1. Background of Water Transport in Bangkok
Bangkok was founded as capital of
Thailand in 1782 by King Rama I. It was almost
the same time, 1781 [1], when the Spanish
Governor of California, Felipe de Neve, established
the community known today as Los Angeles or
“City of the Angels.” Ironically the original name
of Bangkok, “Krungthep” in Thai also means
“Great City of the Angels.” While the two angels’
cities may or may not be able to maintain their
‘angels’ city’ reputation, yet one similar mistake
that Bangkok tends to follow is the automobile
dependent transportation system development
of Los Angeles. Conversely, Bangkok must try
to avoid is to becoming the “Los Angeles of the
East.” On the contrary, if it is possible, Bangkok
must try to regain her former reputation of
“Venice of the East.”
Once, perhaps too long ago for the
young and new generation to realize, Bangkok
used to be known as the “Venice of the East.”
Such pride and privilege has long perished due
to the fact that the once dominating mode of
city transport, the water based transport, has
gradually lost its significant role to the road
based transport system. Since the 20th Century,