Manila traffic vs Bangkok traffic (job, appreciation, train)

[wastina]

I've just returned from a job interview in Manila (Ortigas/Pasig). Everyone complains about the traffic. Having never been to Manila before, and having spent only 4 days there, it seems to me that while traffic can be bad, it doesn't hold a candle to Bangkok. A reality check between thos two cities from people who know them would be appreciated. Did I miss something?

[CMDallas]

people tell me that they're basically cities that are just about the same...
Manila traffic is horrible, I was horrified the first time I went, I had a new appreciation for Dallas traffic.
I've never been to bangkok but my relatives in Manila tell me its all the same.

[gdude]

all i know is that in Bangkok it can take up to 7hours to reach the airport!!!!!

[mead]

Never been to Manila, but Bangkok traffic is HORRIFIC.

I think Bangkok is one of the few places on earth where taking a water-taxi is generally faster than taking a car.

[PacificJet]

Well, if you live here for a while, you will know where you should live. Where you choose to live should have a direct coorelation to where you work and your access (or lack thereof) to the SkyTrain/Subway. You can pretty much get anywhere in Bangkok by SkyTrain/Subway within 30 minutes.

If you didn't know, the SkyTrain and Subway are both very new, clean and air conditioned. It's really the best way around the city.

If you are driving yourself, it depends. I've been driving in Bangkok for three years. Rarely do I find myself stuck in traffic for more than an hour. But ... I know what roads/intersections to avoid and when to not bother. When it rains and floods ... well, have a well stocked IPOD.

To the poster who said it takes 7 hours to get to the airport, that is a tale of long long ago (like 10 years ago) before the freeway system was complete. It never takes me more than 30 minutes to get to the (new) airport by car, and I live in the center of the city. Even from the other end of the city, it shouldn't take more than an hour ... so long as you are not too far from the expressway entrance. At the end of this year, the city will open the airport express train too.

I've been to Manila many times and I think the traffic is more avoidable in Bangkok because of better public transportation.

[wastina]

Nice response, PacificJet. I've heard that one of the problems is that there is only one road going to/from neighborhoods to parts of the city, which makes the congestion worse.