Thai Parking ... what were they thinking?

[monkey4u]

I don't think "lines" are taught in Thai schools. They can't drive within them, park within them or even stand in them...

How true.

You hit the nail on the head

[Muhendis]

I suppose they were probably the thinking the same as me - angle parking makes more sense

There will always be a few who have poor spacial awareness and some who are too lazy to even try to adjust their parking position. Having said that, oh how I wish car park designers would switch on what passes for a brain. Square on parking leaves little room for manoeuvre and spaces are too small to open doors fully. Parking would be so much easier with a herringbone layout and a bit more space (if someone wants to take issue with loss of a bay or two, go look at the spaces taken by vendors and sales demos). in Big C.. Also drivers would be less inclined to driven the wrong way.

I also think it is wrong to assume that this is a typical Thai problem. It happens all over the world

[Andre0720]

Parking.

My experience.

If it is on the surface of the earth.

It is accesible.

Vehicle fits in.

Perfect.

[attento]

I suppose they were probably the thinking the same as me - angle parking makes more sense

All Tesco's fault, they painted the lines in the wrong place ..............

[Leung Falang]

The "street" is too narrow as are the parking lanes at all of these big box stores.

[funcat]

I don't get it...Thais are so good in copping everything,so why can't they copy not only the given principles of parking designs....but the road and traffic problems already known to (most) everybody around the world...

BTW,I grew up in one of those 'Eastern European Communist Countries' and the common (sense) joke always was:'If you need to copy,copy it from the genius, not from an idiot' (sorry for not direct translation)

.....now I have a big truck,so I can(have to) park it anyway I want...

[IMHO]

I have been told their is no word for the concept common sense in the Thai language. ( don't know if it is true )

Well, you weren't told that by a Thai person

Apparently, I'm not allowed to type Thai in this forum, but there are two ways you can say 'common sense'

"Jit sam neuk" - this is the more colloquial usage

"Sah man sam neuk" - this is the more exact translation

If you get yourself around some educated Thai people in conversation, you will hear the phrase "mai mee jit sam neuk" spoken quite regularly, just like you guys do

[funcat]

I have been told their is no word for the concept common sense in the Thai language. ( don't know if it is true )

Well, you weren't told that by a Thai person

Apparently, I'm not allowed to type Thai in this forum, but there are two ways you can say 'common sense'

"Jit sam neuk" - this is the more colloquial usage

"Sah man sam neuk" - this is the more exact translation

If you get yourself around some educated Thai people in conversation, you will hear the phrase "mai mee jit sam neuk" spoken quite regularly, just like you guys do

No offense,IMHO,but should 'common sense' be common...and not restricted to just the educated folks?!Certainly there are so many schools in Thailand,but it doesn't seem to me(at least),that they teach children to employ common sense in common life...and they grow up this way......or maybe I need to move to a different Thailand

...and people involved in urban planning should be educated,IMO....

Edited November 10, 2013 by funcat

[dighambara]

Won't be difficult for more examples, all I have to do is bring my camera out at BigC and point it anywhere.

This is purposeful - an enforced lack of education to keep the masses stupid. Which explains their ignorance of their own history and their ignorance of Thai customs (North vs South for example).

My cable provider give us Vietnamese channels and the Vietnam government runs regular spots on traffic safety; park between lines, don't stop over the crosswalk, etc. I have never seen any such informational ads on Thai TV.

[David48]

.

How about a bit less critique and a few more photos ...

It's just a bit of fun the thread ... seriously.

.

[IMHO]

I have been told their is no word for the concept common sense in the Thai language. ( don't know if it is true )

Well, you weren't told that by a Thai person

Apparently, I'm not allowed to type Thai in this forum, but there are two ways you can say 'common sense'

"Jit sam neuk" - this is the more colloquial usage

"Sah man sam neuk" - this is the more exact translation

If you get yourself around some educated Thai people in conversation, you will hear the phrase "mai mee jit sam neuk" spoken quite regularly, just like you guys do

No offense,IMHO,but should 'common sense' be common...and not restricted to just the educated folks?!Certainly there are so many schools in Thailand,but it doesn't seem to me(at least),that they teach children to employ common sense in common life...and they grow up this way......or maybe I need to move to a different Thailand

...and people involved in urban planning should be educated,IMO....

I should point out that I hear it most commonly used in reference to foreigners who think that everything in Thailand is being done wrong because it's not been done 'their way' (not as commonly as 'mai ru reuang' though ). 'Common sense' appears to be just a regional as language. I posit that common sense in Thailand means the Thai way... 'when in Rome' ...

As for the design of the carparks (which we all agree are terrible). Let's not forget that these are all English or French companies...

Edited November 10, 2013 by IMHO

[sjonburi]

+1 for this post and a rather interesting subject.

When I'm having a dinner party somewhere,where Thai people and foreigners alike are invited, we nearly always touch this subject (especially when the alcohol starts to do its job) our Thai friends are always very vocal that the vast majority of people in Thailand do not think logic and therefore lack common-sense. I do not pretend to be Sigmund Freud here but there is definitely a relationship between education and common-sense., this combined with an underdeveloped sense of empathy and egocentric thinking.

Some examples:

-When you're waiting for a traffic light surrounded by another 100 or 200 cars and suddenly you hear a siren of an ambulance behind you, your first reaction would be (at least where I come from) to move your car to the side and give way the ambulance to pass, one does this because you have empathy and can imagine yourself or loved ones in that ambulance expecting them doing the same, helping each other, think like a group and not like an individual who doesn't care because it's not him or her in that ambulance. Sadly the reality is different.

-One of my Thai neighbors wants to rent out one of his houses for THB 50,000.00 a month, people are not interested and subsequently this house is not being rented for about 6 months., then something interesting happens; the Thai neighbor reasons that since he did not rent out his property for 6 months already he decides to increase the price to THB 60,000.00 p/m to compensate for his loss of income in the first 6 months, by doing so he priced himself out of the market and the house is still up for rent. In contrast, my other neighbor (German) put his property (exactly the same as from the Thai owner) on the market, also for THB 50,000.00 p.m., after 3 months he did not get any response and decided to lower the price to THB 45,000.00 and the house was rented within 3 weeks. A completely different approach as our Thai neighbor did the opposite of what people with common-sense would do.

- As the owner of a company specialised in design, production and installation of built-in furniture I decided to redefine the concept of quality in this industry in Thailand. When I started my business I first tried to put myself in the position of one of our production employees who I was paying around THB 9,500 a month., while this person has a good heart, he did not have a clear understanding of the concept of quality. I asked him, would you accept this quality yourself? Then I realised that according his concept of quality he was already doing a good job. Then I did something which for most people (Thai or foreign alike) does not make economical sense., I decided to raise the salary for this position to THB 20,000 p/m and interviewed people who dressed neatly, had the same idea of quality , most of them had a car and spoke reasonably good English. By hiring people to do production work for a salary that they normally only would make in an office with a university background I was able to increase the efficiency of the company, reduce waste and have more satisfied customers, all of this without having to increase my pricing.

I guess, like many problems in society, it all boils down to education. When I see Thai schoolkids departing from 7/11 and on their way throwing away their plastic bags on the streets, they do not realise that they're polluting the environment for themselves, their fellow countrymen and their future kids., for them it's just mai pen rai.

my 2 c

I have been told their is no word for the concept common sense in the Thai language. ( don't know if it is true )

Well, you weren't told that by a Thai person

Apparently, I'm not allowed to type Thai in this forum, but there are two ways you can say 'common sense'

"Jit sam neuk" - this is the more colloquial usage

"Sah man sam neuk" - this is the more exact translation

If you get yourself around some educated Thai people in conversation, you will hear the phrase "mai mee jit sam neuk" spoken quite regularly, just like you guys do

No offense,IMHO,but should 'common sense' be common...and not restricted to just the educated folks?!Certainly there are so many schools in Thailand,but it doesn't seem to me(at least),that they teach children to employ common sense in common life...and they grow up this way......or maybe I need to move to a different Thailand

...and people involved in urban planning should be educated,IMO....

Edited November 10, 2013 by sjonburi

[willyumiii]

Not so much in the bigger villages or towns and cities, but in the smaller villages like mine and those near by, people will park right in the middle of the road as close as possible to the front door of the house or business they are going to!

These roads are not wide enough for one vehicle to pass another, except maybe two bikes.

They will park this way when there is a space to park off of the road less than 10 meters up the road!

It is also common to park the truck or car in the middle of the road while washing it!

Maybe they think they are saving time by parking as close to where they are going as possible and avoiding walking.

Until someone comes along and can not get by.

Then they need to go back to their vehicle, move it up or down the road however many meters to park it off the road to allow passage and then walk back to wherever they were .

Wouldn't it make more sense and save time to park out of the road in the first place??

OOPS! Sense!

I forgot!

I have been told their is no word for the concept common sense in the Thai language. ( don't know if it is true )

I guess it's just more of the "Me,me,me first!" myopic Thai attitude that governs their driving habits too!

I'm glad the Op mentioned this.

It is one of a few things that really do make me crazy in LOS.

P.S. In my country of origin, parking in this fashion would result in an expensive parking ticket, having your vehicle towed and impounded and cost somewhere around 10000 Baht for each instance!

What's the hurry ?? Your a guest.

Just ask them nicely to move so you can be on your way.

As for the P.S. if Thailand got like your country of origin, I'm out of here.

I agree! " What's the hurry?"

Why not take one more minute to park in a place that will not block others and walk a few meters to your destination?

What's the hurry?

[IMHO]

When I'm having a dinner party somewhere,where Thai people and foreigners alike are invited, we nearly always touch this subject (especially when the alcohol starts to do its job) our Thai friends are always very vocal that the vast majority of people in Thailand do not think logic and therefore lack common-sense. I do not pretend to be Sigmund Freud here but there is definitely a relationship between education and common-sense., this combined with an underdeveloped sense of empathy and egocentric thinking.

It goes both ways. I have seen and heard foreigners doing the most idiotic things imaginable in Thailand.

Where's the common sense in renting a motorbike if you've never ridden one before? Also, if you've never ridden one before where's the common sense in your first riding experience being shirt-less, helmet-less, shoe-less and also probably half drunk?

Where's the common sense in a 60yo+ farang thinking that a 20yo sex worker saying "handsome man" is actually telling the truth, and then making life decisions based on a delusion?

Where's the common sense in moving to a country that is rated amongst the worst in the world for English proficiency, and then not learning their language?

Where's the common sense in buying property you know you can't own, signing away all title to it, then losing it and complaining?

Where's the common sense in despising/ridiculing class-based society, when every time you complain about something, you're actually agreeing with it?

I could go on and on, but will finish up for now with this:

Where's the common sense in complaining about bad parking to a minuscule minority of people who are probably actually good at it?

I mean no disrespect, and none of this is aimed at anyone here.. just trying to add some balance and perspective

Edited November 10, 2013 by IMHO

[Kwasaki]

Not so much in the bigger villages or towns and cities, but in the smaller villages like mine and those near by, people will park right in the middle of the road as close as possible to the front door of the house or business they are going to!

These roads are not wide enough for one vehicle to pass another, except maybe two bikes.

They will park this way when there is a space to park off of the road less than 10 meters up the road!

It is also common to park the truck or car in the middle of the road while washing it!

Maybe they think they are saving time by parking as close to where they are going as possible and avoiding walking.

Until someone comes along and can not get by.

Then they need to go back to their vehicle, move it up or down the road however many meters to park it off the road to allow passage and then walk back to wherever they were .

Wouldn't it make more sense and save time to park out of the road in the first place??

OOPS! Sense!

I forgot!

I have been told their is no word for the concept common sense in the Thai language. ( don't know if it is true )

I guess it's just more of the "Me,me,me first!" myopic Thai attitude that governs their driving habits too!

I'm glad the Op mentioned this.

It is one of a few things that really do make me crazy in LOS.

P.S. In my country of origin, parking in this fashion would result in an expensive parking ticket, having your vehicle towed and impounded and cost somewhere around 10000 Baht for each instance!

What's the hurry ?? Your a guest.

Just ask them nicely to move so you can be on your way.

As for the P.S. if Thailand got like your country of origin, I'm out of here.

I agree! " What's the hurry?"

Why not take one more minute to park in a place that will not block others and walk a few meters to your destination?

What's the hurry?

Why have a car and not stop and park outside exactly where you want to be.

As for Thai parking here in UK parking at supermarkets etc my car use to get the rippled affect look down the sides after a year or so.

Here in Thailand our car 5year old been parked in many Thai carpark areas, shop malls etc, not one mark on the side of the car, why not have a bashing comment on that.

[transam]

They haven't got a bloke with a whistle at our local car park..................

.................

[IMHO]

- As the owner of a company specialised in design, production and installation of built-in furniture I decided to redefine the concept of quality in this industry in Thailand. When I started my business I first tried to put myself in the position of one of our production employees who I was paying around THB 9,500 a month., while this person has a good heart, he did not have a clear understanding of the concept of quality. I asked him, would you accept this quality yourself? Then I realised that according his concept of quality he was already doing a good job. Then I did something which for most people (Thai or foreign alike) does not make economical sense., I decided to raise the salary for this position to THB 20,000 p/m and interviewed people who dressed neatly, had the same idea of quality , most of them had a car and spoke reasonably good English. By hiring people to do production work for a salary that they normally only would make in an office with a university background I was able to increase the efficiency of the company, reduce waste and have more satisfied customers, all of this without having to increase my pricing.

You left out one part - the problem that in hiring better educated people, most of them are probably dissatisfied doing a repetitive, production style role.

We have the same problem with our researchers - they all *need* to be high IQ types, but the repetitive, one-track nature of the role makes it hard to find people who will stay....

Edited November 10, 2013 by IMHO

[sjonburi]

Very simple: because they can and the law allows it. We all know that being a policeman in this country is not a job but an entrepreneurial activity and money talks big-time. Like you said, when in Rome.. If I pay € 100,00 to a policeman in my home country to let me go after being caught for speeding I get arrested for bribery, here I can buy certain "privileges" starting as low as a few hundred Baht., it's not the demand, it's the supply / availability that makes certain folk (farang & Thai) misbehave. It's the corruption of a society that facilitates.

I'm neither here to defend crazy farangs who left their brain in their home-country nor judging the Thai people., I love to live and work here and respect the local people and their customs., I'm a guest and appreciate the host for being able to live here.

In my opinion there is a great task for well and foreign educated Thais, I presume like yourself, to help and educate the majority of their fellow countrymen and improve society as a whole but the truth is that the majority of the elite does not mind the status quo and continues it's greed over the back of the the uneducated poorer people.

Now let's get back to parking

When I'm having a dinner party somewhere,where Thai people and foreigners alike are invited, we nearly always touch this subject (especially when the alcohol starts to do its job) our Thai friends are always very vocal that the vast majority of people in Thailand do not think logic and therefore lack common-sense. I do not pretend to be Sigmund Freud here but there is definitely a relationship between education and common-sense., this combined with an underdeveloped sense of empathy and egocentric thinking.

It goes both ways. I have seen and heard foreigners doing the most idiotic things imaginable in Thailand.

Where's the common sense in renting a motorbike if you've never ridden one before? Also, if you've never ridden one before where's the common sense in your first riding experience being shirt-less, helmet-less, shoe-less and also probably half drunk?

Where's the common sense in a 60yo+ farang thinking that a 20yo sex worker saying "handsome man" is actually telling the truth, and then making life decisions based on a delusion?

Where's the common sense in moving to a country that is rated amongst the worst in the world for English proficiency, and then not learning their language?

Where's the common sense in buying property you know you can't own, signing away all title to it, then losing it and complaining?

Where's the common sense in despising/ridiculing class-based society, when every time you complain about something, you're actually agreeing with it?

I could go on and on, but will finish up for now with this:

Where's the common sense in complaining about bad parking to a minuscule minority of people who are probably actually good at it?

Edited November 10, 2013 by sjonburi

[funcat]

I have been told their is no word for the concept common sense in the Thai language. ( don't know if it is true )

Well, you weren't told that by a Thai person

Apparently, I'm not allowed to type Thai in this forum, but there are two ways you can say 'common sense'

"Jit sam neuk" - this is the more colloquial usage

"Sah man sam neuk" - this is the more exact translation

If you get yourself around some educated Thai people in conversation, you will hear the phrase "mai mee jit sam neuk" spoken quite regularly, just like you guys do

No offense,IMHO,but should 'common sense' be common...and not restricted to just the educated folks?!Certainly there are so many schools in Thailand,but it doesn't seem to me(at least),that they teach children to employ common sense in common life...and they grow up this way......or maybe I need to move to a different Thailand

...and people involved in urban planning should be educated,IMO....

I should point out that I hear it most commonly used in reference to foreigners who think that everything in Thailand is being done wrong because it's not been done 'their way' (not as commonly as 'mai ru reuang' though ). 'Common sense' appears to be just a regional as language. I posit that common sense in Thailand means the Thai way... 'when in Rome' ...

As for the design of the carparks (which we all agree are terrible). Let's not forget that these are all English or French companies...

I've been here for some years now and trying to adopt the 'when in Rome' attitude,but...man,there is something new everyday ....

...and looks like you may blame foreign companies for wrongly design and build carparks.....they would not be allowed to screw up like this in US for example,were city ordinances and rules are very strict and planners,inspectors are there to enforce it.

[funcat]

When I'm having a dinner party somewhere,where Thai people and foreigners alike are invited, we nearly always touch this subject (especially when the alcohol starts to do its job) our Thai friends are always very vocal that the vast majority of people in Thailand do not think logic and therefore lack common-sense. I do not pretend to be Sigmund Freud here but there is definitely a relationship between education and common-sense., this combined with an underdeveloped sense of empathy and egocentric thinking.

It goes both ways. I have seen and heard foreigners doing the most idiotic things imaginable in Thailand.

Where's the common sense in renting a motorbike if you've never ridden one before? Also, if you've never ridden one before where's the common sense in your first riding experience being shirt-less, helmet-less, shoe-less and also probably half drunk?

Where's the common sense in a 60yo+ farang thinking that a 20yo sex worker saying "handsome man" is actually telling the truth, and then making life decisions based on a delusion?

Where's the common sense in moving to a country that is rated amongst the worst in the world for English proficiency, and then not learning their language?

Where's the common sense in buying property you know you can't own, signing away all title to it, then losing it and complaining?

Where's the common sense in despising/ridiculing class-based society, when every time you complain about something, you're actually agreeing with it?

I could go on and on, but will finish up for now with this:

Where's the common sense in complaining about bad parking to a minuscule minority of people who are probably actually good at it?

I mean no disrespect, and none of this is aimed at anyone here.. just trying to add some balance and perspective

You can summarize this simply by saying:

Where's the common sense in coming to Thailand.......but you learn as you go....and if somebody told me all this what I've learn here before,I wouldn't believe anyway... ...but I did make a positive difference to a few little lives here and this is what counts at the end.

...and complaining to a few TV readers here,makes no sense...you're right(like most of the times)

[p_brownstone]

I never followed any line or rule and will never do !

That's my Rule too.

Patrick

[Rorri]

You have to be joking. Why would they take any notice of parking bay lines, when they ignore all other lines, eg, continuous yellow, broken yellow, red/white, black/white, yellow/white etc.

[Rorri]

Not so much in the bigger villages or towns and cities, but in the smaller villages like mine and those near by, people will park right in the middle of the road as close as possible to the front door of the house or business they are going to!

These roads are not wide enough for one vehicle to pass another, except maybe two bikes.

They will park this way when there is a space to park off of the road less than 10 meters up the road!

It is also common to park the truck or car in the middle of the road while washing it!

Maybe they think they are saving time by parking as close to where they are going as possible and avoiding walking.

Until someone comes along and can not get by.

Then they need to go back to their vehicle, move it up or down the road however many meters to park it off the road to allow passage and then walk back to wherever they were .

Wouldn't it make more sense and save time to park out of the road in the first place??

OOPS! Sense!

I forgot!

I have been told their is no word for the concept common sense in the Thai language. ( don't know if it is true )

I guess it's just more of the "Me,me,me first!" myopic Thai attitude that governs their driving habits too!

I'm glad the Op mentioned this.

It is one of a few things that really do make me crazy in LOS.

P.S. In my country of origin, parking in this fashion would result in an expensive parking ticket, having your vehicle towed and impounded and cost somewhere around 10000 Baht for each instance!

What's the hurry ?? Your a guest.

Just ask them nicely to move so you can be on your way.

As for the P.S. if Thailand got like your country of origin, I'm out of here.

Two things, first you are NOT a "guest" unless you were invited, check the definition of guest. If like most of us you paid for a visa, then you were given permission to enter the Kingdom, once again, you are NOT a guest. secondly, close the door when you leave, Bangkok tows and impounds cars and gives parking tickets.

[transam]

Not so much in the bigger villages or towns and cities, but in the smaller villages like mine and those near by, people will park right in the middle of the road as close as possible to the front door of the house or business they are going to!

These roads are not wide enough for one vehicle to pass another, except maybe two bikes.

They will park this way when there is a space to park off of the road less than 10 meters up the road!

It is also common to park the truck or car in the middle of the road while washing it!

Maybe they think they are saving time by parking as close to where they are going as possible and avoiding walking.

Until someone comes along and can not get by.

Then they need to go back to their vehicle, move it up or down the road however many meters to park it off the road to allow passage and then walk back to wherever they were .

Wouldn't it make more sense and save time to park out of the road in the first place??

OOPS! Sense!

I forgot!

I have been told their is no word for the concept common sense in the Thai language. ( don't know if it is true )

I guess it's just more of the "Me,me,me first!" myopic Thai attitude that governs their driving habits too!

I'm glad the Op mentioned this.

It is one of a few things that really do make me crazy in LOS.

P.S. In my country of origin, parking in this fashion would result in an expensive parking ticket, having your vehicle towed and impounded and cost somewhere around 10000 Baht for each instance!

What's the hurry ?? Your a guest.

Just ask them nicely to move so you can be on your way.

As for the P.S. if Thailand got like your country of origin, I'm out of here.

Two things, first you are NOT a "guest" unless you were invited, check the definition of guest. If like most of us you paid for a visa, then you were given permission to enter the Kingdom, once again, you are NOT a guest. secondly, close the door when you leave, Bangkok tows and impounds cars and gives parking tickets.

Hotels call me a guest but none have ever invited me. Sadly, I could do with a free hotel.

[IMHO]

I've been here for some years now and trying to adopt the 'when in Rome' attitude,but...man,there is something new everyday ....

...and looks like you may blame foreign companies for wrongly design and build carparks.....they would not be allowed to screw up like this in US for example,were city ordinances and rules are very strict and planners,inspectors are there to enforce it.

Hehe, well I had to go live in the USA at age 19, knowing no-one or anything other than what I'd seen on TV and the words of a few foreign teachers I had.. I have many stories about adapting too

As for carpark designs at Tesco Lotus, Big C, Home Pro etc - I think it's fair to assume that at least someone in HO back in GB or FR approves the plans for the multi-billion Baht properties they build here..No excuses for Central group though

[Kwasaki]

What's the hurry ?? Your a guest.

Just ask them nicely to move so you can be on your way.

As for the P.S. if Thailand got like your country of origin, I'm out of here.

Two things, first you are NOT a "guest" unless you were invited, check the definition of guest. If like most of us you paid for a visa, then you were given permission to enter the Kingdom, once again, you are NOT a guest. secondly, close the door when you leave, Bangkok tows and impounds cars and gives parking tickets.

I'll just double park while I answer this, well clever clogs why so serious.

Firstly I guess I am a guest I was stranger when I came then I was invited here by my wife and her family.

And the second first, me not like most, I didn't pay for my visa it was paid for by the company I worked for as well as the sum for my marriage extension as part of my redundancy deal.

Secondly Bangkok is Bangkok it hardly represents the majority of Thailand and just one of the many reasons I would never have considered living in Bangkok also other places, very different elsewhere in Thailand you know.

[IMHO]

Two things, first you are NOT a "guest" unless you were invited, check the definition of guest. If like most of us you paid for a visa, then you were given permission to enter the Kingdom, once again, you are NOT a guest. secondly, close the door when you leave, Bangkok tows and impounds cars and gives parking tickets.

Guest means several things.. Hotels have guests, parties have guests, you might have guests in your home, and TV/Radio shows can have guests who even get paid to be there

[sjonburi]

Unless you're a Thai national, you are a "guest" Period. Now let's see, it's 15:30, the sun is shining, there's a fresh breeze and the pool looks very tempting., oh and the beer is cold too.. now if you excuse me chaps

[MESmith]

Tescos in Chiang Mai have angled parking. They must have redone the lines after I persisted with angle parking. I'm still working on BigC & Makro

[drl02]

I find that Thais backing into a parking spot is almost as important as keeping the front wheels aligned straight with the rear wheels.