Bangkok: Most people complain about the terrible sidewalks

[webfact]

Bangkok: Most people complain about the terrible sidewalks

 

Picture: Daily News

 

Daily News said that since they started a community helpline for people with problems in Bangkok the overwhelming majority of complaints were about the capital's sidewalks and walkways. 

 

They were cracked, damaged, full of holes, impassable due to people leaving stuff out...you name it Bangkok has it. 

 

Picture: Daily News

 

This is despite the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority announcing a "return the sidewalks to the people" campaign. 

 

From January to May the BMA received 338 complaints.

 

An official in Bang Khen in the north of the city said there were many reasons for the state of the pavements with people doing a lot of illegal things especially at night. 

 

Examples were illegal electrical and water mains works.

 

Picture: Daily News

 

It was hard to pin down the perps and make arrests. 

 

Daily News said that the authorities were trying to teach the Thais a new culture - and it was proving hard. 

 

Source: Daily News

 

 

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[Wiggy]

22 minutes ago, webfact said:

An official in Bang Khen in the north of the city said there were many reasons for the state of the pavements with people doing a lot of illegal things especially at night. 

 

Examples were illegal electrical and water mains works.

 

22 minutes ago, webfact said:

It was hard to pin down the perps and make arrests. 

Perhaps have a police officer hang around there at night? Or is that too logical? Blimey.

[lujanit]

45 minutes ago, webfact said:

Examples were illegal electrical and water mains works

Just cut the supply, cannot be that hard.

[pixelaoffy]

Around Rama 4 they were cleared of vendors because people can't walk on SW. But guess what. Gradually drift back. Typical Thai way , rules and laws enforcement are only for a short time for public image !!!

[pattjock]

No such problem in Pattaya as most sidewalks have been stolen from the city by business owners

[bendejo]

Sidewalks are for walking?  555

Everyone knows sidewalks are for vendors.

 

Actually some years back on Suk Soi 4 I saw a pushcart version of the Denver Boot on a violator.

[Andrew65]

In 1985 there were holes a meter or more deep/wide, at least they're improved since then!????

[Bob12345]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Examples were illegal electrical and water mains works.

There are people doing illegal maintenance on the water mains at night? Thats some serious dedication to keeping the water working for all.

[BobfromNYC]

Thailand has sidewalks?

[Greg O]

Booby traps to keep the filthy hordes of farangs away....careful of the snares next to the open snake pits with the sharpened rebar jutting out.

[Emdog]

1 hour ago, bendejo said:

Sidewalks are for walking?  555

Everyone knows sidewalks are for vendors.

 

Actually some years back on Suk Soi 4 I saw a pushcart version of the Denver Boot on a violator.

You left out "secondary road for motorcycles"

Those all look like heaven compared to Pattaya and Jomtien. I'd hate to be in a wheelchair in any of those places, however

[ajarnmarc]

In phuket town, people are discouraged from walking. Once a taxi see's you walking they will follow you down the road, asking you several times for a fare. When you show them your vehicle keys, trying to let them know you drove to where you are now. They simply don't care, you are fair game, and they will continue to follow you until you enter a place of business, then drive away. Once you depart that business, there will be another taxi, with different driver to follow you back to your vehicle. It's beyond local Thai people thinking how you might want to park down the road (like we have a choice) and walk to the place you have business to attend to. This is when you can even find a place to park in most towns, and the taxis take up every available parking spot in front of any popular location, and if all else fails there's the business owners to chase away anyone parking in front of the business, other than a taxi for my guess is they pay to park, I mean block the front of these businesses. Thailand at it's best...So sidewalks is like private land, which people feel is the best spot to sale something, plant something, let their daily laundry hang, you name it it's endless the uses the local can find for what we would refer to as sidewalk. 

[Andrew65]

24 minutes ago, ajarnmarc said:

In phuket town, people are discouraged from walking. Once a taxi see's you walking they will follow you down the road, asking you several times for a fare. When you show them your vehicle keys, trying to let them know you drove to where you are now. They simply don't care, you are fair game, and they will continue to follow you until you enter a place of business, then drive away. Once you depart that business, there will be another taxi, with different driver to follow you back to your vehicle. It's beyond local Thai people thinking how you might want to park down the road (like we have a choice) and walk to the place you have business to attend to. This is when you can even find a place to park in most towns, and the taxis take up every available parking spot in front of any popular location, and if all else fails there's the business owners to chase away anyone parking in front of the business, other than a taxi for my guess is they pay to park, I mean block the front of these businesses. Thailand at it's best...So sidewalks is like private land, which people feel is the best spot to sale something, plant something, let their daily laundry hang, you name it it's endless the uses the local can find for what we would refer to as sidewalk. 

In Phnom Penh the sidewalk comes in handy for doing a spot of welding!????

One thing to say in favour of Bangkok is that I can almost always get a taxi driver to use the meter, something that doesn't tend to happen elsewhere. (I only ever hail taxis that are moving, and with there light on, if you try to use one that's parked up, they'll try to overcharge).

[Hayduke]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

Daily News said that the authorities were trying to teach the Thais a new culture - and it was proving hard. 

 

So....the so-called 'authorities' are staunch and tireless advocates of proper sidewalks. But in spite of their determined efforts, they have been unable to enlighten the crude, ignorant common people who continue to resist the modern advantages of safe footpaths...

 

Really?

 

 

 

[RichardColeman]

Hard to comment on BKK, though I don't remember it being worse that Pattaya, when I lived there.

 

As a father of a 4 year old I can only express my opinion of Pattaya sidewalks. And that opinion I can say in 2 words - Pathetic, Dangerous.

 

All government officials responsible for sidewalks in Pattaya , should be sat in a wheel chair or given a baby buggy and forced to go from one end of the place to the other, with live video cameras ! 

[Jimbo2014]

terrible sidewalks, terrible electricity wiring, terrible pollution. Walking anywhere in Bangkok is a complete nightmare.  They could take a leaf from Singapore, Malaysia or even inner Manila! - and actually try to make a livable city rather than a city where the elite bubble themselves off in walled fortresses.  

[herwin1234]

I sell "I Immigrated To A Tropical Country And All I Do Is Complain About The Sidewalks" t shirts. two sizes:  "fat" and "very fat". Plz pm me for more details and how to order. ( disclaimer to anyone who isnt sure: NO this is not a real advertisement!)

[Percy P]

2 hours ago, Andrew65 said:

In 1985 there were holes a meter or more deep/wide, at least they're improved since then!????

Have a look at the "Foot Path" at Nong Plhap market  which comes under Hua Hin municipality. The  FP runs along the outside market market which is just as bad . If it rains the night before  l don't go their. It's a disgrace you need rubber boots to walk round.

[Surasak]

Its not just the footpath, I find I have to have eyes everywhere where the foot path is like a mountain range. Then you have all kinds of things hanging from wires, or blinds with metal poles sticking out to take your eye out if you are not careful. Trucks parked across the footpath but not being loaded or unloaded. The lady selling live fish, crabs, frogs and whatever, from bowels placed in the way of what would otherwise be a straight line to walk. Not too bad if you walk that route often, but in a strange place you put your life in their hands. It aint dangerous, its completely ludicrous.   

[ZenoBresson]

Do you fancy an adventure?
Walk once with the stroller from BTS Udomsuk to Udomsuk Walk ????

[Andrew65]

20 minutes ago, Percy P said:

Have a look at the "Foot Path" at Nong Plhap market  which comes under Hua Hin municipality. The  FP runs along the outside market market which is just as bad . If it rains the night before  l don't go their. It's a disgrace you need rubber boots to walk round.

OK, I've never been there.

I visited Yangon in 1998, same thing, massive holes and no street lighting in places, a highly risky stagger back from the bar!????

[Swedenlars]

1 hour ago, BobfromNYC said:

Thailand has sidewalks?

They have. But they are reserved for motorcyclists.

[apophyss]

I think this is terrible, because it's a problem for every day.

 

People with motobike  find this funny, but when you are not so kikiak, so walk, and its so hard,

every 10 meters you have to stop, to less someone or something pass.

 

 

And when water is up, you dont see where it's dangerous.

[dlclark97]

Ban Chang in Rayong is no different.  Sidewalks are dangerous but I am sure they keep the hospitals in business with broken legs and broken or twisted ankles.  Soon to be a major player in the EEC development these sidewalks should be brought up to a world class standard as they should be everywhere.  Tourists walk a lot and should be safe and comfortable doing so.

[soi3eddie]

The pavements along both sides of Phaholyothin Road all the way between Victory Monument to/from Morchit (past SanamPao, Ari and Saphan Kwai) have recently been replaced. Fair to say that they have done a really good job. Bollards to stop motorbikes and cars getting on the pavement have been installed too. It must have cost a fortune as it's all new tiles, kerbing and concrete improvements everywhere. Sure there are some obstacles for anyone in a wheelchair but walking is a lot better now. This route also had all the overhead cables buried a few years ago although the old pavement wasn't really too bad.     

[Darkside Gray]

5 hours ago, pattjock said:

No such problem in Pattaya as most sidewalks have been stolen from the city by business owners

And for parking motorcycles!

[natway09]

Take a look at Sukhumvit Soi 4

What with the half finished storm water covers all the way down the road  with what I hope will be temp' noisy, uneven steel covers, the 2 unsightly trailer pumps blocking the sidewalk & the state of ths pavements so people can trip in the potholes, yes it is a disgrace in a Soi that has brought  billions of 

Baht into this country.

The last 3 months would have been an ideal time to fix but,,,, nothing

 

[DogNo1]

Are the sidewalks owned by the city or by the businesses that they front?    
 

About three years ago, the Governor of Bangkok was at the FCCT and promised to fix the sidewalks but little has happened.

[smudger1951]

Has anyone has walked into the up and over garage door or something else at eye level and which is not seen. This is a real danger in TH just walking down the street.

[sammieuk1]

What's the claims for you hotline number????