Home Bangkok, Thailand Wheelchair Accessible Travel Guide “Roll-ability” of Bangkok Sidewalks
“Roll-ability” of Bangkok Sidewalks
The majority of sidewalks in Bangkok present significant accessibility challenges to wheelchair users. The most common issues are a lack of curb cuts and ramps, general disrepair, large crowds, and potholes.
Thailand is a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), and the accessibility of sidewalks is slowly improving. Although foot paths in the more developed and tourist regions of the city are generally accessible, this is not true everywhere. When sidewalks are “accessible,” they are often old, deteriorating and cracked. Even on Sukhumvit Road, a tourist hotspot, sidewalks are without curb ramps at some intersections. Where curb cuts do not exist, curb heights can range anywhere from 3 to 12 inches. At these spots, wheelchair users will need to enter the roadway for a short distance until the sidewalk becomes passable.
Taking a wheelchair into Bangkok’s busy roadways may seem hazardous. While there is certainly risk involved, it is mitigated when wheelchair users observe the following tips:
- Wait for traffic in the lane you are entering to pass or stop before rolling onto the street.
- Try to wheel/roll as close to the curb as possible, taking up as [...]