Social media has been dominated by unusual activity as netizens try to get pictures of what they see as the worst pavement in the Big Mango. Their eagerness seems vivid and strong, as if it were a contest.
The trend has challenged the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration following the demolition of a pavement built by a city hotel, which seemed to be in excellent condition.
It became an issue after the before-and-after photo was shared on social media last week by an anti-hawker Facebook page. People were infuriated with the way the BMA wasted its budget. It's difficult to understand the logic of a government agency that destroyed something that's both functional and in good condition.
In an about face, senior city officials said the excellent pavement must be done away with for the sake of uniformity. All city pavements must, they insisted, bear the same look, with same standard. Whose "standard"? Netizens wasted no time pointing out that it's the pavements built by the BMA that are mostly substandard. They posted pictures as evidence. Some pavements are rugged, uneven and broken. Many are occupied by motorcycle taxis as well as selfish vendors who dirty the spots with dish water and food waste. We all know that motorcycles are to blame for damage to pavement surfaces.
Eventually, Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang was forced to clear the air.
The policeman-turned-top-city administrator gave his own, weird explanation. He said the dismantled pavement may look good but it becomes slippery when it rains. Netizens countered his claims. I wonder if he and his team had ever stepped on the pavement in question before ordering its destruction.
I remember using this pavement years ago. At that time, I thought it was nice and fine. Wheelchair activist Manit Intaraphim also told me he had no problem rolling the wheelchair onto the pavement surface. However, he mentioned that it could be problematic for people with walking aids.
I am not an architect or tile expert but I think there should be better options than to smash up a pavement, like adding anti-slip material. This would help save our tax money while keeping the quality pavement.
Moreover, who cares about pavement uniformity? Instead of wasting time and money on making the pavements look the same, why don't we improve them and focus instead on functionality?
I'm talking about the rising heat that's killing people. In the old days, the temperature was usually more tolerable around the end of April, the hottest month of the year. But now we are in May and the temperature is higher than 35 degrees Celsius. The temperature that shows up on my phone has risen to 42 to 45C. Walking on the street under the hot sun, I almost felt I was suffocating.
A colour-coded graphic based on information from the Thai Meteorological Department shows that the temperature across the country has risen to alarming levels in the past decade. In 2007, the South and Central Plains had yellow levels of heat and the North and Northeast had were covered in a shade of orange, with a few red spots. But look at the graphic now, and you'll see that half of the country has gone into the red and a few provinces have even turned deep red.
If governor Aswin and his team ever leave their air-conditioned rooms and go out into the late afternoon sun, they would also feel the heat, literally.
In fact, I hope the governor and city officials take a walk around different areas like Nana, and look at the pavement along Wireless Road and Ratchadamnoen Avenue and compare the temperature conditions. This should make them stop thinking about "beautifying" the pavement, but instead feel it necessary to find a way to improve the spots by planting more trees that will create shade and by upgrading bus stops and taxi stands.
In short, don't be obsessed with the aesthetic, which is useless. The city should make it a priority to improve the pavements' functionality and space management, and ease the plight of pedestrians.
Pedestrians deserve better. They expect the sidewalks to be walker-friendly and without motorcycle taxis. There should also be more shady trees that help absorb dust and vehicles' exhaust fumes. Trading by street vendors should be regulated so that it will not be a nuisance.
Unless the city administrator takes steps to improve the pavements' functionality, their aspiration of making the Big Mango a livable city will go nowhere.
Sirinya Wattanasukchai is a columnist of the Bangkok Post.
