Car Free Day - Thousands of Thais get on their bikes

[webfact]

CAR FREE DAY
Thousands of Thais get on their bikes
Supitcha Rattana,
Prateep Nantaparp,
Prasit Tangprasert
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thais celebrated Car Free Day early this year, with many activities - including bicycle parades - held in Bangkok and elsewhere yesterday.

World Car Free Day will be marked across the globe today.

Thousands of Thais marked the occasion with an array of activities in Bangkok, Songkhla, Lampang, Nakhon Ratchasima and other provinces.

In the capital, more than 30,000 people joined a bicycle parade organised by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and 87 allies.

They rode from Sanam Luang to Silom Road, normally one of the busiest roads in the country but closed to traffic yesterday.

"We want to encourage car users to switch to bicycles or public transport," Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra said.

Sukhumbhand said the BMA wanted to reduce the use of private cars by 70 per cent by 2029 and it had seen positive a sign in that last year Car Free Day attracted about 20,000 bicyclists - well below this year's figure.

In Songkhla, the Nation Broadcasting Corporation organised a bicycle parade over more than 20km of the old town of this southern province.

The event attracted more than 1,200 participants including Nation Multimedia Group chairman Suthichai Yoon. NBC, like The Nation, is a part of NMG.

The route passed Songkhla Lake and included a stop at the Lampor temple. Excitement ran high among the participants as the event was broadcast live via an NMG drone.

"I've seen a lot while cycling. It's a way to absorb the local ways of life, which includes some elements of Sino-Portuguese," cyclist Anan Suriyakarn said.

In Lampang, residents hit the streets on bicycles and enjoyed the moment even though it rained.

The general consensus was that cycling reduces pollution and enhances fitness.

In Nakhon Ratchasima, more than 800 people joined the event.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Thousands-of-Thais-get-on-their-bikes-30243801.html


-- The Nation 2014-09-22

[nzvic]

Hardly saw a bike around BKK 14 years ago, but now see them a lot in parks as people here and worldwide have got more exercise and environmentally aware. But it costs local ratepayers heaps to put in special bike lanes as many deaths/injuries occur in Auckland, and it would be more dangerous with the number of cars in BKK. Carfree times might be a good compromise.

[Cloggie]

- please next a car free day in Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and all other big places....

[xminator]

So the thousands of hi so that rushed to the shops buying all the gadgets to look cool for a day of selfies, most likely burned 100 x more CO2 from production of said bikes and gadgets then they normally use in their cars.

Now if they continued to use that bike every day, there would be a return to that CO2 investment. However 99.9% of those bikes will be in storage, and forgotten before the next bike day.

[h90]

So the thousands of hi so that rushed to the shops buying all the gadgets to look cool for a day of selfies, most likely burned 100 x more CO2 from production of said bikes and gadgets then they normally use in their cars.

Now if they continued to use that bike every day, there would be a return to that CO2 investment. However 99.9% of those bikes will be in storage, and forgotten before the next bike day.

Still a beginning.

[Brian Robson]

Most are already on "bikes" and don't gave cars!

[fab4]

See that "not blocking the roads" day worked a treat

[cardinalblue]

Just don't believe in these annual one-time events to actually change attitudes and behaviors...You need a nuts and bolt detailed program and plan...follow-up follow-up follow-up...

It's just a fun social event to break boredom but regular mundane same old behaviors return tomorrow...

Measure how many new commute bike riders a year from now and the results will be insignificant and w/in margin of error...

Very familiar with superficial marketing and promotion plans w/o substance...

CB

Edited September 22, 2014 by cardinalblue

[Commogwinto]

How about a motorcycle-free day as well????