Nation TV pushes 'Bike Thailand' agenda

[webfact]

Nation TV pushes 'Bike Thailand' agenda
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- LAUNCHED by Nation Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) and its allies, the Nation Bike Thailand project aims to ensure that bike lanes materialise across the country and a national network of bicycle enthusiasts blossoms.

"We are going to push the Bike Thailand agenda," NBC president Adisak Limprungpatanakij said at the launch of the project yesterday.

NBC, which operates Nation TV, is a part of the Nation Multimedia Group. The Nation Bike Thailand project springs into operation through the collaboration of NBC, government agencies, local administrative bodies, cyclist groups and business organisations. Representatives from these partners, some of whom hail from faraway provinces like Nakhon Si Thammarat, Udon Thani and Chiang Mai, joined the launch yesterday.

"Bicycling is good for health and the environment," Adisak said, adding that support should be given to ensure that people are able to use bicycles conveniently and safely.

Updates are available on Facebook.com/nationbike and www.nationtv.tv/nationbike.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Nation-TV-pushes-Bike-Thailand-agenda-30248153.html


-- The Nation 2014-11-20

[Jeremy50]

It's a great idea. In a sane world everyone would ride a bicycle. Best wishes to all involved in this project.

[Eliot Rosewater]

It's a great idea. In a sane world everyone would ride a bicycle. Best wishes to all involved in this project.

They can't even get motorcycles off the sidewalks; I can't see how this would possibly work in Bkk.

[chainarong]

The comment, " bikes lanes will materialise across the country" ,say's it all , just wave the happiness wand and they just appear , F!!in magic , because this B/S is for what it is B/S, these people are so quick to points score they have left there brains on the bike seat , brown noses all of them.

[tim armstrong]

Bicycles are great, and <deleted> to all the naysayers, its a great idea, and i think it will just happen. In our area there are several serious and not so serious cycling groups and I'm sure they will support this kind of development.

[NongKhaiKid]

Yes, cycling is good for health and the environment but in Los highly dangerous to life and limb due to all the nutters driving / riding powered vehicles.

Forget cycle lanes as everyone else will use them and cyclists don't stand a chance.

No doubt there will be promises of crackdowns, blitzes' etc to keep the lanes clear but such promises are ten a penny and after an inital show just disappear.

[Chao Lao Beach]

Chanthaburi (1.5hr south of Pattaya) already has hundreds of km of bike lanes.

Image Source

[Katipo]

I hope this is indicative of a real shift in Thai society, away from sitting on the sofa watching TV all weekend, and not just a fad. The impact goes far beyond just health and fitness, but can also lead to increased spatial awareness and a greater appreciation of the environment.

Edited November 20, 2014 by Katipo

[recycled]

Disaster waiting to happen, but hey! any project is is okay when there is money to be made.

[tomyummer]

Time to start insurance plans for both the bike riders and for car owners who hit them.

[ExPratt]

Thet one thing this country is not short of, Bikes

Edited November 20, 2014 by ExPratt

[oztaurus]

There are 29 million pushbikes sold each year:

USA 80,000

Europe 900,000

China 28 million - and half of those are electric.

Trouble is that an electric bike here will cost upwards of 30K baht and a motor scooter is not that much more expensive, but a whole lot more versatile and, as others have noted in another thread, Thai will get on a motorcycle to ride 100m to 7-11 rather than walk AND there are already systems in place to safely park, lock and store motor cycles - I can't imagine Nong Lek lugging her pushbike up the stairs to store it safely on the balcony of her apartment .... the words W.O.F.T.A.M. spring to mind.

[silverhawk_usa]

The main problem still falls back on the car and truck drivers. Lest we forget: Round the World British Couple Killed bicycling in Thailand.

[jaltsc]

"Bicycling is good for health and the environment.."

Not when those blue dump trucks blow black exhaust smoke in your face immediately after forcing you off the road.

[Briggsy]

Great idea.

Come back to me in 2 or 3 years with a report of how this project is coming along. Ekamai-Ram Intra, anyone?

[Fiddlesticks]

Wonderful idea! Now the cars and trucks will have an additional lane to drive or overtake in thus relieving congestion in the car lanes. No way in this country that police will prevent this from happening. So there will be no real difference between a bike lane and the shoulder of the road. They may as well save their money and spend it on training HONEST police.

[bkkgooner]

Introduce a bike to work scheme for the general public - someone buys a bike registers it as a going to work vehicle and gets 50% of the cost of the bicycle given back to them

Introduce stations across the city where you can rent a bicycle based upon hourly usage

It's nice to see Thais that give a shit about their country

I would love to go to Chantaburi for a cycle looks great

[JimSiam]

"Bicycling is good for health and the environment," Adisak said, adding that support should be given to ensure that people are able to use bicycles

Bicycle Hub of Asia (excuse the pun)

[LawrenceN]

Yes, cycling is good for health and the environment but in Los highly dangerous to life and limb due to all the nutters driving / riding powered vehicles.

Forget cycle lanes as everyone else will use them and cyclists don't stand a chance.

No doubt there will be promises of crackdowns, blitzes' etc to keep the lanes clear but such promises are ten a penny and after an inital show just disappear.

Not only will others use them - for selling crap, for parking, for loading zones - but they will not be maintained. A good example is the bike lane that runs between Bo Sang and Sankhampaeng here in CM, Tree roots have cracked and distorted the pavement all along the way, along with the usual assortment of neglect and damage to pavement. Of course, the tree roots are a sign of poor planning right from the start.

I'm a cyclist (closing in on 6,000 km this year), and I don't need bike paths, except maybe the ones we share with motorcyclists, what we call the shoulder of the road in the West.

I disagree with you NongKhaiKid, in one minor way. I think Thai drivers, including motorcyclists, take great care around bicycles, at least in Chiang Mai. I'm often surprised at how well motorists wait for me to pass and give plenty of room when passing. Sometimes I'm even a little annoyed when they drive along on my flank, wondering why they don't pass, but at least they're being safe. It may be different in NongKhai, and certainly is in Bkk.