Inside the Gridlock Capital of the World
Travel Blog • Michael Yessis • 03.21.08 | 9:33 AM ET
It’s Bangkok, according to Time. The story seems to offer support for both sides in a brewing debate in our comments section about whether it’s more difficult to cross the street in Rome or some cities in Southeast Asia. The chaos of Bangkok sounds crazier than Rome, but so does the gridlock. And if cars in Bangkok are perpetually stopped, isn’t that an argument that it should be easier to cross there than in Rome?
Related on World Hum:
* How to Cross the Street in Rome
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Michael Yessis is the cofounder and coeditor-in-chief of World Hum.
Jason Weaver 03.21.08 | 10:46 AM ET
Hi, recently discovered World Hum and am now avid… Personally I’d say Hanoi has the hardest roads to cross, until you learn how. There’s a sense of magic as you move slowly into wave upon wave of scooters and bikes and feel them flow around you. It almost feels like a lesson in zen…
Jason Weaver 03.21.08 | 10:50 AM ET
Then again, I’ve never been to Lagos, where cars are sometimes dismantled in order to break the gridlock.
Lola Akinmade 03.21.08 | 12:13 PM ET
Having lived in Lagos for most of my life with regular trips back, I can honestly tell you the traffic is unbelievable.
You have to see it to believe it!
Julia Ross 03.21.08 | 3:37 PM ET
I second Jason’s post—Hanoi is the worst I’ve seen anywhere. Watching an 8-year-old step into an oncoming stream of motorbikes is heart-stopping.
Sam 07.14.08 | 6:37 PM ET
Bangkok’s certainly the worst for car based gridlock, but i agree only motorbikes can generate that sense of controlled chaos
Some photos from Saigon:
http://www.vietnamtravel.org.uk/traffic-saigon
Absolutely mental - over four million (registered) motorbikes and only 1% of the city’s area is road - compared to BKK’s 4.4%. Of course cars take up more space which is why BKK jams and Saigon is still.. just.. moving.