Street resistance: Bangkok vendors say new sidewalk rules hurt business

[webfact]

Street resistance: Vendors say new sidewalk rules hurt business
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- Contrary to official reports, vendors are resisting orders to clear the streets and make way for pedestrians.

On a field trip with a city official to check out street stalls between sois Ramkhamhaeng 17 and 65, members of the media saw many not complying with orders to operate only at night.

Intended as a dog-and-pony show to show the success of the new street rules, the tour found a small portion street vendors have followed the new rules. Only 30 of 207, admitted tour leader Wanlop Suwandee, chief adviser to the Bangkok governor’s office.

Visits were also made to stretches of Sukhumvit Road and areas in Khlong Toey and Watthana districts, where Wanlop claimed more vendors are following the request to only operate from 7pm to midnight. [read more...]

Full story: http://bangkok.coconuts.co//2014/08/22/street-resistance-vendors-say-new-sidewalk-rules-hurt-business


-- Coconuts Bangkok 2014-08-22

[seajae]

simple, pull them down and cart them all off. They dont own the sidewalks but expect everyone to dodge all their sh*t, time for the police/govt to get tough and enforce the rules for once. This is why nothing ever gets done here, everyone knows no one will enforce the rules, as soon as they do people will realize they cannot simply do as they please. Send in the troops/police and just start removing them, any that refuse, lock them up or issue big fines.

As much as I like the markets, the fact that they roof them so low you have to walk through them bent over or you keep hitting your head or you simply have to walk down the road and dodge cars/bikes to avoid the crush is simply bullsh*t, of a night it is fine but during the day they are just too much.

Edited August 22, 2014 by seajae

[konying]

Vendors say new sidewalk rules hurt business

How much tax do they pay? how many actually registered as a business?

[lostman]

Quite simply take three garbage trucks and start from one end and work your way down tossing everything in and crushing it, including stalls and watch how fast they all get taken away by the owners.

No excuses, just do it and totally ignore all pleas.

Wonder if KaoSan Rd is still clear???.... I haven't been for a year.... anyone?

Edited August 22, 2014 by lostman

[clockman]

Third world, and always will be.

[krislarter]

I see what your saying,but soon Thailand won't be Thailand any more.

[GarryP]

I am conflicted with this matter. On the one hand they really do need to make a living, but on the other I am fed up with having to walk on the road if I am to get anywhere. The little space left on the footpaths renders them useless for pedestrians.

What alternatives are there for making a living? They are not going to work for factory wages.

Edited August 22, 2014 by GarryP

[Bluespunk]

"Street resistance: Vendors say new sidewalk rules hurt business"

Tough. The rules are clear and aren't new. Follow them.

[casualbiker]

I am conflicted with this matter. On the one hand they really do need to make a living, but on the other I am fed up with having to walk on the road if I am to get anywhere. The little space left on the footpaths renders them useless for pedestrians.

What alternatives are there for making a living? They are not going to work for factory wages.

So do as asked and give back some of the pavement!

[Jeremy50]

I am conflicted with this matter. On the one hand they really do need to make a living, but on the other I am fed up with having to walk on the road if I am to get anywhere. The little space left on the footpaths renders them useless for pedestrians.

What alternatives are there for making a living? They are not going to work for factory wages.

So do as asked and give back some of the pavement!

Why do vendors think it's OK to force people to walk slowly in single file, or onto the road with the fumes and traffic? Pavements are for walking on.

[wiesner]

wait till it rains let falong dodge all the umbrella's, it is not nice.

[ttthailand]

These people need to make a living but they need to find another place to do it and only sell legal goods. Blocking sidewalks and selling illegal and copied goods are the main problems that we see but add to that supporting corruption and it is something that has to be stopped. Many of the actions taken so far throughout the country revolves around taking the money out of the pockets of corrupt officials. You can rest assured that these street venders are paying someone to stay open and sell these illegal goods.

Shut them down !!!

[phetphet]

I wonder if the electricity supply for the lights in that photo is legally provided.

[h90]

simple, pull them down and cart them all off. They dont own the sidewalks but expect everyone to dodge all their sh*t, time for the police/govt to get tough and enforce the rules for once. This is why nothing ever gets done here, everyone knows no one will enforce the rules, as soon as they do people will realize they cannot simply do as they please. Send in the troops/police and just start removing them, any that refuse, lock them up or issue big fines.

As much as I like the markets, the fact that they roof them so low you have to walk through them bent over or you keep hitting your head or you simply have to walk down the road and dodge cars/bikes to avoid the crush is simply bullsh*t, of a night it is fine but during the day they are just too much.

Or make a nice fee for using the sidewalks. So for all the hassle some funds come in.

[metisdead]

Some nonsense posts have been removed.

[HooHaa]

who cares? i mean really. i live on lower sukhumvit and can not think of one instance where i was genuinely delayed or inconvenienced.

[ratcatcher]

wait till it rains let falong dodge all the umbrella's, it is not nice.

Not falong, they are coming to get them.

[EmptyHead]

boohoo

[bangrak]

'...Vendors say: new sidewalks rules hurt business'; These are sidewalks, for people to safely walk on, mai kodjai kap? These are no commercial surfaces you can rent (and you knew that, or why would you have let maffia, police, city officials, blackmail you, hmm), mai kodjai kap? These are no 'new rules', that's just how it should always have remained, mai kodjai kap? And most probably your business activity is illegal too (selling copies of about everything with a brand on, plus child porn, fake medications, etc.), mai kodjai kap? So, 'hurt your business'? Mai pen rai, pai, pai, pai, LEO! RTP, BMA, start to do your job, at last, the corruption candy store is closed, forever, period. Wouldn't it be nice? But, will it be...?

[lust]

This is the stuff i love about thailand... street vendors everywhere. shame

[Basil B]

Vendors say new sidewalk rules hurt business

There must be many businesses that are hurt by the street traders setting up in front of their business premises.

[reiltin]

After a long day at the office a 200m walk to the nearest BTS takes 10 minutes through cluttered stalls, street kitchens,pornographers, pimps and paraplegic Cambodian panhandlers added to this the failing concrete on pavement uneven surface and sundry obstacles to impede those over 4th tall or a risky 90 seconds on roadside...my fix- one side for vendors one side for tired commuters who are just trying to make a living too.

[ScreamingEagle101]

simple, pull them down and cart them all off. They dont own the sidewalks but expect everyone to dodge all their sh*t, time for the police/govt to get tough and enforce the rules for once. This is why nothing ever gets done here, everyone knows no one will enforce the rules, as soon as they do people will realize they cannot simply do as they please. Send in the troops/police and just start removing them, any that refuse, lock them up or issue big fines.

As much as I like the markets, the fact that they roof them so low you have to walk through them bent over or you keep hitting your head or you simply have to walk down the road and dodge cars/bikes to avoid the crush is simply bullsh*t, of a night it is fine but during the day they are just too much.

I believe that the vendors are following instructions from mafia street bosses. This is same as the war on drugs, roust the little people. Start arresting the bosses and the vendors will get the picture.

It has been reported many times that the law is that vendors can set up on one side of the sidewalk only and must leave sufficient room for pedestrians. I'm good with that, leave me some room to use the sidewalk too. Vendors add charm and make a living, good enough. But everyone crowds on for a smaller piece of the pie and only the mafia makes more money. It would be good to see some high level officers in the dock for basic greed. And it would make the new PM very popular. Naturally, any news of the Patpong "investigation" has disappeared, but the arrest in itself was worth a great deal to the residents of the city. So, go after the bosses and their thugs to solve the problem. Make rules and enforce them.

[Local Drunk]

I am conflicted with this matter. On the one hand they really do need to make a living, but on the other I am fed up with having to walk on the road if I am to get anywhere. The little space left on the footpaths renders them useless for pedestrians.

What alternatives are there for making a living? They are not going to work for factory wages.

I suppose they are too good to work for factory wages, you know; the the people who really have to work to produce all the crap that vendors sell so that tourists that waddle down the path of Thai hawkers can live their Thai experience.

[RedQualia]

Lots of gozintas when it comes to making Thailand be what Thailand is. I didn't come here for the clean sidewalks, nor the smoothly flowing traffic, and I'd hate to see Bangkok turn into Singapore (though it's trying). Life here can often be tough for the locals. I see no problem with folks trying to make a living on whatever bit of sidewalk they can get. To the extent any organized crime might be involved, then sure -- get rid of that. But no one selling crap on Sukhumvit or any of the other places is getting rich. If there were better jobs to be had, they'd have them.already and the sidewalks would have cleared themselves long ago. But it's not that way...

[NZ1325]

make them pay a fee for the upkeep of the footpath. I find the idiots who just randomly stop to buy food more annoying than the vendors.

[Suriya4]

These are poor real thai people trying to make a living. They don't earn much. Forcing them of the pavement could result into them going into drug and prostitution. Please let them stay.

[Chang_paarp]

The trouble with the new rules, there are at least 2 shifts of vendors, morning and night. It is interesting watching the shift change as the vendors move out and the next shift moves in. Good luck with getting rid of one shift.

As to what is sold and their pygmy sized tent that are a hazard for anyone over 1.5 metres tall, that could be addressed with side-walk access. Well I can live in hope.

[Crazy chef 1]

I see what your saying,but soon Thailand won't be Thailand any more.

and it will turn into something we escaped from.i can hear the rants already.

[BKKdreaming]

I do not see the Junta making jobs , I do see them killing off a lot of jobs......

Most of the people you see are just workers , the bosses own the stuff and pay off the cops to use the street ,

if the Junta wants to start something than go after who is charging the vendors for the sidewalk space , I doubt any of that is going to the city ,

then put signs up saying walk single file , maybe like the airport , one lane to walk and one for baby carriages , stopping to buy anything or even look, etc

I can stand most of the shops , but I buy very little from the ones around Sukhumvit .....

And then we can kill off the Africian street bars...... who is in charge of those and how full are their pockets !