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Accessibility Is Freedom

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  • Old buildings in Bangkok – we investigated the data, and what’s missing is terrifying

    Old buildings in Bangkok – we investigated the data, and what’s missing is terrifying

    Last week, a concrete awning from an old building collapsed on Rama IV Road, killing one person. It made me wonder: how many more of these buildings are there in Bangkok? And how do we know which ones are safe? I dug into the data. Here’s what I found — and what I couldn’t find. **What we found:** – REIC (Real Estate Information Center) reports 205 abandoned or unfinished buildings across 19 districts – Former Governor Chadchart estimated nearly 100,000 buildings across Bangkok need inspection – Nation Thailand reports over 400,000 old commercial units deteriorating — more than 10,000 at…

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  • Vietnam’s Public Transport: What It’s Like

    Vietnam’s Public Transport: What It’s Like

    Vietnam is building a transport system that’s accessible from the start — and that’s something Thailand should be watching. Vietnam covers 331,345 km² with a population of 102.3 million, a density of 309 people/km². Thailand, by contrast, is 513,000 km² with 66 million people, density 129/km². Vietnam has 1.5 times more people in 1.5 times less land — public transport isn’t optional, it’s essential. Vietnam passed its Law on Persons with Disabilities in 2010 and a Barrier-Free Access Code in 2002. About 7.8% of the population — roughly 6 million people — have disabilities, and 75% live in rural areas.…

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  • What Are Tokyo’s Trains Like?

    What Are Tokyo’s Trains Like?

    Since I visited Japan and Tokyo, I’ve felt the attention to detail in their rail system. Trains are well-designed, clean, and punctual. These things reinforce my image of timeliness and responsibility — but there’s still plenty to improve. It’s been a while, so let me dig into current data. First, the scale: Tokyo’s main urban area has 14.27 million people, compared to Bangkok’s 8.3 million. There are over 1,200 train stations here (Bangkok: 135). Shinjuku Station, Tokyo’s largest, handles 3.8 million passengers daily — more than half of Bangkok’s entire weekly rail ridership. According to Tokyo Metro, every 30 minutes…

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  • Japan’s Public Transport System: What It’s Like

    Japan’s Public Transport System: What It’s Like

    When it comes to accessible public transport, Japan leads. Since 2008, its Barrier-Free policy requires all new infrastructure — train stations, airports, roads — to be fully accessible for wheelchair users and people with all disabilities. Compare Thailand: Japan has 378,000 km² and 125 million people. Thailand: 513,000 km² and 66 million. Japan is denser yet far more accessible. Japan has over 9,500 train stations. 45 of the world’s 50 busiest stations are in Japan. Shinjuku handles 3.8 million passengers per day. The Shinkansen carries 385.9 million per year. With wheelchair-accessible trains, over 209,000 non-step buses, and more than 50,000…

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