richard_smith237

... most are likely used by scammers in Thailand.. i.e. facebook Market place scammers... .. They 'rent' an account of a motorcycle taxi rider or other poor person etc... then use that account to receive funds for their online sales scams... (items listed on Facebook market place etc)... I suspect there are 10's of thousands of such scammers using multiple such accounts for these frequent 'small time scams'... ... When a police report is filed, the Police contact the bank and block the account... and thats about all they can do because they can't trace the person without doing a 'leg work' and finding out directly from the registered account holder who they'd rented the account to.

I agree... he's fully within his lane... but he's at the very right of it - its not a particularly safe position to be riding in. Is he overtaking the motorcyclist ? or was the motorcyclist forced to 'undertake' him because of his positioning. I agree, this incident is the bus drivers fault, in 'squeezing past the cyclist' - many roads clearly aren't designed for such wide vehicles (thats a long term complaint made by many of busses in Pattaya). But... Don't you think the cyclist seems oblivious to his own safety ??? The incident would not have occurred had either party (bus or bicyclist) been driving / riding with greater care and consideration for safety... it takes 'just one of them' to 'get it right' for an incident not to happen.... I don't think the cyclist was riding safely, given his position on the road and seeming 'state of oblivion towards his own safety' I don't think the bus driver was driving with any consideration towards the safety of the bicyclist. The cyclist 'should' have had better awareness of his positioning and that a bus was approaching... Should a bicycle which is using the road have mirrors ??... this is a strong case for that.

I don't disagree with fining people for littering... its the hypocritical duplicity of specifically targeting foreigners in this area that is quite offensive - but this is a different issue altogether.

I think his arm was actually run over... hence the extreme injury reported (exposed bone). He was extremely lucky it wasn't his head - that was an extremely close call and I think we've all see the various videos posted online of the aftermath of a motorcyclist falling off next to a lorry or bus etc and the head gets run over... gruesome stuff. I'm still quite astonished at the manner in which he was riding, i.e completely oblivious for his own safety, seemingly unaware that others have no consideration for his safety. While I disagree with the comments that cyclists should not be on the roads - I'd agree than in Thailand, because of the general attitudes towards road safety, there is an elevated risk to riding and one would have to ride with extreme caution and ride only in specific areas / roads to minimise their exposure to risk. Drivers of busses, Trucks/lorrys, delivery vehicles and day-time drunk drivers... tend to lack any consideration for any other road users, pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and cars...

That's an odd way to describe a small penis. Yet you found such a clear way of expressing that you have a small childish brain !!!...

Its not about the 'mail' being able to be read mail... Its about legal requirements for a signature. HSBC Singapore was exactly the same - they'd only accept a fax for certain instructions. HSBC in other area's accept digital signatures. QNB in Doha required fully handwritten letters to be posted when I wanted to close my account (even though were there was a secure mail system with their online banking / they also rejected a typed letter with a handwritten signature / and wouldn't accept a scanned copy or a fax).

Agreed. They were very effective public safety campaigns - supported by effective, targeted policing. I'm not sure the police here would be capable/willing to provide the necessary support. I used to see 'smashed vehicles' on the side of the road - deliberately placed as a stark warning to anyone paying attention. BUT... It wouldn't take much at all for Thai Authorities to generate similar road safety campaigns as discussed above.. ... Seat-belts, helmets, pedestrian crossings, speeding, tailgating etc... ... also water safety campaigns, and electrical safety campaigns.. Just a couple of minutes of each, played in the TV breaks at peak intervals of TV viewing... Put them in TikTok, FaceBook etc.. have teachers play them at schools... All of this is completely and very easily doable, so why doesn't anything like this exist in Thailand ??? The only conclusion I come to is that those in positions of decision making power really do not care enough about this issue... its not profitable to them.

Brutal... But when cutting through some of the 'generalisation and assumption, your comments are not wrong.. It is possible to tell within a relatively short period of time whether another persons a clown or not !!!

Isn't heat and issue ?... In Bangkok whenever I walk more than 500m I'm already sweating at an uncomfortable level. Its not about the exercise, I play 2 hrs of football (2x per week)... and don't mind the heat so much then.. Pattaya is only 'quite walkable' for those living in a very central location... but then in other threads I read of complaints of the noise when living in central areas (walkable)...

Which shows a true understanding of an average Pattaya retiree living on a pension..

newbee2022 has been getting a ribbing (from me) because of his comments... however, respectfully, he wasn't wrong... There is an Audi in Thailand for the price to a scooter... ... 30 years old... Musty stink is free... not sure I'd want to travel in it though... But... If someone is willing to be a bit more realistic - spending 250,000 baht can get you a vehicle which wouldn't brake down every day... and he is of course right... its safer than a motorcycle, but no one is disputing that motorcycles aren't more unsafe than cars... Of course, in a city such as Pattaya, the parking becomes an issue... ... We're just disputing the ridiculousness of the sweeping generalisation and statements made that imply a degree certainty that riding a motorcycle WILL kill you...

Please... do tell us how it feels...

Sorry, I just checked the prices for a new scooter. Yes, that's equivalent. However, if you're going for a second hand car you would have to spend at least 3 times more than for a 2. Hand scooter. My apologies Defo not in Thailand... I know where he is... VW or Audi for the price of a scooter !!!

Any link / info to where this is ?... Its difficult to picture a restaurant being a thoroughfare to some 'accommodation'...

Is this you and your 'scooter priced car' ??

It seems he had a dissagrement with the owner of a restaurant through which there was access to his accommodation. I'm guessing the owner of the Italian restaurant was being somewhat of a d!<k and the 21 year old decided to pool his mates together and take revenge with negative views. Getting to accommodation through a restaurant seems to be an extremely odd set up as well.

Are you saying that those who cannot afford the expense of a car are dumb.....? 🤔 How are cars not considered expensive here? I'd say they are almost twice as expensive as they are in Australia, which is also not a cheap place for cars. That's why they have so any cheap scooters here and fit the whole family on one Depends where you live but in Pattaya a motorbike will take you to the next level And you can stay with your thicket of friends with that attitude. I think he's already proven quite well that he's just 'not that bright' and lacks the ability to have a discussion... It's clear that the thoughts of Scubascuba3 and I are not aligned regarding a scooter vs larger bikes (on highways) - but have continued to argue the debate bringing up some different, valid and interesting points... rather than dumbed down and retarded remarks.

You seem very certain. I can't see anything in the Land Traffic Act, except that one must stop at a red light. I have seen signs forbidding left turns, but I have also seen signs permitting left turn (which would suggest that permission is required). Do you have a link to the traffic law, or regulation? Not challenging you, just looking for clarification. I think like much of Thailand, there is a lack of consistency which causes confusion, accidents and of course, much debate on this forum. As I understand it, this rule is applied 'provincially' according to different standards. i.e. If I'm not mistaken... In area's such as Bangkok - A Left turn on at a red light is permissible unless there is a sign which states its not. In Pattaya - A Left turn on at a red light is not permissible unless there is a sign which states it is. This may also vary in other provinces.

I totally disagree... The very reason I (or my Wife) always drive whenever possible here, is so that my / our safety is not placed in the hands of someone with minimal education. Its the same reason I will not put my Son in the School mini-bus... Its the very reason I will not take a moto-taxi, but do ride a motorbike myself... - But, if your comment was in regard to 'specifically riding a bicycle' - then I agree... I rode a bike on the roads once in Bangkok, that was enough (and that was only from Sukhumvit 16 to the Wat Khlong Toei Nok Pier to get across to Bang Krachao).

Agreed... but the cyclist is also riding around with complete disregard for his own safety, almost in a world of oblivion to the risks of being on the road here. Obviously the bus driver was also to blame squeezing past the motorcyclist with no consideration for his safety. This is one of those 'road incidents'.... where, if only one of those involved had carried themselves with more 'awareness'... or consideration etc.. then the incident would not have happend. As has been said before, so many road incidents in Thailand involve a dual failing (i.e. that of both drivers / riders).

100% agree... The risk of riding a motorcycle in Thailand is elevated... and as you mention so is the risk of crossing the road here... Those comments suggesting motorcyclists are idiots and will end up dead etc are as dumb as suggesting those who cross a road are... the comment itself lacks such a degree of critical thought it only serves to highlights the poster of such comments as being... well, not very bright at all...

IMO - its a level playing field... I don't see any disregard or deliberate lack of yielding to a foreigner etc.. There are certain traits to driving in town here that are very different and often shocking... It has been said that Thai's only pay attention to what they can see... which generally means their sphere of responsibility is the 120 degrees they can see in front of them.... It is quite astonishing the number of times a motorcyclist will pull out in front of traffic without looking. Here's an example (below).... (and the reason I have a dash-cam on both the car and the motorcycle). When there are a lot of riders like this - the stats are horrific... I think a lot of people (some posters on here) see a lot of people riding very poorly and project this those riders present to themselves on all who ride a motorcycle here. Recording.mp4

Pathetic... either join the debate with some intelligence or ignore it... Writing the above only serves to highlight that you don't have valid points, but want to argue...

That wasn't one review... It was a lot of negative and reportedly false reviews in a 'targeted campaign' after a disagreement about access to accommodation which was apparently 'through a restaurant'.... (which seems very odd in itself)...