French Tourist Warned for Riding Electric Scooter on Koh Phangan Roads

[PETERTHEEATER]

15 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

Not only the one wheeled scooter. Since when did we start to go on motorbikes, bicycles and other vehicles shirtless on public roads. Have we really lost our pride, dignity and respect soo much? 

I think it was the 'stern' warning which scared him shirtless....😋

[Gottfrid]

1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

I think there is a 'line' in the sand, but that line varies depending upon how close a person is to the sand... 

 

Yeah, it can be that simple. Or even more simple. I think it all comes down to self-respect.

[richard_smith237]

9 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

Yeah, it can be that simple. Or even more simple. I think it all comes down to self-respect.

 

I look in the mirror these days and no long have the physique I had a few years ago...   

 

....  Its not self respect that prevents me from going shirtless, quite the opposite !!!!   

 

 

 

Jokes aside - I think your point is spot on... Its about self respect and respect for ones surroundings...   this carries for not just how we dress, but also how we behave and interact. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Tropicalevo]

5 hours ago, anfh said:

Well its actually deemed as an insult and extremely rude in Thailand, maybe if you want to stay here, along with many others, you might want to be respectful of Thai culture instead of being a yob !!!

So, you have never seen Thai men in the village walking around with no shirt?

Come to Koh Samui. Plenty here.

[Luuk Chaai]

15 hours ago, ravip said:

Shirtless in public places/roads & vehicles, is absolutely disgusting.

overweight men in pattaya on the beach

so... these dudes are  "ok" ???

 

[Patong2021]

12 hours ago, lordgrinz said:

 

He's a Farang, easy target, easy money, no repercussions. Thai locals are ignored, business as usual.

 

What money? He was warned. Are any locals riding these vehicles? Bias as usual.

[smew]

give him a chance to enjoy his vacations... get into an accident .... start a "please pay for my hospital bill">> bcs I am stupid...  

[smew]

3 hours ago, Luuk Chaai said:

overweight men in pattaya on the beach

so... these dudes are  "ok" ???

 

great marketing chance for a new product:: "BRAS for MEN"... these guys must be russians 

[Luuk Chaai]

3 hours ago, smew said:

great marketing chance for a new product:: "BRAS for MEN"... these guys must be russians 

Seinfeld episode   with    " The Bro or the Manzier"

[thaibeachlovers]

21 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Shirtless on a holiday island ... the nerve of some people   

 

Not everyone is fat & ugly, and ashamed of their physical appearance. 

 

I even saw a local Thai gent without a shirt on in the village the other day.  I almost puked 

You miss the point. He's an idiot. If he came off the bike shirtless he will lose loads of skin on the road.

 

I rode my scooter in shorts and when I came off my legs got a good scraping. 10 years on I still get scabs on the legs from that. Losing upper body skin is far more serious.

 

He's also an idiot for riding dangerously when he will not be covered by insurance- cue the gofundme begging.

I don't care if he gets banged up falling off it ( I have little sympathy for idiots ), I feel sorry for the innocent he hurts when doing so.

[thaibeachlovers]

6 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

So, you have never seen Thai men in the village walking around with no shirt?

Come to Koh Samui. Plenty here.

None of those in my wife's village.

[Gottfrid]

6 hours ago, Luuk Chaai said:

overweight men in pattaya on the beach

so... these dudes are  "ok" ???

 

I thought people had some kind of education and knowledge, but apparently we have to explain everything nowadays. Yes, it´s ok, as it is a designated place for sunbathing. Tell me, because I am curious. How do you manage that with a shirt on?

Yes, I know that Thais even have a shirt on the beach, but their culture has nothing against no shirt in such a place. Neither has any other country.

The only thing that is not OK here, is that these guy lack self-respect in the way that they do not understand how overweight they are, do nothing about it and will probably die in a stroke too early in life.

[kevozman1]

1 hour ago, Gottfrid said:

I thought people had some kind of education and knowledge, but apparently we have to explain everything nowadays. Yes, it´s ok, as it is a designated place for sunbathing. Tell me, because I am curious. How do you manage that with a shirt on?

Yes, I know that Thais even have a shirt on the beach, but their culture has nothing against no shirt in such a place. Neither has any other country.

The only thing that is not OK here, is that these guy lack self-respect in the way that they do not understand how overweight they are, do nothing about it and will probably die in a stroke too early in life.

 

I am with your there. There is only a net-win to keeping in good condition compared to how these slobs want to live. We come onto these forums for years and hear 'no money no honey' and how Thai people are disrespecting them whilst others have a different experience. Thai people really value, more than most other people, how someone presents themselves. Especially if you're European they still can't really process you as lower class/slob so it's polarising for many of them.

 

Even when not being concerned with other's opinions on your appearance then the health aspect of not being a pig should be enough.

[KhunLA]

3 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

You miss the point. He's an idiot. If he came off the bike shirtless he will lose loads of skin on the road.

 

I rode my scooter in shorts and when I came off my legs got a good scraping. 10 years on I still get scabs on the legs from that. Losing upper body skin is far more serious.

 

He's also an idiot for riding dangerously when he will not be covered by insurance- cue the gofundme begging.

I don't care if he gets banged up falling off it ( I have little sympathy for idiots ), I feel sorry for the innocent he hurts when doing so.

Additional safety gear is  personal choice.  Drove MC for 40+ years, and never any protective clothing.  Shorts & light shirt when weather allowed.   Only time covered up was in colder weather.

 

I would have preferred to see a vid of his irresponsible operating of his 'unicycle', instead of opinions.  If he's a skilled rider, doing close to speed limit, not really seeing an issue, though still technically illegal.

 

If having an oops, chances are, the damage will be done to him, as not much of a machine to do any damage, unless it goes airborne.

 

Shirtless is the part I commented on, since most comments about that, and all a bit silly.  Wear a shirt, don't wear a shirt on a vacation island, and kind of up to you.  But put one on, if entering a proper restaurant, business.  Would guess there is one in his backpack.

 

People need to get a life, and stay out of others.  I see plenty of shirtless Thais here, and far away from the surf.   

 

Remember seeing a topless young gal, breastfeeding her wee one, while I was out riding in the countryside of Udon Thani.  That was a surprise, and after thinking about it, seemed appropriate, as it was hot, damn hot.  She was sitting on a rattan bench, roadside, assuming in front of her house.   In the USA, some Karon would freak out, and she'd get fined, but it seemed so natural here.   Young little cutie also, and that's the part that surprised me.

 

Another time, drive down the long dirt drive to my 1st Thai MIL house, and she was strolling around topless.   Other family members around.

 

Wasn't really that long ago, when women went topless here.   Damn Christian warriors ...

 

 

 

[Nairbem]

On 11/18/2024 at 8:38 AM, KhunLA said:

Shirtless on a holiday island ... the nerve of some people   

 

Not everyone is fat & ugly, and ashamed of their physical appearance. 

 

I even saw a local Thai gent without a shirt on in the village the other day.  I almost puked 

Be thankful 🙏 it was just his shirt!

[madone]

22 hours ago, lordgrinz said:

 

He's a Farang, easy target, easy money, no repercussions. Thai locals are ignored, business as usual.

 

Do better.

 

the locals aren't on motorized unicycles 

[norsurin]

12 hours ago, kevozman1 said:

 

Yes but somewhere like Koh Phangan is fine. I'm not going to ride in urbanized areas or on motorways, but on backwater islands and villages no problem. 

I never been there so i didnt know that.Anyway i wouldn't drive there.

[norsurin]

12 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

The whole reason I prefer to be the one doing the driving is because of the risk...

 

Think about it - you trust someone with the education of a 12 year old driving you around ???

 

At least you can't fall off a taxi - moto-taxi's I completely avoid.

I never had any problems riding with motorcycle taxies.The same cartaxies.From where i live in sukunvit the drivers know the shohrt way avoiding the main street.Faster and less traffic and end up in sukunvit soi 7 from the other site.Goodbye to soi ASOKE  everytime.

[john donson]

how many deadly accidents happened on those?   ZERO ?

[madone]

20 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

If the BiB cared for 'safety' they'd be stopping all the motorcyclists riding without a helmet.

 

The reason this guy drew attention is two fold: 

a) He's a foreigner (non-Thai).

b) He's riding something 'different'.

 

I also agree - these things appear far more dangerous than a regular scooter, however, I don't think this is the reason he was 'warned'.. 

Given my decades of experience of Koh Phangan, the reason this person was warned was because he ventured up the police road or went to Thongsala on his scooter.

   

[Hanuman2547]

I've seen a lot of these one wheeled electric unicycles in my home country whizzing along at pretty fast speeds (35kph++) on multi use paths that have people on bicycles, roller blades, walking, and running.  Most of these people are kitted out in a full face motorcycle type helmet, long sleeve jacket, gloves, knee pads, and elbow pads, along with gloves.  Most seem to obey the most basic of rules and really don't cause any problems.  

[crazykopite]

On 11/18/2024 at 7:57 AM, ravip said:

Shirtless in public places/roads & vehicles, is absolutely disgusting.

It’s against the law to ride a scooter /motorbike without a top/shirt I’m surprised the old bill don’t fine them when the coffee jar is empty  !

[crazykopite]

3 hours ago, madone said:

Given my decades of experience of Koh Phangan, the reason this person was warned was because he ventured up the police road or went to Thongsala on his scooter.

   I’ve seen this bike many times on the Main Baan Tai road 

[sambum]

On 11/18/2024 at 6:39 AM, Gottfrid said:

Not only the one wheeled scooter. Since when did we start to go on motorbikes, bicycles and other vehicles shirtless on public roads. Have we really lost our pride, dignity and respect soo much? 

Yes, it would appear so. The same applies to shirtless men eating dinner in a restaurant. I'm not advocating having to wear a tie, but having to look at hairy paunches over the top of my top of the range genuine 100% copy reading glasses does nothing to enhance my dining experience!

[KhunLA]

2 hours ago, crazykopite said:

It’s against the law to ride a scooter /motorbike without a top/shirt I’m surprised the old bill don’t fine them when the coffee jar is empty  !

Because rational PoPo realize the silliness of the law.  Driving without a shirt ... how is that dangerous.   Or leaving the house without underwear 

 

Another silly law, most ignore to enforce 

[PoorSucker]

On 11/18/2024 at 12:21 PM, Cereal said:

Where else would he get that silly accent LOL

Québec?