Parking puzzle: Pattaya evens out the odds to curb traffic congestion

[webfact]

Picture courtesy of Pattaya News

 

by Bob Scott

In a bid to tackle the notorious traffic congestion in South Pattaya, city officials have rolled out a strict enforcement of odd-even parking rules on the bustling South Pattaya Road. Starting Monday, February 3, the initiative aims to streamline traffic flow and bring order to the chaotic streets.

 

On the first day of enforcement, Pattaya Mayor Poramase Ngampichet took to the streets at 3:30pm, inspecting the 850-metre stretch from Suesarn Intersection to Wat Chaimongkol Intersection. His presence underscored the importance of this new regulation in addressing the area’s long-standing traffic woes.

Mayor Poramase emphasised the dire need for this initiative.

 

“South Pattaya Road faces significant traffic challenges, and while the odd-even parking rule has been in place for some time in collaboration with local police, consistent enforcement is key.”

Recognising the constraints faced by the police, the city has now deployed a dedicated municipal team tasked with upholding these parking regulations.

From February 3, Pattaya City officials and the police will rigorously implement the rule, with two teams of 12 officers each patrolling the area from 11am to 11pm daily. Their mission? To clamp down on parking violations and maintain order.

Under the new scheme, city officials have been granted powers to wheel-lock offending vehicles and impose fines. However, during the first month, violators will receive warnings, allowing motorists time to adjust to the new rules.

Mayor Poramase made a heartfelt plea to all drivers to follow the parking guidelines, acknowledging that while some business owners might find the transition inconvenient, these steps are taken for the greater good of the community.

 

As Pattaya takes decisive action to unclog its roads, motorists are urged to curb their parking habits and support the city’s efforts in creating a more efficient traffic system for everyone.

 

Source: The Thaiger 

-- 2025-02-05

 

 

[scubascuba3]

Rubbish article, doesn't even say what the rule is.

 

The sign they were showing yesterday said no parking both odd and even days, so none the wiser.

 

I guess the businesses will suffer the most

[lordgrinz]

8 minutes ago, webfact said:

As Pattaya takes decisive action to unclog its roads, motorists are urged to curb their parking habits and support the city’s efforts in creating a more efficient traffic system for everyone.

 

Thai's don't care about "everyone", this is a me-first society, and generally they completely ignore all laws and rules. Good Luck, you'll need it!

[jacko45k]

The parking of tourist coaches on Klang of all places doesn't help the traffic to move.... just turn into there from Sukhumvit to face the back of one of those and half the road blocked. 

[patman30]

18 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Rubbish article, doesn't even say what the rule is.

The rule is the same as it has been for decades, and used to be enforced daily when i was in patts
on ODD number days you can park on one side of the road
on EVEN number days you can park on the other side of the road
Signs have been up a very long time
but this solution is a bit daft, and any foreigner is unlikely to realise.

[Dionigi]

I was out on South Pattaya road on the 4th and they were parking both sides of the road and bikes were lined up on the pavement outside Kasikorn as usual.

[actonion]

What about these Shopkeepers who line the Road outside thier shop with Plastic Chairs etc  to keep the front of their  shop clear, and dont forget  Beach Rd.  with  the Kerbside full of Rental Motorbikes and Cars, been like this  for many years ........Brown Envelopes no doubt

[henryford1958]

That odd even rule is stupid and confusing. Why not just have yellow lines and ban parking on one side permanently. Then everyone knows don't park on the left.

[KannikaP]

8 minutes ago, henryford1958 said:

That odd even rule is stupid and confusing. Why not just have yellow lines and ban parking on one side permanently. Then everyone knows don't park on the left.

The 'left' changes as to which way you are driving. And of course, people living or shop-keeping on the 'parking side' would complain.

Would odd/even MONTHS not be another idea? But then, how long would be needed to 'get used' to it?    

"However, during the first month, violators will receive warnings, allowing motorists time to adjust to the new rules"

[mikebell]

Given the state of Thai Education, I doubt the average driver knows the difference between odd and even.

[worrab]

This Odd/Even parking seems to work well on marked streets in Hua Hin. 

[CallumWK]

1 hour ago, KannikaP said:

The 'left' changes as to which way you are driving. And of course, people living or shop-keeping on the 'parking side' would complain.

 

What reason would shop owners have to complain because people park on the public road at the side their shop is located?

Oh wait, I forgot where I am, and that shop owners think they own the road in front of their shop.

[Liverpool Lou]

1 hour ago, henryford1958 said:

Why not just have yellow lines and ban parking on one side permanently.

Consideration for businesses that may be on the "wrong" side of the road...as the article stated.

[Guderian]

The motorbikes will just park on the pavements instead (that's sidewalks to our friends from the Gulf of America, lol).

[Will B Good]

 

Can't believe the responses above......I have every faith in this being a remarkable success.

[scubascuba3]

5 hours ago, patman30 said:

The rule is the same as it has been for decades, and used to be enforced daily when i was in patts
on ODD number days you can park on one side of the road
on EVEN number days you can park on the other side of the road
Signs have been up a very long time
but this solution is a bit daft, and any foreigner is unlikely to realise.

Clear as mud per their sign

[PETERTHEEATER]

The sign in English is along-winded order for NO PARKING on any day.😊

[newnative]

     Just bite the bullet and eliminate parking on both sides of the road.  Way overdue.  This needs to be done for all the major roads, especially North Pattaya.  Hire meter maids to patrol the major roads, enforcing the no parking with steep fines, with the meter maids keeping a portion of the fines collected as an incentive.   While he was down there, pity the mayor didn't take a look at what a mess Thepprasit is now,  including confusing forward arrow markings on sections of the parking lanes, indicating they are actually traffic lanes, but no red and white curb striping.  

[scubascuba3]

4 minutes ago, newnative said:

     Just bite the bullet and eliminate parking on both sides of the road.  Way overdue.  This needs to be done for all the major roads, especially North Pattaya.  Hire meter maids to patrol the major roads, enforcing the no parking with steep fines, with the meter maids keeping a portion of the fines collected as an incentive.   While he was down there, pity the mayor didn't take a look at what a mess Thepprasit is now,  including confusing forward arrow markings on sections of the parking lanes, indicating they are actually traffic lanes, but no red and white curb striping.  

I don't see the problem with motorbikes parking there, obviously better for businesses

[newnative]

8 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

I don't see the problem with motorbikes parking there, obviously better for businesses

     The purpose of eliminating the parking is to gain an extra travel lane to handle the greatly increased traffic of a booming Pattaya.  Allowing motorcycles to park in the traffic lane defeats the purpose of eliminating the parking.  Obviously, the mayor thinks extra travel lanes on this busy road is a good idea; hence, the odd-even scheme. 

     But, every other day you have bad traffic flow in one of the directions with odd-even.  Bite the bullet and do it correctly from the start, on all the major, very congested, roads.   Off-street parking needs to be established on these roads--that should have been started years ago.   So far the city's done very little with this, and far more needs to be done, both with parking structures and surface parking lots on vacant land not being used. 

     None of this will happen any time soon--if ever--but, as a start, longer no parking lanes, before and after a traffic intersection, should be established to add a third traffic lane so more cars can get through an intersection's traffic cycle, with plenty of no parking length after the intersection to  allow time to merge the traffic back into 2 lanes.  Traffic is so heavy now that the traffic light cycles have become longer and longer in order to get a certain number of vehicles through on a cycle.   A third lane moving cars through an intersection would greatly help.

    

   

[scubascuba3]

9 minutes ago, newnative said:

     The purpose of eliminating the parking is to gain an extra travel lane to handle the greatly increased traffic of a booming Pattaya.  Allowing motorcycles to park in the traffic lane defeats the purpose of eliminating the parking.  Obviously, the mayor thinks extra travel lanes on this busy road is a good idea; hence, the odd-even scheme. 

     But, every other day you have bad traffic flow in one of the directions with odd-even.  Bite the bullet and do it correctly from the start, on all the major, very congested, roads.   Off-street parking needs to be established on these roads--that should have been started years ago.   So far the city's done very little with this, and far more needs to be done, both with parking structures and surface parking lots on vacant land not being used. 

     None of this will happen any time soon--if ever--but, as a start, longer no parking lanes, before and after a traffic intersection, should be established to add a third traffic lane so more cars can get through an intersection's traffic cycle, with plenty of no parking length after the intersection to  allow time to merge the traffic back into 2 lanes.  Traffic is so heavy now that the traffic light cycles have become longer and longer in order to get a certain number of vehicles through on a cycle.   A third lane moving cars through an intersection would greatly help.

    

   

So an extra lane on alternate days, makes no sense, thai logic. Sign above says no parking 11am to 11pm everyday

[Mason45]

If I need to go to South road I just park in the wat car park over the road from Fascino. There is a fee but it cuts out all the hassles.

[jacko45k]

21 hours ago, henryford1958 said:

That odd even rule is stupid and confusing. Why not just have yellow lines and ban parking on one side permanently. Then everyone knows don't park on the left.

It's not fair too... those on the odd side get to park more often, 2 days running 7  times a year, 8 in a leap year!

[actonion]

On 2/6/2025 at 8:44 AM, henryford1958 said:

That odd even rule is stupid and confusing. Why not just have yellow lines and ban parking on one side permanently. Then everyone knows don't park on the left.

My (Thai) Mrs..  thinks that when they Paint anything on the Roads  here  its to make the roads more beautiful...she does'nt agree with it being for Road signs,  as  her thinking is  Thai people would'nt understand what those signs meant...she's  probably right there....Thick or what !!!

[actonion]

Traffic Wardens &  Parking Meters could be an answer, but with these short tempered Thai's   many would be Wardens would be shot dead if given a Ticket or Clamped,  & Meters  stolen and sold for scrap

[actonion]

"Park and Ride"  is the best idea, Park your car in a Field  around Sukhumvit Rd  area  for free, where  Minibuses wait  to drive you into Town for a modest  fee, especially  when its  Festival time

[patman30]

On 2/6/2025 at 10:58 AM, scubascuba3 said:

Clear as mud per their sign

i have no idea about those signs, i was referring to the street signs on poles
not that they have any more info
but it has been this way for many decades on south pattaya road by the gold shops

[Phulublub]

On 2/7/2025 at 11:49 AM, patman30 said:

i have no idea about those signs, i was referring to the street signs on poles
not that they have any more info
but it has been this way for many decades on south pattaya road by the gold shops

They do though - those for west facing side are "No Parking Even days", those on east facing are "No Parking Odd days"

 

PH