Farangs riding motorbikes on the pavements.

[brewsterbudgen]

The pavements along my part of Sukhumvit Road in Bangkok have a motorcycle lane painted on them. Punching anyone for driving a motorbike on the pavement would be foolish in the extreme.

[NoshowJones]

What a mug's game that would be. I have been out of the 'fight game' for many years, after turning 60 this year.

An old adage of mine. If you wish to avoid trouble, don't put yourself in a position where you are likely to find it.

Calm down mate. You were not hurt. Dealing out your own summary justice on the footpath is not in your job statement.

OK, but if anyone outside of Thais for the reason I have already mentioned, tries to use violence on me, or even threatens it, then I will retaliate.

[NoshowJones]

Take a chill pill man, or get the hell out of here. What do you think punching this guy would have achieved? Do you think that it would have been on national TV the next day and suddenly no one rides their mc's on the sidewalk ever again in case some loopy farang punches them?

Read my answer to post 5. I stand by that.

[NoshowJones]

I'm guilty of doing this now and again, but I usually go pretty slow when I do.

I think Mr. possum 1931 is out there, waiting for you...

An earlier poster said that you are allowed to ride a motorbike on the sidewalk. This being Thailand, I would not be surprised.

[NoshowJones]

You can manage your anger and behaviour so that it is not violent. Violence is not okay, and in most cases is actually illegal You are the only person who can stop yourself from being violent, and yours is the only violence you can definitely stop

It is OK to use violence in the defence of yourself, friends and family. But keep it in mind I did not hit this motorcyclist, I held back.

[NoshowJones]

You should of played possum.

Sent from my GT-P7500 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Yes I know the song, I used to sing it when I worked as a musician back in Scotland. The song was recorded by Alan Jackson, an American country singer.

[NoshowJones]

I'll tell you what; if it had been me you punched you would have the opportunity to see just how corrupt Thailand really is.

It's amazing what 100,000 baht can accomplish.

I will ride my bike on the sidewalk just like everyone else; if you don't like it....go home!

It would seem you have about the same mentality as the Thais. How would you feel if you killed someones kid as he/she ran out of a shop doorway?

[NoshowJones]

So you wanted to take out all that pent up aggression on the farang because you know you can't try that on the Thais without being killed?

Hilarious!

No, I just do not fancy the odds of about six to one. May I say this again, I did not hit anyone, yes it was on my mind. I should have started a poll here. Even if it is not against the law, how many posters think it is OK to ride a motorbike on the sidewalk?

[NoshowJones]

I often have a big backpack (gym clothes & equipment). If I see a motorbike speeding down the pavement towards me, I turn sideways so just my big backpack is in his way. That way it will hurt him a lot more than it hurts me if he hits me, and he steers out of the way

It must be some backpack, and you must be a very tough man, but good on you, it is nice to see a poster at last who does not agree that it is OK to ride a motorbike on the sidewalk.

[NoshowJones]

The pavements along my part of Sukhumvit Road in Bangkok have a motorcycle lane painted on them. Punching anyone for driving a motorbike on the pavement would be foolish in the extreme.

If there is a lane for motorcyclists, then that's fine. I would say there should be more of them.

[geriatrickid]

I often have a big backpack (gym clothes & equipment). If I see a motorbike speeding down the pavement towards me, I turn sideways so just my big backpack is in his way. That way it will hurt him a lot more than it hurts me if he hits me, and he steers out of the way

or maybe he will stop since you are Hardgay and ask for an autograph.

I would .

[Commander Tamson]

Well done Possum; you had the guts to come back & answer everyone of your critics.

Respect!

[VocalNeal]

Possum,

Many things in Asia are different, that is why a lot of us are here.

There is much dog poo on the side-walks in Paris? Vive la difference, Same same but different. What about all the noodle stands on the side-walk? Restaurants on the side-walk? Cars parked on the side-walk? People 's business like metal working or motorcycle workshops spilling over on to the side-walk? Motrobike shops displaying on side-walks? What about locals playing badminton on small sois? What about people in villages using the roads for a wedding party?

May I humble suggest some deep breathing exercises? Or Yoga?

[mauGR1]

I'm guilty of doing this now and again, but I usually go pretty slow when I do.

I think Mr. possum 1931 is out there, waiting for you...

An earlier poster said that you are allowed to ride a motorbike on the sidewalk. This being Thailand, I would not be surprised.

This being Thailand i would not be surprised if it was allowed only for Thais..

Also, law or not, i think it's wrong to ride motorbikes on a busy sidewalk...And it's wrong to punch people too, except than for self-defence..

[Commander Tamson]

Of course it's wrong to drive a motorbike on the footpath. It is also wrong for mcs to drive on the wrong side of the road; not to wear crash helmets; have 3 or 4 people on the same bike or to have no lights on your bike at night. But this is Thailand and us, as farangs, are never going to change things, no matter how much we rave about it, or want to take the individual offenders to task - Farang or Thai.

Best just shrug your shoulders; move on and avoid the high blood pressure

[VocalNeal]

Of course it's wrong to drive a motorbike on the footpath. It is also wrong for mcs to drive on the wrong side of the road; not to wear crash helmets; have 3 or 4 people on the same bike or to have no lights on your bike at night. But this is Thailand

May I paraphrase that for you? It is OK to ride a motorbike on the footpath. It is also OK for motorcycles to drive on the wrong side of the road; not to wear crash helmets; have 3 or 4 people on the same bike or to have no lights on a bike at night. This is Thailand and many things are different. Best just shrug your shoulders.

Or better? Simply ignore it.

Also different.

Ketchup on Pizza

Mayonnaise on Pizza

Ice in beer

Ice cream in a hot-dog bun

Corn in ice cream

Beans in ice cream

Urinating by the road-side

There is a very large list

[Commander Tamson]

Of course it's wrong to drive a motorbike on the footpath. It is also wrong for mcs to drive on the wrong side of the road; not to wear crash helmets; have 3 or 4 people on the same bike or to have no lights on your bike at night. But this is Thailand

May I paraphrase that for you? It is OK to ride a motorbike on the footpath. It is also OK for motorcycles to drive on the wrong side of the road; not to wear crash helmets; have 3 or 4 people on the same bike or to have no lights on a bike at night. This is Thailand and many things are different. Best just shrug your shoulders.

Or better? Simply ignore it.

Also different.

Ketchup on Pizza

Mayonnaise on Pizza

Ice in beer

Ice cream in a hot-dog bun

Corn in ice cream

Beans in ice cream

Urinating by the road-side

There is a very large list

Being OK to do something doesn't mean it is not wrong! But in essence I'm not arguing with your point(s). In Thailand it's OK to beat up a woman or for teachers to beat up kids in school but for sure it's wrong to do so

[BSJ]

First and importantly, you have to stop referring to it as a sidewalk. Sidewalks are in America this is Thailand. You can walk or ride anywhere you damn well please.

Secondly.....well firstly just about covers it!

[Commander Tamson]

First and importantly, you have to stop referring to it as a sidewalk. Sidewalks are in America this is Thailand. You can walk or ride anywhere you dam_n well please.

Secondly.....well firstly just about covers it!

I don't think I have ever seen scooters on a tollway. It's ok or not?

And as this is an English speaking forum, what's a sidewalk, pavement, footpath or whatever called in Thailand? (Actually I'd interested to know its name in Thai - futbaht?)

[WitawatWatawit]

First and importantly, you have to stop referring to it as a sidewalk. Sidewalks are in America this is Thailand. You can walk or ride anywhere you dam_n well please.

Secondly.....well firstly just about covers it!

I don't think I have ever seen scooters on a tollway. It's ok or not?

And as this is an English speaking forum, what's a sidewalk, pavement, footpath or whatever called in Thailand? (Actually I'd interested to know its name in Thai - futbaht?)

<deleted>-bar. Dumb farang.

[Commander Tamson]

First and importantly, you have to stop referring to it as a sidewalk. Sidewalks are in America this is Thailand. You can walk or ride anywhere you dam_n well please.

Secondly.....well firstly just about covers it!

I don't think I have ever seen scooters on a tollway. It's ok or not?

And as this is an English speaking forum, what's a sidewalk, pavement, footpath or whatever called in Thailand? (Actually I'd interested to know its name in Thai - futbaht?)

<deleted>-bar. Dumb farang.

Thanks watawanker

[VocalNeal]

Footpath in Thai i believe is as you say futbaht as there maybe no Thai word.

An excavator in Thai is a bakho or as we would say backhoe as there may also be no Thai word for it either.

I am sure there are more.

BSJ I think the reference to side walk or pavement is because this is how the thread started. As has been said here it is simply a flat surface that abuts buildings that is not the road.

Being OK to do something doesn't mean it is not wrong! But in essence I'm not arguing with your point(s). In Thailand it's OK to beat up a woman or for teachersto beat up kids in school but for sure it's wrong to do so

We should not fall into the trap of economic imperialism, our value system is irrelevant here except for our personal behaviour. Wrong is not necessarily bad and bad is not necessarily wrong, just different. As for violence against women and minor singlets are called wife beaters in the US for a reason.

[Johnniey]

ฟุตบาต (footbat) is the Thai word.

[Commander Tamson]

We should not fall into the trap of economic imperialism, our value system is irrelevant here except for our personal behaviour. Wrong is not necessarily bad and bad is not necessarily wrong, just different. As for violence against women and minor singlets are called wife beaters in the US for a reason.

Economic Imperialism - Classic Neal!

Maybe we should start a thread on the Effects of Economic Imperialism in Thailand

[VocalNeal]

We should not fall into the trap of economic imperialism, our value system is irrelevant here except for our personal behaviour. Wrong is not necessarily bad and bad is not necessarily wrong, just different. As for violence against women and minor singlets are called wife beaters in the US for a reason.

Economic Imperialism - Classic Neal!

Maybe we should start a thread on the Effects of Economic Imperialism in Thailand

Ok well we could call it cultural imperialism but...

[BSJ]

With reference to the area between the buildings and the area referred to as "The Road" it is called wi tee or tahng or tahng dohn depending on where you are. And I can't help with the sounds so when I say it it will probably be wrong.....like everything else I say in Thai! And with regional dialects there are many variations for sure!