Indian Restaurant Owner in Pattaya Calls for Action Against Rental Bike Operators

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of SiamChon.

 

A distressed Indian restaurant owner in Pattaya has come forward to highlight an ongoing dispute with local motorbike rental operators, accusing them of obstructing access to her business and intimidating her over parking issues.

 

At 23:15 on 23 February, Ms. Thanya, 33, owner of Sharmaji Pure Veg Indian restaurant on Pattaya Beach Road near Soi 13/4, made a formal complaint to local media. She claims that for over a year, she has been facing harassment from a group of local vehicle rental operators, who continuously obstruct parking spaces in front of her restaurant, causing significant damage to her business. The harassment has reached such an extent that she has been left in tears. As evidence, she has provided CCTV footage capturing the alleged actions of the group.

 

According to Ms. Thanya, she has run her restaurant for over a year and initially attempted to negotiate with the rental operators. She proposed allowing them to park their motorbikes in front of her restaurant during the day while requesting that they vacate the space in the evening when her business operates. However, the operators refused to comply, even preventing her from parking her own restaurant's vehicles in the area.

 

She has sought assistance from various authorities, and Pattaya City officials have intervened on multiple occasions, suggesting a compromise by using an electric pole as a boundary marker. Despite this, the rental operators have continued to park their motorbikes in front of her establishment. When she tried to reserve space for her customers by parking her own vehicle there, the rental operators would immediately occupy the spot once she moved her vehicle for deliveries. Attempts to park nearby have resulted in her vehicle being boxed in and even damaged.

 

The situation escalated when a foreign tourist parked their motorbike in the public space in question. Although the area is public property, the rental operators have been treating it as their private domain, forcibly moving other vehicles to park their own. In this particular instance, they moved the tourist’s motorbike into the middle of the road, leading to the police towing it away for obstructing traffic. Initially fearing theft, the tourist later discovered the vehicle had been impounded, incurring a fine to retrieve it. Ms. Thanya clarified that she does not fault the police for their actions.

 

She reiterated that she does not operate a vehicle rental business and only parks her vehicle in front of her restaurant to prevent rental operators from occupying the space. However, the ongoing conflict has led to a loss of customers, as many are unable to find parking. She also revealed that the rental operators have openly boasted that authorities would not take action against them, further adding to her distress.

 

Ms. Thanya insists that tourists should be free to park in public spaces but opposes the rental operators monopolising these areas. She also expressed concern over their claims of having connections within Pattaya City authorities, arguing that such behaviour damages the city's reputation as a tourist destination.

 

This issue highlights the broader problem of rental vehicle operators dominating public parking spaces in Pattaya, making it difficult for tourists and local businesses to operate freely. Ms. Thanya is appealing to Pattaya City officials and law enforcement to take firm action against such practices to ensure a fair business environment for all.

 

-- 2025-02-24

 

[BritManToo]

This must be the only shop owner in Thailand that wouldn't puncture the tire of every scooter parked in front of their business.

[scubascuba3]

Those rental businesses think they own the street on beach road, kick them out 

[roo860]

'She also expressed concern over their claims of having connections within Pattaya City authorities, arguing that such behaviour damages the city's reputation as a tourist destination' 😅😅

 

That old chestnut, again!

[KhunBENQ]

Time for a steamroller.

Few spaces left on beach Rd that are not occupied by this mafia. Words nothing but words since years. TiT.

 

They use public road as business premises.

They rent big bikes to every hooligan coming along.

Who asks for a license?

[Upnotover]

She needs to offer valet parking.  Sorted.

[CallumWK]

4 minutes ago, Upnotover said:

She needs to offer valet parking.  Sorted.

 

And how you do that on a public road?