Advice and information for Bangkok Shutdown

From January 13, protesters plan to paralyze Bangkok by blocking some important intersections essential to the fluidity of the road traffic already congested in normal time in the Thai capital city. Here are some tips and information to help you cope with this blockade.

The first advice of course is to avoid Bangkok as much as possible because the situation will be explosive but if you can’t:

• avoid using car and taxis and prefer BTS, MRT and Airport Link, the Chao Phraya Express and shuttles on the klongs (see our transportation in Bangkok page if you are not familiar with the Bangkok public transport network)
• otherwise walk avoidin carefullyg blocked  intersections or take motorcycle taxis that can easily weave in traffic and know the areas to avoid
• if you arrive in Thailand by plane during the Bangkok shutdown, do not try to into Bangkok downtown but you continue your journey directly to the next step. Or sleep in a hotel near Suvarnabhumi airport and leave the next day (see selection of hotels here).
• if you have to catch a plane at Suvarnabhumi, Airport of Thailand (AOT) recommends leaving at least 4 hours in advance and using Airport Link.
• avoid all gatherings of demonstrators at blocking points but also wherever else. They are normally peaceful but a meeting with Red Shirts supporters can quickly go wrong.
• if you are lost or need advice please do not hesitate to call the hotline of the Tourist Authority of Thailand, call 1672 or the Tourist Police in case of problems call1155 .

Otherwise, here are some useful information :

• Suthep , the leader of the protesters, confirmed that airports will not be affected by the blockade and even added tourists will be allowed to pass through blocking ponts with no difficulty. Still, the traffic will be so bad it would be better to use public transportation.
• The Chao Phraya Express boats and shuttles on the klongs will be more and more frequent. Two other temporary boat routes from Dao Khanong to Sathon and from Big C Rat Burana Sathon will be added. Buses should be available on the docks to pick up and drop off passengers at bus stops and BTS stations nearby.
• BTS and MRT should also increase their frequency
• the number of car parking spots at airports and Makkasan, one station of the Airport Link, as well as at major commercial malls in Silom will be increased while slots for motocycless will be added around MRT stations .
• the route of the shuttle bus between Suvarnabhumi Airport and Don Muang Airport will be modified to avoid areas of blockage and reduce the effects of traffic congestion that will result from it.aun assistance center to help travelers will open in Suvarnabhumi Airport (4th floor)
• Regular updates about the traffic situation in Bangkok will be posted on the website of the Ministry of Transport www.mot.go.th but I’m afraid they would be in Thai only

 The good news , because there is one; is that if Red Shirts will make counter rallies starting on Monday to express their support for the government and opposition to Bangkok Shutdown, they will carefully avoid tto go to Bangkok so there will be no direct confrontation between the two camps. A wise decision.