out the video of the project.

The Pink Line monorail will run on a single track between the Nonthaburi Civic Center and Royal Irrigation Department stations, starting Sept. 21, due to a conductor rail malfunction.

Big picture: Operator NBM said a misalignment between the power rail and the train’s electrical collector caused the damage. The malfunction was discovered last weekend.

Why it matters: Commuters face longer waits on the affected section, but rides between the five stations will be free until repairs are complete.

By the numbers: Expect trains every 20 minutes for the affected section. Normal service continues for the unaffected section with trains every 5-10 minutes.

The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority will lease 1,520 electric buses under a seven-year contract, requiring vehicles with more than 200-kilometer range, capacity of at least 65 passengers and full maintenance included, according to its terms of reference.

Why it matters: These electric buses will replace older diesel models, cutting emissions and reducing noise pollution. For riders, the low-floor, air-conditioned buses promise a more comfortable and more accessible commute.

Yes, but… The TOR allows for shorter 10.5-meter buses, while earlier studies recommended 12 meters to ensure financial viability, a gap that could affect passenger capacity and revenue.

What’s next: A seven-day public hearing on the TOR comes first, with bidding set for October. With this timeline, riders can expect the first fleet around July and August next year, according to previous reports.

Flashback: The Bangkok Metropolitan Council in 2023 passed local legislation requiring all buses in the city to be electric within seven years. It never became law because the city lacks such legal authority.

Fresh produce in Thailand, including at Bangkok’s markets and supermarkets, is contaminated with unsafe levels of pesticides at a rate experts now call a “crisis,” according to a Senate food safety seminar.

Why it matters: This is an alarming sign of Thailand’s broken food safety oversight. The problem cuts across locally grown and imported goods, meaning even products with official seals may not be safe to eat.

By the numbers:

Big picture: Under the current Food Act, the FDA can’t order recalls, only “request cooperation” from businesses. Officials said they lack the staff and funding to enforce safety standards. Thailand also lacks an independent risk assessment body.

What’s next: Consumer advocates and senators are pushing for a new “People’s Food Act.” The proposal would mandate recalls, hold businesses liable and require ISO-certified labs at border crossings to publish real-time results.

In the spirit of World Car-Free Day, I dived into the city’s master plan to transform itself into a walkable and cycle-friendly city by 2032, to connect neighborhoods to public transit and reduce its reliance on private cars.

Why it matters: The plan directly targets traffic congestion issues by creating alternatives for “first- and last-mile” journeys, encouraging residents to walk or cycle to transit stops.

By the numbers:

Big picture: The city is pursuing low-cost, temporary changes like pop-up bike lanes and wider sidewalks in the pilot zones in Phrom Phong, Sam Yot, Lat Phrao 71 and Tha Phra.

What’s next: Data collected during this pilot phase will guide permanent, city-wide infrastructure projects over the next eight years.

📝 Check out the full master plan in Thai

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