Over 700 motorcyclists arrested and fined in first day of crackdown on footpath riding

[bristolgeoff]

Will it be enforced for ever I don.t so.

[realenglish1]

Thats good that they are out doing this and its also good they suggest we take video of perpetrators But the article failed to tell us where we send the video so they police have it .

Is there a central clearing house or website

Another example of "Great"Journalism

[makkam]

Can never get over how so many people can relocate to another country and hold the indigenous people in such disdain.

Irony and disrespect by the shovelful doesn't begin to describe these ingrates.

[upena]

Could get that many in an hour on Sukhumvit between Sois 18 and 20 during heavy traffic and/or a red light at Asok

[andygunther]

I hope this will help for the future too... But the fine should be higher so it hurt more.

And the next thing they should do is a crackdown on all the traffic driving against the traffic.

[Laughing Gravy]

Well I am happy that they have done this. The sceptic in me wonders is it a 'one day wonder' publicity stunt and everything will go back to normal today.

Whilst they are at it why don't they fine the motorcyclist who go the wrong way on the road. They (RTP) would be ''quids' in.

I look forward to hearing what the next crackdown will be.

[empireboy]

This is NOT news!

[MaxYakov]

How did they manage to ride on the footpaths? Whenever I try there are too many vendors, cars, lampposts and other crap to even walk, let alone ride, on them.

aah - when I find myself riding on the footpath, it's usually because the street is cluttered with vendors, pushcarts and other miscellaneous sidecar riffraff, not to mention tour bus sized coaches and idiot drivers positioned like checkers in order to block any motorcycle passage...

there are many other things which should be much higher on the list of priorities.

Total BS and an idiotic rationalization of your illegal and dangerous riding. There is always room in at least one lane of the road open for motor vehicles. I know because I'm on the streets in Bangkok all the time and use those lanes. If there is gridlock, then deal with it. You don't have any more right to ride on the sidewalks than do the other, larger motor vehicles (as I hope a lot of motor bike operators will discover with this latest "crackdown").

Edited November 20, 2014 by MaxYakov

[goonfan]

How did they manage to ride on the footpaths? Whenever I try there are too many vendors, cars, lampposts and other crap to even walk, let alone ride, on them.

aah - when I find myself riding on the footpath, it's usually because the street is cluttered with vendors, pushcarts and other miscellaneous sidecar riffraff, not to mention tour bus sized coaches and idiot drivers positioned like checkers in order to block any motorcycle passage...

there are many other things which should be much higher on the list of priorities.

Just wondering. Don't you feel it's dangerous when you ride your bike on the footpaths that in many cases are already not wide enough for pedestrians?

When I do this, there are no pedestrians in sight - I'd never do it if the footpath was being used by pedestrians.

But I'm not in Bangkok. A good example is Pattaya Tai road coming from Sukh before the junction with third road. At times, the road is blocked, but the sidewalks have absolutely no traffic from approx. the Shell station until the small soi before the intersection, because there aren't a lot of buildings there.

I'm also unsure why they recently banned the turn left on red at many Pattaya corners, at least for 2 wheel vehicles.

Maybe they banned the turn left in Pattaya on some junctions so they can fine more people. Noticed Police now waiting almost every day at junction of Pattaya Klang and Third Road to dish out fines to cars. Never seen them stop bikes which break the law though!

Edited November 20, 2014 by goonfan

[MaxYakov]

Can never get over how so many people can relocate to another country and hold the indigenous people in such disdain.

Irony and disrespect by the shovelful doesn't begin to describe these ingrates.

I predict that you will "get over" it very quickly the first time you are hit by a motor bike on the sidewalk (or are a victim of any number of reckless activities perpetrated by motor vehicle operators in Thailand)

[jaywalker]

I'm also unsure why they recently banned the turn left on red at many Pattaya corners, at least for 2 wheel vehicles.

Probably because most motorcycles don't even bother to look to see if any traffic is coming. They just slow down marginally and turn on in.

In the US, one can turn right on a red light, ONLY after coming to a FULL STOP, which makes sense.

[Krataiboy]

Under the campaign called “Safe Footpaths, Careful Riding. . ..

"Sorry, officer, I misunderstood. I thought the sign meant I had to ride carefully on the footpaths".

[jonaz]

"Violators will face a fine ranging from 400 to 1,000 baht."

So that will be 400 baht for Thai people and 1000 baht for farangs.....

[alanrchase]

Tea Money Heaven.......

Why call it tea money? It is against the law and will incur a fine. Are you suggesting there should be no fine or they should not be stopped?

[FinChin67]

I had to re-read this several times.....for the last 15 years I've been waiting for police to do their jobs and stop bikers riding on the walkways and footpaths......has this really happened?

Don't get too excited, 'Crackdowns' normally last about 48 hours tops !

If it's lucrative $$ "crackdown" it might last longer.

[Zpete]

”Arrested” does not mean ”taken to jail”.

.

UNFORTUNATELY

[Weka6]

I hope the police will turn up at Sukhumvit Soi 6 and stop get the motorcycle riders off the fotpath - first they will need to get rid of the illegally parked taxis that block the road ...

[AleG]

Can never get over how so many people can relocate to another country and hold the indigenous people in such disdain.

Irony and disrespect by the shovelful doesn't begin to describe these ingrates.

You mean like moving to another country and start breaking the laws of said country and endanger the lives of the "indigenous people"? That sort of disdain?

[wilcopops]

Loads of fines just before the New Year holiday season....how fortuitous.

[inzman]

Crackdown over, move along. It was a one day photoshoot to show the bib do work.

[RtotheC]

a 400-1000 baht fine? I can see the police enforcing this for a long time.

[beagleybeagley]

Thai bikes and cars care nothing for pedestrians,more money for the police ,I have to warn everyone who comes from abroad don't expect a car or bike to stop fro you crossing the road or turning a corner,,land of smiles,not when they are driving,so selfish,and what about when coming out of a side road or turning,they seem to think it's there right of way.all so so selfish

[Digitalbanana]

Did the law change? Previously I always used to read on TV that riding on sidewalks was allowed?

[ginjag]

700 in the first crackdown x say 500 Baht == 350,000 on the first day x 7 days The money should go to central Highways repair fund for footpaths etc.

NO WAY this money should be kept in police (custody) The police job is to prosecute offenders only to try to prevent re offending. NOTHING MORE it is NOT their business. TIT.

[2fishin2]

Just wondering. Don't you feel it's dangerous when you ride your bike on the footpaths that in many cases are already not wide enough for pedestrians?

When I do this, there are no pedestrians in sight - I'd never do it if the footpath was being used by pedestrians.

But I'm not in Bangkok. A good example is Pattaya Tai road coming from Sukh before the junction with third road. At times, the road is blocked, but the sidewalks have absolutely no traffic from approx. the Shell station until the small soi before the intersection, because there aren't a lot of buildings there.

I'm also unsure why they recently banned the turn left on red at many Pattaya corners, at least for 2 wheel vehicles.

Sorry but there is just no rational for thinking it is okay to drive on a sidewalk. Common sense should tell us all this. While it is an acceptable practice that Thais have done for a while, there is NO excuse for a farang from a developed nation to do this. Bad enough when they do it but come on, just absolutely no excuse for us to do this.

When stuck in traffic with hordes of asshat drivers blocking every possible way to get forward because they cram 3 columns of cars into the space planned for 2 lanes (or pushcarts or sidecars or vendors, whatever), and knowing taking the "shortcut" will save at least 2 long red phases of breathing the tour buses' exhaust fumes, there is no good reason to not use that portion of pavement when there are no pedestrians using it.

The decision is made quickly.

I don't need an excuse for it because I don't disturb anybody - except maybe the feelings of some over-conforming Westerners?

Where is the harm? (I repeat: footpath is EMPTY).

There's another thread about making bicycle lanes in Thailand, I say they could start with making lanes for 2 wheel vehicles. But enforcement is the key. If they can manage to keep 2 wheel vehicle lanes free of clutter, I'd bet motorcyclists will leave the pathways alone.

And you are one of those "asshat drivers" who ride on the sidewalks illegally. Too bad I never came across you in a sidewalk in bKK.mmi would have treated you just like every other bike i riding on the sidewalk I came across. I just stand my ground and make them go around. LOL your days are numbered. LOL

[kingalfred]

How did they manage to ride on the footpaths? Whenever I try there are too many vendors, cars, lampposts and other crap to even walk, let alone ride, on them.

aah - when I find myself riding on the footpath, it's usually because the street is cluttered with vendors, pushcarts and other miscellaneous sidecar riffraff, not to mention tour bus sized coaches and idiot drivers positioned like checkers in order to block any motorcycle passage...

there are many other things which should be much higher on the list of priorities.

stupid statement! You have plenty of space on the road,motorcyclists on sidewalks are plain lazy!

[Andre0720]

In Phuket town, foot paths are considered the best parking spaces for motrobikes and cars alike.

More shade on these sidewalks....

[Tuskfish]

NEED BIGGER FINES!!!

400 baht is hardly a deterrent

[wabothai]

Not a crackdown, just PR. Enforcement will stop in a few days.

[chicowoodduck]

I knew there must be a good reason why I walk in the street???