Thai Police Switch To Horse Patrols To Save Fuel

[Jai Dee]

Thai police switch to horse patrols to save fuel

BANGKOK (AP) - Police in one northern Thailand town are combatting rising fuel prices by taking their patrolmen off motorcycles and putting them on bicycles and horseback, officials said Wednesday.

The use of non-motorized transportation is nothing new in Lamphang town, where horse-drawn carriages serve as taxis and many residents move about on horseback.

Lamphang, also known as Maung Rot Ma, or "Town of Horse-Drawn Carriages,'' has a staff of eight patrol officers - half of whom have already made the switch to bikes, said Lamphang Police Chief Nanthawit Boonthiemthong.

He said the remaining four were training for horseback patrols and expected on the streets next month.

The new modes of transportation were seen as potentially more people-friendly than motorcycles, said Nanthawit.

"Bicycles and horses will allow our officers to stop and talk to people more easily,'' he said. Lamphang is about 500 kilometers (310 miles) north of Bangkok.

Amid rising global oil prices, the price per liter in Thailand has risen from about 18 baht (US$0.47; euro0.37) in 2004 to the current price of 30 baht (US$0.78; euro0.62) per liter.

Source: Malaysian Star - 14 June 2006

[xbusman]

Does this mean that we have to carry 200 baht tea money AND a carrot too?

[astral]

Just how much does it cost to buy, train, stable and feed a horse?

Not an overnight job either!!

Policemen on bicycles............

That brings back memories of my childhood, 50 years ago.

[Galong]

Oh great, yet more animals to be abused. Poor horses. They shouldn't be subjected to the noise, pollution and traffic on the streets... actually, no one should.

Where are they going to get the horses? How is the 'winning' bidder for the horses going to be chosen? Who is going to take care of the horses?

Economically speaking, bicycles are the way to go (as Astral pointed out). But that would mean excercising.

[toptuan]

Just how much does it cost to buy, train, stable and feed a horse?

...and labor costs for the Pooper Scoopers? Or will "road apples" just be one more thing for pedestrians to step over on Thai streets?*

*God knows there's no room to walk on the sidewalks...

[sriracha john]

Oh great, yet more animals to be abused. Poor horses. They shouldn't be subjected to the noise, pollution and traffic on the streets... actually, no one should.

Where are they going to get the horses? How is the 'winning' bidder for the horses going to be chosen? Who is going to take care of the horses?

Economically speaking, bicycles are the way to go (as Astral pointed out). But that would mean excercising.

Don't forget the worst, most blantant aspect of animal abuse in this situation...

The beautiful yet small, undersized horses of Lampang...

having some big, fat cop plopped on top of its stooped back for hours...

those poor suffering things...

[Ricardo]

Why not use elephants for the economy-sized policemen - very photogenic, for the tourists !

[Scott]

I wouldn't worry about the horses being overworked. Most policemen that I have seen don't spend much time patrolling, thus the horses should, like the police officers, get plenty of down time!

[astral]

What are the plans to deal with the pollution problem caused by the horses?

When I was child it was a race between my mother and the lady over the road

to see who got the offerings, left by the milkman's horse, to put on the roses!!

Are Thai's garden minded?

Edited June 15, 2006 by astral

[penzman]

So now there'll be betting on cock fights AND horse races when crime is slow.

[h90]

Why not use elephants for the economy-sized policemen - very photogenic, for the tourists !

plus there are anyway to many elephants in thailand, they must be feed anyway.

So that would be the best solution.