Bangkok Set To Launch Bicycle Rentals

[webfact]

BANGKOK

City set to launch bike rentals

ANUPAN CHANTANA

THE NATION

Plan envisions 50 stations with 330 bicycles in bid to cut traffic congestion

BANGKOK: -- In less than a week, the first 100 bicycles will be ready to rent as part of a project in the heart of Bangkok designed to get commuters to use pedal power, making ours a greener world and reducing traffic congestion.

"I'm glad such a good project is coming up," Dr Thongchai Panswad, chairman of the Thai Cycling for Health Association, said yesterday.

The initiative would be a good way to get people to start thinking about riding around on two wheels, he said.

"The pilot phase of this project will start on [sunday]October 28," said Amorn Kitchawengkul, managing director of Krungthep Thanakom Company, the investment arm of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.

The project will expand to 50 stations with 330 bikes in only four months. Only single-seat models would be offered. The stations would be open every day from 6am to midnight.

Krungthep Thanakom has tried many times but always failed to promote greater use of bicycles in the capital in recent years. For example, its bicycle lanes have been largely ignored.

"If there were proper bicycle lanes in the capital, I would bike to any destination of up to 13 kilometres," a Bangkok resident said. "Bicycling is a great way to avoid traffic jams."

The company is now hoping to breathe new life into its bicycling campaign by emulating Velib, the highly successful large-scale, short-time public bicycle sharing system in Paris.

With more than 1,800 stations and 23,000 bicycles, Velib could sharply reduce the use of private cars in the French capital.

"During the first phase, our project will have one rental station near the subway's Chamchuri Square station and another one near the Skytrain's Siam station," Amorn said.

The cycles can be returned to any rental station.

"By February, we will have 50 stations around Bangkok," he said.

The bicycles are free for the first 15 minutes, Bt10 for the next 45 minutes and Bt20 for three hours.

"The fee will rise to Bt40 by the fifth hour and Bt60 by the sixth hour. For one-day use, the rental fee is Bt100," he said.

This includes insurance.

"There's coverage for both bicyclists and third parties," he said.

People would have to pay a Bt300 membership fee first to rent one of the Bt8,000 bicycles.

Thongchai said authorities should periodically assess people's needs to ensure the project receives a warm welcome. If authorities constantly improve the project, it would work.

"It takes decades for bicycle-for-commuting projects in other big cities to become successful. During that period, parties must make proper and well-rounded preparations," he said.

Ajjima Meepring, a cycling-for-commuting activist, said she was happy that City Hall had pushed the project through.

"Bicycles can complement transportation systems and reduce pollution too," she said.

But like Thongchai, she was worried about designated pathways in the capital.

"Without the bicycle lanes, the users don't feel safe," she said.

-- The Nation 2012-10-24

[webfact]

Many people would like to ride bikes: enthusiast

Asina Pornwasin

The Nation

Nonlany

BANGKOK: -- Bike enthusiast Nonlany "Nan" Ungwiwatkul, at the still youthful age of 33, has opened a special coffee shop called Café Velodome at a corner of Thammasat University's Prachan campus.

"Many people would like to ride a bicycle but they don't know how to start biking in the city and even more, they don't have friends to go biking with. Café Velodome acts as a central place for people who love to bike to meet and go cycling together," she said.

Nan has been biking for four years and now loves it. Her ambition is to encourage others in the city to ride a bicycle for better health and reduced carbon dioxide emissions. She quit her job at Rose Media, a digital content development company, to go her own way and pursue her dream.

Her shop provides a wealth of information about biking in a big city like Bangkok, including routes, which are mostly back sois rather than main streets. There are many sois and they are interconnected throughout the city. People can ride throughout these sois easily, but not many know about them, she said.

Since it opened on September 9, the cafe has attracted crowds of pedallers. Outings are planned almost every day, depending on the readiness of the two-wheel fans. People can learn more about her biking community at www.facebook.com/CafeVelodome.

"We want to establish Café Velodome as the centre for both biking lovers and newbies. We found that many people, especially those who are beginning to bike, are reluctant to go into a bicycle shop to ask for more information about bicycles and biking. But here, people feel more comfortable to come in, get a cup of coffee and then seek information about bicycles and cycling.

"We suggest routes for biking safety. Biking safety in the big city means routes that are safe from cars and from thieves," she said.

A lot more people are taking up biking compared to four years ago when she started. Unfortunately, there is still a lack of secure bicycle parking both in public areas and office buildings.

"If the office buildings in Bangkok set aside a place for parking bicycles and provide shower rooms for their employees, I believe a lot of people will bike to work rather than drive a car," she said.

Four years have passed, and a lot more people have turned to biking, but there are still no practical, dedicated bicycle lanes on the streets throughout Bangkok.

"Yes, now there are bicycle lanes in Bangkok, but they are not solely for bikes because a lot of motorcycles are also driving on them and in some places there are cars parked on them," she said.

Instead of biking on the roads, which are not designed for biking safety, people should use the sois. Every day, Nan and her teams search for new biking routes in Bangkok and then she tells her biking community.

The café also provides a free service. Now, there are seven bicycles for people to use. Five of them are offered by InterBike Thailand, the largest bicycle dealer in the country, and the other two have been donated by the bike lovers in her community.

"We aim to have 30 bicycles for free provided at the café. We are now developing a parking lot for the 30 bicycles. We welcome bicycle shops or manufacturers to provide products for people to experience biking. We do not recommend any particular brand for them. Just let them try and let them make their own decision," she said.

Café Velodome is in the line with Thammasat University's vision to be a place for biking in Bangkok. City Hall's "We Love Bangkok, We Love Bicycles" committee has also been working with the cafe on further projects to promote biking and encourage people to cycle.

"Bicycles are not cheap, but people can save a lot of money when they turn to biking rather than driving. Importantly, they will get their health back. Let's go biking!"

-- The Nation 2012-10-24

[BookMan]

It's a great idea and I hope it works.

It would be great if there is the ability to hire the bike from point A and leave the bike at point B.

Edited October 23, 2012 by BookMan

[lizardtongue]

One of the better ideas, but with the pollution, heat, rainy season and general driving skills the BTS still sounds a better safer bet!

Krungthep Thanakom has tried many times but always failed to promote greater use of bicycles in the capital in recent years. For example, its bicycle lanes have been largely ignored.

So now they are not going to be ignored? 100 accidents waiting to happen? A test of the insurance cover will prove interesting!

How many Thai's and 'Dont give a shit' tourists will abuse the system? Bt 400 to join and one day's rent for a Bt 8,000 cycle could possibly equal one dodgy I.D. card and a few 1,000 profit?

[lizardtongue]

It's a great idea and I hope it works.

It would be great if there is the ability to hire the bike from point A and leave the bike at point B.

That is what they are aiming for, 300 stations around Bangkok to do exactly that!

[wayned]

And after 1 week:

[Rooo]

New use for footpaths.

[tfc]

I all for cycling and I ride a lot when in Melbourne, Australia but no way am I riding at bicycle in Bangkok. All that huffing and puffing and sucking up the pollution. Not my cup of tea mate.

[Payboy]

It worked in Paris, it should work here. Sure thing.

Above post may contain matter offensive to some. Parental guidance is advised.

[pbeieio]

Do the bikes also come with a head to foot reinforced kevlar suit? That’s the only way you would get me on a bicycle in BKK!!!!

[pbeieio]

It's a great idea and I hope it works.

It would be great if there is the ability to hire the bike from point A and leave the bike at point B.

Point B being the emergency room (or morgue) at the nearest hospital????

[mooro_uk]

An excellent idea in theory. Unfortunately it has zero chance of being practically successfully here..IMHO

[Thaddeus]

Do the bikes also come with a head to foot reinforced kevlar suit? That’s the only way you would get me on a bicycle in BKK!!!!

And an oxygen tank.

[BookMan]

It's a great idea and I hope it works.

It would be great if there is the ability to hire the bike from point A and leave the bike at point B.

That is what they are aiming for, 300 stations around Bangkok to do exactly that!

Could be a perfectly valid alternative to a taxi ride in many instances

[BookMan]

It's a great idea and I hope it works.

It would be great if there is the ability to hire the bike from point A and leave the bike at point B.

Point B being the emergency room (or morgue) at the nearest hospital????

Sure there are busy roads in bkk that I wouldn't feel safe riding a bicycle on, but there are plenty of areas where it is feasible.

Looking at the bike design you would not want to be on busy 6 lane highways, it is more of a gentle pedal machine.

[BookMan]

New use for footpaths.

If it takes the motorcycles off them i'd say its a good thing. Unfortunately I don't think it will be a case of replacing one for the other though

[RayHaas]

I run a Bicycle Tour company in Bangkok and never had any problems. Thai people are very cautious when it comes to cyclists. The stuff you see riding back roads and small alleys is amazing. Bangkok has definitely a market for it. However what I don't get is that the previous project started up a few years ago failed. And those bike were/are free of charge!! Free bikes are stationed around the Grand Palace/ Kaosarn/ Thamasat Uni/ Thonburi. Now the expect money for it.. Good luck. Hope it works out well

[Morakot]

Great! There is hope!

[BeforeTigers]

I happen to be visiting Antwerp, Belgium for the first time today. Happy to see they already have this system fully integrated here.

The crime level is quite low and it's common knowledge that none of the parts on the bikes are compatible with any other kind of bicycle. Good luck with that one, Bangkok.

[IAMSOBAD]

Never work in BKK. I rode for three years there and almost got killed every ride.

The car and truck and motorcycle drivers aim at you for sport.

Sent from my GT-N7000 using Thaivisa Connect App

[Fgis]

I run a Bicycle Tour company in Bangkok and never had any problems. Thai people are very cautious when it comes to cyclists. The stuff you see riding back roads and small alleys is amazing. Bangkok has definitely a market for it. However what I don't get is that the previous project started up a few years ago failed. And those bike were/are free of charge!! Free bikes are stationed around the Grand Palace/ Kaosarn/ Thamasat Uni/ Thonburi. Now the expect money for it.. Good luck. Hope it works out well

555... Sounds so realistic !

[frankold]

Everyone will be lined up to use these and leave their car at home

Edited October 24, 2012 by frankold

[Payboy]

I hope the Bangkok bikes have a basket for baguettes like those in Paris.

[asiawatcher]

There are no safe roads in BKK. Dedicated bike lanes? Never - every idiot driver will take advantage of it in the daily push a shove. Thai's behind a wheel of a car are a plain example of Jekkyl and Hyde. No more wai jai, no respect, no smiles, simply grotesque animals without manners or considerations for anyone or anything. Adding a bike to the equation and they will become a target.

[timewilltell]

Is it me or is this a mad idea?

As I read it the bike stations are located at or near the existing skytrain stations and presumably MRT stations. You will be able to rent the bike at one rental / skytrain station and drop it off at any other rental/skytrain station. Who in their right mind will go to a skytrain station to rent a bike and cycle to another skytrain station to drop the bloody thing off and risk life and limb cycling around where the roads are populated by manic car drivers and even more insane motorbike riders who have the driving skills of a three year old with the stabilisers removed.

If you were to rent the bike to go from the skytrain to somewhere else then there will be no place to drop the bike and it will cost you B100 for the day - so useless for the cities millions of workers. The people renting these will be people wanting to steal them - probably repaint them and sell them on.

Or have I completely missed the point in the 5 minutes I took reading the post. I really hope so because whoever dreamed the idea up must have thought of these issues - mustn't they?

Someone please enlighten me.

[omnilangur]

Great idea and I hope they have a discount for tourists. The 300 baht membership fee is a bit expensive. They rent out bikes for 20 baht a day in Vientiane and NO congestion here its 100 baht?? But I just put my own bike in the Bus to bangkok and go everywhere with it! lol even on the sky train!

[crazykopite]

It works well in London but there again London does not have Tuk Tuk drivers who will not be happy losing out on revenue can see a few hit and runs in BKK

[cekipa]

I hope the Bangkok bikes have a basket for baguettes like those in Paris.

Yes, they will with the dog instead of baguette

[GarryP]

Apart from BTS stations, there are very few places where you can chain up a bike to prevent it from being stolen. And those at the BTS stations are laughable. If you have a half decent bike, the biggest worry is having it stolen rather than the traffic which you get used to soon enough. But then I do most of my riding in the burbs.

[HerbalEd]

One of the better ideas, but with the pollution, heat, rainy season and general driving skills the BTS still sounds a better safer bet!

Krungthep Thanakom has tried many times but always failed to promote greater use of bicycles in the capital in recent years. For example, its bicycle lanes have been largely ignored.

So now they are not going to be ignored? 100 accidents waiting to happen? A test of the insurance cover will prove interesting!

How many Thai's and 'Dont give a shit' tourists will abuse the system? Bt 400 to join and one day's rent for a Bt 8,000 cycle could possibly equal one dodgy I.D. card and a few 1,000 profit?

Yeah ... I'm sure they never considered that. How smart you are.