Change is afoot in Bangkok. Yes, traffic still occasionally grinds to a standstill during rush hour, but huge investment in its public transport system means more people are leaving their cars at home. In late 2023, the MRT’s Pink Line, which connects the riverside district of Nonthaburi to Bangkok’s Min Buri district, started trials (passengers could ride for free until January 2,2024, after which point standard fares applied). The MRT’s Yellow Line, which connects Lat Phrao (a neighbourhood popular with backpackers) to Samrong in eastern Bangkok, opened in June 2023.
Then again, getting around Bangkok using public transport has been relatively easy in recent years, thanks not only to the MRT but also the BTS Skytrain. It’s also likely that Bangkok’s ancient canals (known as klongs) could soon become widely used transportation routes once more, courtesy of regular spruce-ups (in July 2023 more than two tonnes of plastic waste was
