Sustainable Transport Begins with Building Design Legal and Policy Measures to Promote Walking, Cycling, and Public Transit Accessibility as Sustainable Alternative Modes of Transport for Enhancing Urban Quality of Life

Abstract

This study examines the feasibility of promoting sustainable urban transport in Thailand, specifically walking, cycling, and the use of public transport, through regulatory controls on the design of newly constructed buildings. Using documentary and comparative methodology, the findings indicate that although Thailand’s policy framework acknowledges sustainable mobility to some extent, the existing policies, legal measures and administrative mechanisms do not adequately support the enhancement of sustainable transport through a shift in travel behaviors away from private car use by building-design measures. This situation contrasts with Singapore, which is examined in this report as a comparative case. While not without imperfections, Singapore has established a clear and coherent national framework for sustainable mobility, particularly through the systematic promotion of walking, cycling, and public transport in a way that is integrated into broader urban development plans. Singapore has also incorporated traffic impact assessment mechanisms that function not only to manage traffic as an externality of real estate development, as in the traditional approach to traffic impact assessment, but also to actively encourage a shift toward more sustainable modes of transport. The study concludes that Thailand may benefit from adopting elements of this approach through the construction permit mechanisms under building control laws, in conjunction with building design manuals and guidelines. However, any such reforms would need to proceed with care and close attention to Thailand’s institutional and contextual constraints. Meaningful progress would likely require substantial reforms and revisions to relevant laws, regulations, and policy frameworks, including those governing traffic impact assessment mechanisms urban planning and building control systems, all of which are significantly connected to building-design measures for promoting sustainable transport.