Why stations are a useful starting point#
Many walks in Bangkok begin at a rail station. A person leaves a BTS, MRT or Airport Rail Link station and then walks the last part of the trip to a street. The station is the point where that walk starts, so it is a sensible place to begin giving directions.
A plain route from a station helps a walker decide which exit to take. It also helps them judge how far the walk will be before they set off. For someone who does not know the area, this kind of detail makes the final stretch easier to follow once they reach the street.
What a station guide contains#
DISPO publishes station guides for Bangkok. Each guide lists the exits of a station and the places that sit near them. The information is written from OpenStreetMap facts, which is open map data that many people maintain. The guide then shows what is nearby and how long the walk to each place is likely to take.
Before a guide is published, a script checks its contents against the source data. This check is there so each guide stays consistent with the map it is built from. The guide describes the map, not any particular business, and it is written so a reader can follow it without extra knowledge of the area.
How walk times are estimated#
Walk times in these guides are estimates. They are worked out from map data by taking the straight-line distance between two points and multiplying it by 1.3. This allows for the fact that streets seldom run in a straight line. The result is then divided by a walking speed of 75 metres a minute.
An estimate like this is a rough guide, not a promise. Crowds, crossings, lifts, stairs and building works can all make a real walk longer or shorter. A reader should treat the figure as a starting point and allow extra time when a trip matters.
What this means for a shop owner#
A shop owner can read a station guide to understand how a walker might approach their street. The guide shows the route in plain terms, and that is its main value. It does not replace a shop's own information about its location.
Thai rules limit how cannabis may be advertised, so check your plans with a lawyer. The rules are complex and can change, so an owner should take advice before deciding what to put online. This note is general information only and is not legal advice.