Thumbs up for CentralWorld Skywalk

[jpatokal]

So here's a little something unusual for this forum -- I'd like to heap praise on something that was completed more or less on time and with little fanfare, namely the "CentralWorld Skywalk" link connecting BTS Siam and Chidlom stations. Whether by design, coincidence or capitalist conspiracy, I know not, but I think this was the missing bit needed to elevate the entire Rama I Rd area into what is quite possibly the best shopping area in South-East Asia (sorry, Orchard Rd and Bukit Bintang!).

Consider: it's now possible to take the BTS to National Stadium, walk into MBK and from there shop until you drop non-stop through Siam Discovery Center, Siam Center, Paragon, CentralWorld, Gaysorn, Erawan and Amarin to BTS Chidlom, and I'm probably missing a couple. Every budget is catered for: haggling backpackers go nuts in MBK, hi-so taitais stock up on more Loius Vuitton in Gaysorn, the rest of us can find all we need in Paragon or CentralWorld. No need to deal with traffic or street crossings, no uneven pavements or missing sewer grates. The walkways have roofs to shelter from the sun and the rain, and if you get pooped out you can just head straight up into the nearest BTS station.

Now, it's easy to level the criticism that these shopping malls are just modern and anonymous, and there's nothing particularly "Thai" about them. True enough, if you define being "Thai" as pootling about on a steamy khlong somewhere while hawkers wave eggplants and live chickens in your face, but most visitors to Thailand (not to mention the Thais themselves!) seem to prefer bright lighting and air-conditioned comfort. But there is still modern Thai influence in there in oodles, just in more subtle ways: the design of the shops and restaurants, the clothes and fabrics, the food being served, mashed up in crazy ways with farang things and turned into something completely new. It's the Thailand of the future -- like it or not, this is what most of Bangkok will look like 20 years down the road. And I like it.

[The Enforcer!]

Consider: it's now possible to take the BTS to National Stadium, walk into MBK and from there shop until you drop non-stop through Siam Discovery Center, Siam Center, Paragon, CentralWorld, Gaysorn, Erawan and Amarin to BTS Chidlom.
I think not.

Unless It has changed recently you cannot cross Siam Station so there is no way from National Stadium to Paragon or Central World, and again at Chitlom you cannot cross the station into Central.

The Enforcer!

[Yappofloyd]

I think not.

Unless It has changed recently you cannot cross Siam Station so there is no way from National Stadium to Paragon or Central World, and again at Chitlom you cannot cross the station into Central.

The Enforcer!

Khun enforcer, ditto.

As someone who has used the skywalk many times (albeit the last time in mid may) I can attest to the frustration of having to go down to street level at Siam station as there is no thorough fare. I also used to live in Prtunam and would go thru Gaysorn to the walkway but had to go down to street level to get to Central to go to the supermarket. Not too much of a hassle for getting around both stations but annoying none the less.

However, Khun jpatokal your point is well made that there is at least nearly a complete link for this area and it certainly has made pedestrian traffic and access to BTS stations much easier.

[jpatokal]

Unless It has changed recently you cannot cross Siam Station so there is no way from National Stadium to Paragon or Central World.
I believe it's now possible to cross from MBK into Siam Discovery and from there through Siam Center and Paragon to the skylink, so you can bypass BTS Siam entirely?

and again at Chitlom you cannot cross the station into Central.
But this is still correct.

[The Enforcer!]

Thanks,

The Enforcer!

[GWR]

I believe it's now possible to cross from MBK into Siam Discovery and from there through Siam Center and Paragon to the skylink, so you can bypass BTS Siam entirely.

Yes. I have walked that section a number of times. However, I seem to remember that there are steps from the MBK intersection walkway into Siam Discovery that would make life difficult for a wheelchair.

[Parinand]

As a Bangkokian, I'm pleased to have a nice facility like the skywalk--something rare for pedestrian-hostile bangkok. I'm satisfied with BMA efforts under leadership of Governor Pijit Rattakul and Governor Apirak Kosayothin in improving the quality of Bangkok sidewalks toward international standards. Features such as wheelchair ramps, guiding blocks for the blind, crosswalk traffic lights are added to Bangkok streetscape. Although there are still too many obstacles on sidewalks for wheelchair traffic, it is nice to see that there are efforts to make things better. I don't care much about "Thai" identity; I just want to see my city a livable one with a green and aesthetic environment. Aesthetics doesn't mean that all things have to be explicitly "Thai".

[The Enforcer!]

guiding blocks for the blind
I watched these being installed in Silom nearly 8 years ago - good fun but does anyone ever use them?

crosswalk traffic lights
I see that the two outside Bangkok Bank and at Lumpini Park/Rajdamri are both inoperative.

The Enforcer!

[Parinand]

Regular maintainance is always a big problem regarding public infrastructure in Thailand :(

[Scuba22]

I'm a big fan of the skywalks just for getting around and I wish there were more of them not necessarily linked to conspicuous copious consumption, the the fact that they are tightly linked to the shopping malls says a lot.

I've been involved in some aspects of the skywalk - it's actually quite a complicated situation. Different portions of the skywalk were underwritten by and are managed by different groups, all single or groups of mall owners, and all with some kind of understanding with the BTS and the BMA. Reaching that understanding is a monumental task, as there are all sorts of turf disputes about who cleans what, where police are going to be vs. security guards, opening and closing times, and on and on and on.

Right now, you can go through the Chidlom BTS station for 10 B on your ticket. Personally, I think it's worth it to avoid the street level. At one meeting, I proposed the idea of having special free "pass-thru" ticket dispensers at either side of the station that would allow people to just walk to the other side, but everyone just looked at me like I was nuts.

There are plans afoot to make more linkages between buildings and BTS stations through skywalks, ala Wave Place and Ploenchit Center. Apparently, during the planning phases they couldn't give away BTS links, the buildings didn't want them. Now they all do. Ultimately, I wouldn't be surprised if the entiew way to Emporium or even Thong Lor was "skywalked".

Then, they could charge a 100 B fee to avoid the grunge and muck on the street and finally the rich will be able to walk from their condos to their shopping malls in peace while the peasants choke on auto fumes below!

Cheers,

Scuba22

[The Enforcer!]

I must also say that I simple love these Skywalks and wish I knew where all of them are. I am slightly disabled and I find it brilliant when I can use an escalator at Sala Daeng Boots to walk along to Silom Station then use the lift down to The Dusit Thani!

Similarly when shopping at Gaysorn, I can use the escalator to the Skybridge then walk/hobble along to Paragon without falling down a drain or over a kerb.

Best think the Skytrain brought with it.

The Enforcer!