Bangkok cleans up act: Street vendors get the boot in Pathumwan

[snoop1130]

Picture courtesy of Iron Chef Shellie

 

By Bob Scott

 

In a bid to spruce up the bustling streets of Bangkok and make them safer for pedestrians, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has given street vendors the boot from two major hotspots in the Pathumwan district. Ploenchit Road in Ton Son and the bustling area outside the Siam Scape building are the targets.

 

Gone are the days when 17 vendors lined the sidewalks of Ploenchit Road, and another nine operated in front of the Siam Scape building. These spots have been declared strictly vendor-free since January 1, according to the BMA.

 

But that’s not where the vendor shake-up stops. The BMA has its sights set on tidying up the area around the iconic Erawan Shrine at Ratchaprasong intersection, where three flower vendors are being asked to fall in line and ease the traffic congestion.

 

While some have been shown the door, others still hold their ground. In Pathumwan district alone, 222 vendors have the green light to operate in 13 designated zones. Two hawker centres were previously set up at Lumpini Park Gate 5 and Ratchadamri intersection, offering a haven for 122 vendors.

 

 

On Monday, Deputy Bangkok Governor Jakkapan Phiewngam, flanked by Supakrit Boonkhan, the BMA’s deputy permanent secretary, took a stroll down these sites, inspecting vendors in both Pathumwan and the neighbouring Bang Rak district to ensure everyone’s playing by the rules.

 

And they’ve been busy before. Last October saw a street vending ban sweep through a section of Silom Road, from Silom Soi 12 to the Shangarila restaurant, with vendors moved to Silom Soi 10.

 

Over in Bang Rak, it’s still business as usual for 618 street vendors operating across 32 areas, reported Bangkok Post. But Governor Jakkapan has made it crystal clear that local officers should crack down on unauthorised vending and keep those who are allowed in line with the rules on public order and hygiene.

 

It seems like Bangkok’s streets are being scrubbed up, with vendors either finding new homes or shaping up to fit the city’s cleaner, more orderly image.

 

Source: The Thaiger

-- 2025-01-07

 

 

[Tropicalevo]

Great (not). So now the path is clear for motorbikes to ride on.  🏍️

Negotiating ones way around the vendors was one of the fun things in Bangkok.

Their stalls hid the cracks and broken paving slabs.

[lordgrinz]

2 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

Great (not). So now the path is clear for motorbikes to ride on.  🏍️

Negotiating ones way around the vendors was one of the fun things in Bangkok.

Their stalls hid the cracks and broken paving slabs.

 

Time to impound the motorbikes driving on sidewalks, and revoke their licenses, especially any motorcycle taxi drivers that are caught.

[John Drake]

3 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

Great (not). So now the path is clear for motorbikes to ride on.  🏍️

Negotiating ones way around the vendors was one of the fun things in Bangkok.

Their stalls hid the cracks and broken paving slabs.

 

Vendors never caused any hardship for me. Should leave them alone. They're part of what a lot of tourists come to see, too.

[ChaiyaTH]

7 minutes ago, John Drake said:

 

Vendors never caused any hardship for me. Should leave them alone. They're part of what a lot of tourists come to see, too.

That's why many of those tourist are going to Vietnam since years already... Even Thais start going there for it + sea food + even shopping of clothes etc. Meanwhile business owners are actually workers of landlords.

[jas007]

Am I mistaken, or wasn't there a plan a few years ago to get rid of all the street vendors?  Or at least all the street vendors selling food?  Whatever happened to that plan?  

 

It's hard to imagine Bangkok without street vendors.  

[richard_smith237]

54 minutes ago, jas007 said:

Am I mistaken, or wasn't there a plan a few years ago to get rid of all the street vendors?  Or at least all the street vendors selling food?  Whatever happened to that plan?  

 

 Nothing...  And in a few years, another similar announcement will be made... 

... and you (or anyone else) will be able to make the same comment...   "wasn't there a plan a few years ago...."

 

 

[richard_smith237]

1 hour ago, John Drake said:

Vendors never caused any hardship for me. Should leave them alone. They're part of what a lot of tourists come to see, too.

 

From a certain perspective the vendors make the pavements / sidewalks safer - they'd be full of motorcyclists otherwise !!!

 

 

[jas007]

8 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

From a certain perspective the vendors make the pavements / sidewalks safer - they'd be full of motorcyclists otherwise !!!

 

 

It can be hard enough to walk down the sidewalk and dodge all the cracks and holes and whatnot.  Having to watch out for motorcycles makes it all the worse.  And some of those guys are going pretty fast. 

[Patong2021]

1 hour ago, John Drake said:

 

Vendors never caused any hardship for me. Should leave them alone. They're part of what a lot of tourists come to see, too.

 

Not anymore. The low quality, and often unsafe products serve little purpose. How much counterfeit vioagra or cialis can they sell? Do we really need to see  variations of  playboy brand underwear and all the counterfeit Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Versace,  Gucci clothing items?

They sold crap, and blocked the streets. Few if any paid taxes . it is incredibly unfair to the legitimate storeowners to allow these vendors to  cannibalize their revenues.

[In Full Agreement]

2 hours ago, John Drake said:

 

Vendors never caused any hardship for me. Should leave them alone. They're part of what a lot of tourists come to see, too.

 

 

Quite true but being at the bottom  of the food chain means they can be treated harshly without any worries of repercussions.    The ruling class certainly doesn't want these "urchins" to ever have any kind of a voice.

 

 

 

[AZJA]

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Zdjęcie dzięki uprzejmości Iron Chef Shellie

 

Napisane przez Bob Scott

 

Chcąc wyrusnąć tętniące życiem ulice Bangkoku i uczynić je bezpieczniejszymi dla pieszych, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) dała ulicznym sprzedawcom buty z dwóch głównych hotspotów w dzielnicy Pathumwan. Celem są Ploenchit Road w Ton Son i tętniący życiem obszar poza budynkiem Siam Scape.

 

Dawno minęły czasy, kiedy 17 sprzedawców ustawiło się na chodnikach Ploenchit Road, a kolejne dziewięć działało przed budynkiem Siam Scape. Według BMA, miejsca te zostały uznane za ściśle wolne od dostawców od 1 stycznia.

 

Ale nie na tym się kończy wstrząs sprzedawcy. BMA ma swoje cele na temat sprzątania obszaru wokół kultowego Sanktuarium Erawan na skrzyżowaniu Ratchaprasong, gdzie trzech sprzedawców kwiatów jest proszona o uścisnięcie w kolejce i złagodzenie zatłoczenia ruchu.

 

Podczas gdy niektórym pokazano drzwi, inni nadal trzymają swoją ziemię. Tylko w dzielnicy Pathumwan 222 sprzedawców ma zielone światło do działania w 13 wyznaczonych strefach. Dwa centra jastrzębie zostały wcześniej ustawione w skrzyżowaniu Lumpini Park Gate 5 i Ratchadamri, oferując schronienie dla 122 sprzedawców.

 

 

 

W poniedziałek zastępca gubernatora Bangkoku Jakkapan Phiewngam, otoczony przez Supakrit Boonkhana, zastępca stałego sekretarza BMA, przespacerował się tymi miejscami, sprawdzając sprzedawców zarówno w Pathumwan, jak i sąsiedniej dzielnicy Bang Rak, aby zapewnić wszystkim grę zgodnie z zasadami.

 

I byli zajęci już wcześniej. W październiku ubiegłego roku ban z ulicy przetoczył się przez odcinek Silom Road, od Silom Soi 12 do restauracji Shangarila, a sprzedawcy przenieśli się do Silom Soi 10.

 

W Bang Rak nadal działa businessjak zwykle dla 618 sprzedawców ulicznych działających w 32 obszarach, donosi Bangkok Post. Gubernator Jakkapan dał jasno do zrozumienia, że miejscowi funkcjonariusze powinni rozprawić się z nieautoryzowanymi automatami i utrzymywać tych, którzy są wpuszczeni zgodnie z zasadami porządku publicznego i higieny.

 

Wygląda na to, że ulice Bangkoku są szorowane, a sprzedawcy albo znajdują nowe domy, albo kształtują się, aby pasowały do czystszego, bardziej uporządkowanego wizerunku miasta.

 

Autor zdjęcia: The Thaiger

-- 2025-01-07

 

 

 

[AZJA]

Corrupt government destroys poor Thai nation. Lets in globalist CORPORATIONS.

[Luuk Chaai]

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

 

In a bid to spruce up the bustling streets of Bangkok and make them safer for pedestrians, 

 

will they be using the "Chinese police" to patrol this area ???

 

 

 

[hotchilli]

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

In a bid to spruce up the bustling streets of Bangkok and make them safer for pedestrians, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has given street vendors the boot from two major hotspots in the Pathumwan district. Ploenchit Road in Ton Son and the bustling area outside the Siam Scape building are the targets.

This is not a solution, the vendors will set-up shop somewhere else... just kicking the can down the road.

[scorecard]

11 hours ago, John Drake said:

 

Vendors never caused any hardship for me. Should leave them alone. They're part of what a lot of tourists come to see, too.

 

And many offer very tasty foods, transaction all done in 1 minute, walk away and eat.

[black tabby12345]

14 hours ago, jas007 said:

Am I mistaken, or wasn't there a plan a few years ago to get rid of all the street vendors?  Or at least all the street vendors selling food?  Whatever happened to that plan?  

 

It's hard to imagine Bangkok without street vendors.  

 

Quite a Kill Joy both to locals and tourists.

Food vendors in Thai streets; Major tourist attraction of this kingdom.

 

[madone]

Sad.

[actonion]

I guess this means  Death to the local Rats  and Cockroaches  who rely on these stalls, glad to see the back of them, if they do indeed disappear, but doiubtful

[Will B Good]

Just what tourists want to see, clinically clean streets....just like back home.

[jas007]

So long as I can walk down the sidewalk without tripping on holes and uneven pavement, I'm happy.  

[NoshowJones]

18 hours ago, John Drake said:

 

Vendors never caused any hardship for me. Should leave them alone. They're part of what a lot of tourists come to see, too.

They are fine as long as they are not blocking the pavements and forcing pedestrians on to the roads like they used to do on lower Sukhumvit.