Bangkok To Join Car Free Day Campaign

[george]

Bangkok to join Car Free Day campaign

BANGKOK: -- Over 1,000 cyclists were expected to join festivities organised by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) as part of a campaign to mark the Car Free Day, according to Bangkok deputy governor Panich Wikitset.

Mr. Panich said that on Saturday from 6am until 6pm, the BMA would sponsor Bangkok Car Free Day 2007 at Supachalasai National Stadium and at the "Lan Khon Mueang" or public plaza in front of the Bangkok City Hall to encourage the people to save energy and reduce air pollution.

Some 1,221 cyclists are registered to ride together in a pattern of the map of Thailand, he said, adding that the parade of bicycles would start from Supachalasai National Stadium and continue to Bangkok City Hall.

"At Lan Khon Muang, the exhibition on the global warming crisis will be held and booths offering specially priced bicycle equipment will also set up there," he said.

The parade of cyclists will then ride back to National Stadium where an exhibition on different kinds of bicycles is to be displayed.

"Folding bikes, mountain bikes, antique or classic bikes will also be shown," he said.

According to Mr. Panich, bike riding is gaining popularity and more bicycle lanes have been set up, particularly in outer Bangkok.

He said that the BMA had planned to improve more road to facilitate increasing numbers of cyclists.

--TNA 2007-09-17

[londonthai]

if you want more cyclists on the Bangkok and thailand streets and Roads you need a highway code to be obeyed by the car drivers.

however, that's not the case and the driving culture is in thailand abysmal.

a few years back I have bought a brand new bicycle and because it was too large to load to the taxi I had to cycle back home crossing Pet Kasem Rd in Bangkok. I really had a worry, that it might be my last bicycle ride - I feared for my live. No motorists were taking care of me using the road, speeding by. It's a complete different story in London, where I use bicycle on a daily basis.

same goes with drivers attitude to the pedestrians

[Tyke]

if you want more cyclists on the Bangkok and thailand streets and Roads you need a highway code to be obeyed by the car drivers.

however, that's not the case and the driving culture is in thailand abysmal.

a few years back I have bought a brand new bicycle and because it was too large to load to the taxi I had to cycle back home crossing Pet Kasem Rd in Bangkok. I really had a worry, that it might be my last bicycle ride - I feared for my live. No motorists were taking care of me using the road, speeding by. It's a complete different story in London, where I use bicycle on a daily basis.

same goes with drivers attitude to the pedestrians

Hi,

The Thailand Cycling Club (http://www.thaicycling.com/en_home.asp) is organising participation in this event if anyone is interested. They are a good organisation and do a lot of charity work for poor schoolkids - they arrange non-profit day, weekend and week tours both outside Bangkok, around Thailand and abroad (there is a trip to Laos and Vietnam next month, all inclusive for only 10,000 baht, including travel, food, bike hire, accommodation and visas.) Message me if you want more info.

[chatette]

At least it's a nod at the damage cars do. I lived in brussels for several years and the car free day was just fabulous. You really could ride safely down any of the roads in a large area of the city that was out of bounds. Anyone driving had to display the special permit that had applied for in advance seeking approval to drive after furnishing a good reason. Lots of bladers, too. The lack of noise and fumes is just a joy. I can't imagine Bangkok ever reaching the level of sophistication that people would 'get' the rationale of a car free day and the joy of being able to ride around on a bike.

[Tyke]

if you want more cyclists on the Bangkok and thailand streets and Roads you need a highway code to be obeyed by the car drivers.

however, that's not the case and the driving culture is in thailand abysmal.

a few years back I have bought a brand new bicycle and because it was too large to load to the taxi I had to cycle back home crossing Pet Kasem Rd in Bangkok. I really had a worry, that it might be my last bicycle ride - I feared for my live. No motorists were taking care of me using the road, speeding by. It's a complete different story in London, where I use bicycle on a daily basis.

same goes with drivers attitude to the pedestrians

Although cycling in Bangkok is more dangerous than cycling in central London which I did for about 7 years, everyday, I don't think there is a magnitude in that difference. But the dangers are different - in London a major danger are pedestrians who step onto the road without looking - that almost never happens in Bangkok (except getting on and off buses). But in Bangkok, the dangers are 1) holes and grates with big slits pointing your way that have to be avoided, 2) taxis and buses that stop in front of you, 3) motorcycles and cars that enter your road and expect you to move to the centre of the road, 4) motorcycles, food carts etc coming at you on main roads in the wrong direction! 5) belching smoke in your face. A small price to pay for the sheer pleasure of cycling in Thailand!

[Tyke]

if you want more cyclists on the Bangkok and thailand streets and Roads you need a highway code to be obeyed by the car drivers.

First of all, before expecting drivers to obey the Highway Code, you must have a Police force in place that will implement the laws and punish errant drivers according to the law.

Then we need to have a stricter driving test procedure, including mandatory lessons, that actually teaches Thai drivers the Highway Code, how to handle a motor vehicle properly, how to act responsibly and how to drive with a high degree of safety and concern for other road users, especially pedestrians, cyclists and other more vulnerable candidates.

Next, we need safety standards of both vehicles on the roads and the roads themselves to drastically improve.

Until these three fundamental points are addressed drivers will continue to act with scant regard for the law, endangering lives and making Thai roads some of the least safe on the planet.

I agree entirely with this, but I would add something extra, which also applies, like this does, to any campaign to improve law enforcement in Thailand and any other country - it's propaganda. Public education campaigns (if done properly) are generally very effective at making people realise the errors of their ways and what to do to improve them. I KNOW this sounds a bit of a softly approach, but if combined with the solutions set out above can be very effective - it made a big difference to people's perception of racial prejudice, AIDS, homophobia, etc in many western countries, but such campaigns don't seem to be present in Thailand.

[Tyke]

if you want more cyclists on the Bangkok and thailand streets and Roads you need a highway code to be obeyed by the car drivers.

however, that's not the case and the driving culture is in thailand abysmal.

a few years back I have bought a brand new bicycle and because it was too large to load to the taxi I had to cycle back home crossing Pet Kasem Rd in Bangkok. I really had a worry, that it might be my last bicycle ride - I feared for my live. No motorists were taking care of me using the road, speeding by. It's a complete different story in London, where I use bicycle on a daily basis.

same goes with drivers attitude to the pedestrians

Although cycling in Bangkok is more dangerous than cycling in central London which I did for about 7 years, everyday, I don't think there is a magnitude in that difference. But the dangers are different - in London a major danger are pedestrians who step onto the road without looking - that almost never happens in Bangkok (except getting on and off buses). But in Bangkok, the dangers are 1) holes and grates with big slits pointing your way that have to be avoided, 2) taxis and buses that stop in front of you, 3) motorcycles and cars that enter your road and expect you to move to the centre of the road, 4) motorcycles, food carts etc coming at you on main roads in the wrong direction! 5) belching smoke in your face. A small price to pay for the sheer pleasure of cycling in Thailand!

I might also add that a big danger in London are cars that enter a road whilst cyclists are passing - same as in Thailand - drivers often don't see cyclists, even if they wear bright clothes, flashing lights etc.

[popshirt]

I would just be happy if there were sidewalks in Bangkok that were not hazardous to ankles. I have sprained my ankle several times whilst walking here, I love to walk and it is not only no fun in Bkk but also hazadous to my health. I know this is too much to ask.

[Briggsy]

Bangkok to join Car Free Day campaign

According to Mr. Panich, bike riding is gaining popularity and more bicycle lanes have been set up, particularly in outer Bangkok.

He said that the BMA had planned to improve more road to facilitate increasing numbers of cyclists.

--TNA 2007-09-17

HA!

Take at look now at the then much-vaunted bicycle lane on Ekamai-Ram Intra which was made about 10 years ago. It's a motorbike psycho lane on which crazy dudes driving at 90 Kph try to kill pedestrians. Not a bicycle in sight.

[Tyke]

Bangkok to join Car Free Day campaign

According to Mr. Panich, bike riding is gaining popularity and more bicycle lanes have been set up, particularly in outer Bangkok.

He said that the BMA had planned to improve more road to facilitate increasing numbers of cyclists.

--TNA 2007-09-17

HA!

Take at look now at the then much-vaunted bicycle lane on Ekamai-Ram Intra which was made about 10 years ago. It's a motorbike psycho lane on which crazy dudes driving at 90 Kph try to kill pedestrians. Not a bicycle in sight.

I agree, whenever they make a new cycle lane in BKK the motorbikes riders are given new ramps onto the pavement. They should put up posts that allow pedestrians and narrow cycles but not motorcycles to pass through. They did this on part of the one on Rajadamri road, but most of the rest has still been taken over by motorcyclists. The problem is that I doubt the BMA takes advice from anyone who has experience of cycling in Bangkok. They think oohh green (=votes), oooh biccyles (=votes), oooooh Bicycle lanes (=votes) with nice white lines that everyone can see and respect - should do the trick, without thinking the whole problem through. It's not only motorcyclists either - it's food stalls! They must think the white lines show them where to park their restaurants!