Transportation

Sustainable public transportation

and logistics system is the most effective land and energy use to cause the least pollution. It is necessary to cover these points: accessibility, social equality, ecological sustainability, health and safety, people participation, economy, information technology, and support.

Mahidol University has begun sustainable public transportation and logistics system management since the master plan in 2008. This master plan has developed the guidelines in physical development to promote learning environment which its physical characteristics should be harmoniously respond to society and environment, safe, promote well-being and pollution emission to environment. The university has changed the way of using roads for large vehicles to be for pedestrians and bicycles which is an environmental-friendly vehicle, reduces fossil fuel vehicles use in order that students, staff and public can be beneficiary to do walking exercise and biking as well as energy efficiency public transportation in the university. This means an increase in efficiency in energy fuel which leads to less consumption of fuel in combustion. The university supports clean energy vehicles. There is a tram service covering transportation in the university campus. It is accessible to everyone with free of charge. Shuttle bus services which are vehicles to promote carpooling aim to reduce fuel energy in commuting staff and students to the other campus. Jakka Center Services is to promote environmental-friendly vehicles use. It is a one-stop service center to provide bicycle services. This is consistent to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Target 3: Good Health and Well-being; Target 7: Affordable and Clean Energy; Target 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities; and Target 13: Climate Action.

EV Trams

192

rounds per day

Bicycle for rent

490

Bicycles

Shuttle Buses

130

rounds per day

Traffic Safety

Mahidol University is strict in speed limit for cars, provides parking area, restricted area for parking and installs traffic signs around the university to advise people who use the road conveniently and safely. In order to orderly flow of traffic, there are security guards who are required to control and direct traffic during rush hour from 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. and provide convenience at entrances and exits of the university 24 hours a day. Therefore, Mahidol University has issued an announcement of traffic regulations within the university areas B.E. 2021 to communicate the people to understand traffic rules and regulations for driving in the university as well as promote safe driving campaign activities by collecting the traffic data and statistics of accidents on roads within the university which will lead to the goal of reducing traffic accident statistics to zero.

In addition, Mahidol University has activities that promote safety in transportation within the university , including a campaign for 100% helmet use and training on proper motorcycle riding techniques and relevant laws, in accordance with the announcement on the guidelines for helmet use in motorcycles at Mahidol University, Salaya, in 2022. The university also focuses on improving the road environment within the campus to ensure safety for pedestrians, motorcyclists, and drivers. This includes enhancing the visibility of crosswalks for both pedestrians and drivers, which helps prevent and reduce traffic accidents. These efforts align with the Master Plan of Mahidol University, Salaya, 2008, which emphasizes the development of the campus environment to transition from car-centric transportation to a university designed for pedestrians and cyclists.

Walking Street

Mahidol University, Salaya Campus’s master plan in 2008 aimed to have physical development to promote learning environment in the university which its physical characteristics should harmoniously respond to society and environment. The university has focused on using roads for pedestrians and bikes instead of large vehicles. This is to promote the culture of natural caring under the policy “A Promised Place to Leave and Learn with Nature” by planning in traffic system development, road system, parking spaces, bicycle lane, and walking lane system to be consistent with the concept of Green Campus. Those important keys are
      - Safety
      - Tidiness
      - Environmentally Sound
      - Community Satisfaction

There are projects of main roads development around the learning zones. The areas of 164,017 square meter have been changed to walking lane and bicycle lane. The space of 21,864 square meter becomes bicycle lane for students and staff to exercise by biking, or running on the track. This is to increase an opportunity to meet and greet. Green lifestyle is a new focus to build new spaces for creative activities, for example, walking street with entertainment and diversity.

Concept Design

Importance of the main traffic roads having three lanes on each side, in total of six lanes is reduced to three lanes without a street isle. The previous road lanes have been adjusted to the bicycle lane and walking lane surrounded with shady landscape. They are advantages of trees and flowers lining as a separator between walking streets and traffic roads for users’ safety.

Components of routes, for example, bench, tram station, bicycle rack are located in shading areas to blend with the landscape, be well-organized and to not block the ways or make difficulty to street users. This promotes diverse activities in common areas, adding liveliness to it.

Pathway surface and street furniture design should consider to the universal design which has physical characteristics to facilitate all groups of street users, for example, smooth surface for wheelchairs, a sign or different type of surfaces at the ramp intersection, suitable height of bench, and spaces for wheelchairs.

Ramp and Cover way

Mahidol University focused on a good physical environment. Facilities have been designed based on the universal design to support students, staff, and public including disabled who all visit the university’s areas to be equally convenient and accessible to basic services. This is consistent to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Target 3: Good health and well-being, Target 10: Reduced Inequalities, and Target 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. Mahidol University facilitates all basic facilities to disabled according to the Cabinet resolution dated on 19 May 2009. Those facilities are parking space, ramp, sign, restroom, and service information center. The public center buildings are Office of the President, Mahidol Learning Center: MLC, Prince Mahidol Hall, and Sirividhaya Building including tram station and bus terminal.

The common traffic areas have been facilitated with these facilities.

Main pathway of the main road surrounding study area and cover way

Pathway: the width of pathway is 1.50-5.50 meters with smooth surface, non-slip, no barrier which may be harm to disabled. Pathway and bicycle lane on the main roads have benches along the way on both sides to share rest areas for public and disabled. Those rest areas have enough spaces for wheelchairs without traffic road blockage.

Ramp: it is designed to have different surface, for example, crossing lanes, non-slip surface. Ramp width is at least 0.90 meter and maximum slope at 1:12 which follows the Ministerial regulations requirement.

Different surface texture: floor on the pathway is different in surface texture and color which are different from the nearby areas, for example, up and down on the ramp, intersection or turning corner, slope, tram stop station. In addition, different surfaces for crossing lanes for disabled are available to warn people with vision impairment on the position of ramp, intersection, turning corner, and crossing lanes.

Signs and traffic symbols: There are signs and traffic symbols signs on pathways which their height from the ground at least 2.00 meter for head protection. Those signs are aligned on the same line to avoid pathway blockage. There are symbols for disabled on the ramps and crossing lanes.

Saphan Dao

It is a cover way and overpass across Borommaratchachonnani Road to connect the areas of two sides of the university which are Ratchasuda College and study areas. The width of the bridge is 2.30 meter with smooth surface which is no obstacles for disabled. Intersection and turning corner have different surface for those with visual impairment. Reflection mirrors are installed for hearing impaired people to see the traffic. Maximum slope of up-and-down areas of overpass across Borommaratchachonnani Road is 1:12 and width of 6.00 meter with cover way more than 1.50 meter and two-sided railing following the Ministerial regulations requirement.

Electric Tram

Mahidol University has public electric tram for travelling in the university. Tram station is the center of public electric tram services which everyone can access. This helps reduce pollution and promotes sustainable clean energy. The 15 electric tram has 28 seats, divided into four service lines which the main lines covering all areas of the university. Their decoration is colorful and outstanding, is it is free of charge.

The university usually provides services on 15 electric trams divided into four lines (Green, Blue, Red, and Yellow). These tram lines cover all of Salaya campus. The services are daily from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The details of tram service schedules are below.

Green Line

Baan Mahidol – Chaofaa Garden – Faculty of Science – Mahidol Court – Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities – International College – Office of the President – Faculty of Engineering – Faculty of Information and Communication Technology – Library – Faculty of Environment and Resource Studies – Institute of Nutrition – College of Sports Science and Technology – Sport Building (Gym) – Baan Mahidol (Green Line Map)

Blue Line

Baan Mahidol – Environmental Conservation Building – Parking 4 – Faculty of Veterinary – National Institute for Child and Family Development – Condominium – Soccer Filed 3 – Faculty of Liberal Arts – Faculty of Physical Therapy – Ramathibodi School of Nursing – Faculty of Medical Technology – Institute for Population and Social Research– Institute of Molecular Biosciences – Gate 3 – Office of the President – ASEAN Institute for Health Development – Thai House – Research Institute for Languages and Cultures of Asia – Parking 2 – Sireeruckhachati Nature Learning Park – Parking 5 – Baan Mahidol (Blue Line Map)

Red Line

Baan Mahidol – Chaofaa Garden– Faculty of Science– Artist Residency – College of Music – Parking 2 – Mahidol Court – Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities – International College – Office of the President – Faculty of Engineering – Organic Farm – Ramathibodi School of Nursing – Ramathibodi Nursing Student Dormitory– Condominium – National Institute for Child and Family Development – College of Religious Studies – Petanque Court– Sport Building (Gym) – Baan Mahidol (Red Line Map)

Yellow Line

Mahidol Learning Center: MLC – Faculty of Science – Artist Residency – College of Music – Parking 2 – Mahidol Court– Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities– International College – Office of the President – ASEAN Institute for Health Development – Thai House– Salaya Center – Parking 2 – Mahidol Learning Center: MLC (Yellow Line Map)

Public Bus

The university has implemented a policy to facilitate efficient travel and movement between different departments within Mahidol University for students, staff, and external visitors. The policy promotes carpooling on the same routes to reduce fuel consumption and air pollution. As part of this, the university offers a public bus service, the "EV BUS," with a total of 17 buses that can accommodate up to 40 passengers each. This service provides free transportation for students, staff, and the general public between various campuses. Additionally, there is the Salaya Link service that connects the university with the Bang Wa BTS station. Starting in 2025, the tram service within Mahidol University, Salaya, will be discontinued and replaced with the EV BUS, which will cover all campus areas. Additionally, all executive vehicles will be replaced with hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), and the university's van rental service will also switch to the same model. The university will also introduce high-efficiency, energy-saving electric vehicle charging stations.

Shuttle Bus

Salaya Link

Shuttle Bus Services	Serviced Trips/day	Serviced Trips/year
Salaya Campus – Faculty of Science	20	8,400
Phayathai Campus (Faculty of Science) – Siriraj Hospital	5	1,200
Salaya Campus – Faculty of Public Health	3	720
Salaya Campus – Siriraj Hospital	10	2,400
Salaya Campus – Golden Jubilee Medical Center	20	4,800
Nakhon Pathom (Salaya Campus – Nakhon Pathom province)	2	480
Bang Bua Thong (Salaya Campus – Bang Bua Thong district)	2	480
Ministry of Public Health (Salaya Campus – Ministry of Public Health)	2	480
Bangkhae (Salaya Campus – Siriraj Hospital)	2	480
Salaya Link (Salaya Campus – Bang Wa BTS)	14	3,360
Total Services	80	22,800

Note: Serviced Trips/year is based on 240 working days

Cycling : Mahidol Lifestyle

Mahidol University organized the project for Bike Path, Mahidol Way since 2008 until now. This project is to support walking and biking as the main travelling way, to development in students and staff’s better quality of life, prevention from pollution and promote physical and mental well-being. Mahidol University developed the landscape for biking since 2009, which is not changing traffic roads to be the pedestrian walkways which vehicles are not allowed to enter this area but only serve as the university’s activity area with shady of trees and carbon absorption along the road over 2.4 kilometers.

Despite of physical infrastructure that promote environmentally travel, the university provides bicycle activity promotion such as rally activity, the registration of private bicycles for data collection. This data will be used for bicycle management and safety improvement to support bicycle use.

However, Mahidol University continued develop bicycle lanes until the present by providing the road for traffic and paint the bicycle path according to international principles and bicycle parking areas around the university. Since 2009, the university established the Jakka Center as a bicycle one-stop service including maintenance, wheel pumping, spare bicycle parts and bicycle rental for free. The JAKKA Center is open every day for everyone from 07.00 a.m. – 19.00 p.m.