New order on footpath trading and parking in Rattanakosin Island comes into effect



BANGKOK: -- The City Administration today started enforcing a new order on pedestrian’s footpath trading and parking on roads and bicycle lanes in the Rattanakosin Island.

Only a handful of vendors were seen defying the new order against trading on the footpaths on Maharaj road from Tha Tien to Tha Chang landings. They were however told to leave and warned that they could face a fine of 2,000 baht if they continued to resist the order.

Although parking ban was imposed on the 12 bicycle lanes around Rattanakosin Island, several cars and buses catering to foreign tourists were seen parking on some of the routes. The drivers claimed that the parking ban had affected their services for tourists. They also said that the parking space for them at the Southern bus terminal is too far away.

Mr Somchai Tripittayakul, director of Phra Nakorn district, admitted that strictly enforcing the bicycle lanes was problematic and, initially, officials had to seek cooperation from bus drivers. However, he maintained that the order must be enforced anyway.

The bicycle lanes are on Mahachai, Kalayanamaitri, Thai Wang, Na Phra That and Phra Arthit roads covering a total distance of eight kilometers.

One of the vendors at Tha Chang landing, Mrs Sriwan Sunthorn, complained that the new order against pavement trading was too strict and this could affect tourism as tourists regarded pavement trading as a charm of Bangkok.

But the City Administration is form to enforce the order claiming that it has given the vendors enough time to adjust themselves.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/new-order-footpath-trading-parking-rattanakosin-island-comes-effect


-- Thai PBS 2014-12-01

Where is the graft happening.

If we walk down the road and see vendors on the foot path then graft is happening.

Someone is being paid to allow it.

so many rules and laws useless

because nobody enforeces them

not if they cannot profit from them