Chiang Mai plans to set up bicycle lanes

[Lite Beer]

Chiang Mai plans to set up bicycle lanes
Ayuthai Nonnitirat
The Nation

Chiang Mai sees salvation in opening up proper bike lanes amid worsening traffic and air pollution.

Montri Piyakul of the Provincial Tourism Office said that as Chiang Mai city attracted more tourists, roads became more congested.

Bicycle riding has emerged as a convenient and fast way of getting around. It also offers people better access to all the nooks and crannies of the ancient city.

Provincial Governor Suriya Prasatbuntitya has agencies studying suitable routes.

They have come up with three for a start. One runs through the crowded inner moat area. It would cost up to Bt5 million. One connects sightseeing spots like the Wiang Kum Kam archaeological site and Royal Park Ratchaphruek-Phra That Doi Kham Temple, estimated at Bt10 million.

And there would be a bike-pedalling park requiring up to Bt20 million.

Montri said a bike trail at the Chiang Mai International Convention and Exhibition Centre would definitely be included in the network.

The city is waiting for the Physical Education Department, which supports construction, to give the project its nod, which is expected to come before the end of the month.

It could be completed in seven or eight months, he said.

Khanong Srima, deputy chairman of the Chiang Mai Bicycle Network, said there were some bike routes around but they weren't safe or up to standard. They lacked distinct borderlines and warning signs.

He urged authorities to provide safe and modern bike lanes as well as to issue clear regulations to protect cyclists.

Boonchin Saomoon, president of the Chiang Mai Sunday Bicycle Club, said more people were interested in trying biking but were afraid of getting hit by cars or motorcycles, which they had to share the street with. If there were more bike lanes, Chiang Mai would be pleasant city to live in, with less air pollution and fewer traffic jams.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Chiang-Mai-plans-to-set-up-bicycle-lanes-30251084.html

-- The Nation 2015-01-02

[Diplomatico]

Drivers in CM won't even stop for pedestrians who are in a clearly marked crosswalk and routinely ignore red lights at those pedestrian crosswalks. Difficult to believe that it would be any different with regards to cyclists and their safety.

[NongKhaiKid]

It seems this is planned as an infrastructure project and not a gift !

National government and BMA please note.

Edited January 1, 2015 by NongKhaiKid

[alant]

Chiang Mai, a city where there are an abundance of drivers and riders on the road with no licence, no tax, no insurance yet where the police say the insured party must pay even if not at fault following an accident.

With this outlook I doubt the safety of bike lanes especially as pavements are used as motorbike lanes.

[konjohn]

the latest craze, just one suggestion for this very odd place ....BUILD FOOTPATHS that people can walk on first , but i guess that would nor receive ANY news coverage

[Thailand]

Good luck with that. ?

[ToddinChonburi]

I think they mean food cart lanes.

[TomYumpoochai]

The only nooks n crannies they will find if they ride a bicycle are treatment rooms in hospitals.....or morgues.

[iReason]

Grand Idea!

[Frank James]

The streets and roads in Chiang Mai are maxed out with motor vehicles. Very few motorists will respect bike lanes, and it might even lead to big resentment ending in intentional injury to the cyclist. Serious everyday cyclists in Chiang Mai accept the situation as it is, and find our own way through the mess, usually faster than the gridlocked motoring public. Waste of money, signage, and paint. Thanks for the thought, though. Happy New year.

[Asiantravel]

The best example of how motorists totally disregard the significance of bicycle lanes is Tha Pae Road.

At every opportunity vehicles simply drift over and use the entire bicycle lane for overtaking slower vehicles.

Edited January 2, 2015 by Asiantravel

[MESmith]

Even if they line the bike lanes with posts to stop cars driving / parking on them, it wont stop them being used as motorbike parking!

[Captain_Bob]

It was already tried several years ago and of course the lanes were swiftly ignored and blocked by parked vehicles, food stalls, signage, etc. It's only worth doing if you can more or less guarantee it'll be restricted to bicycles only with no interference from cars, etc. In other words, "impossible".

[Torrens54]

Will the Motorbike Riders also have special lanes?

Oh, silly me, they already have lanes in which they can ride in EITHER DIRECTION and all over the roads too.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Maybe they forgot bicycle lanes were already painted here and there a while ago?

They're excellent, with some extra features to make it more interesting, like in the below:

(South of town, along the river)

(Here: http://goo.gl/maps/Mq7ir )

Edited January 6, 2015 by WinnieTheKhwai