Crackdown on Bangkok street stalls as pedestrians vie for space

Bangkok, Thailand | AFP

BANGKOK: -- They sell everything from noodle soup to sex toys, but Bangkok's famed street hawkers are now facing a crackdown as authorities in the fast-growing metropolis struggle to make space for pedestrians on the crowded pavements.


The move to relocate thousands of sellers from main roads to side streets or restrict touting to the night is part of a campaign to "reclaim the sidewalks" that comes as the ruling junta vows to "clean-up" Thailand's image.


Bangkok residents have long shared their streets with merchants, relying on them for cheap meals and household goods, while tourists are readily found haggling over knock-off handbags, T-shirts or cut-price DVDs.


The stalls that festoon many streets have come to define one of Southeast Asia's most vibrant cities, but are also prompting complaints from some Thais who decry them as hazards -- raising questions over how the bustling capital uses its public space.


"We must return most sidewalks to the people," said Police Major General Vichai Sangparpai, claiming vendors had colonised around a dozen of the city's main roads, obstructing people and traffic as well as damaging the environment.


Action to tackle the congestion has gained momentum since Thailand's generals seized power last May, cracking down on activities including gambling and drug-use in a mission to "restore order" to the nation.


Operations are already underway to evict hawkers from cluttered beaches in tourist hotspots such as Phuket.


But, for the most part, Bangkok's vendors "will be allowed to sell" if they shift to designated zones or stop selling at peak hours, according to Vichai.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2015-03-01

I also have seen big trucks with much personell cleaning up the pavements. They took everything away and dumped it in the truck, flowerpots, advertisings and all other garbage which was on the pavement.

Good to see this cleanup!

The foot traffic it not too bad or maybe I've gotten used to it. I'm more upset while they are setting up they park all the cars on the side of the street while setting up taking up the whole lane of traffic. The buses and taxis then have to use the middle lane to stop causing even more jam issues.

Nahh. All this gives life to the city. Do we really want to see Bangkok turned into yet another bland, faceless capital city, with clean, well paved, streets, well dressed people, and starbux and KFC on every corner?

In reality in many areas if you want to get somewhere by foot then walking in the road is the only viable option. Moving vendors to side streets seems a sensible option as people who want to shop can go there and leave the pavements for the purpose intended. The authorities should also clamp down on motor cycles who increasingly use pavements to avoid traffic.

Nahh. All this gives life to the city. Do we really want to see Bangkok turned into yet another bland, faceless capital city, with clean, well paved, streets, well dressed people, and starbux and KFC on every corner?

I agree. It would be sad to lose the "Thainess", especially the street food! I'd be happy if they did something about the dildos, sex aids and child porn that is openly sold, though.

I'd quite like to be able to walk down the street without it being an obstacle course, and I don't really give a shit if that fits into some idea of how you think the city should look.

In reality in many areas if you want to get somewhere by foot then walking in the road is the only viable option. Moving vendors to side streets seems a sensible option as people who want to shop can go there and leave the pavements for the purpose intended. The authorities should also clamp down on motor cycles who increasingly use pavements to avoid traffic.

What about people who want to walk down the side streets?

At last, an article which never uses the wrong word - footpaths - and uses the right ones - pavements and sidewalks.

Nahh. All this gives life to the city. Do we really want to see Bangkok turned into yet another bland, faceless capital city, with clean, well paved, streets, well dressed people, and starbux and KFC on every corner?

I agree. It would be sad to lose the "Thainess", especially the street food! I'd be happy if they did something about the dildos, sex aids and child porn that is openly sold, though.

I agree also. Vendors taking over the sidewalks and nervous schoolkids dodging among buses and trucks is the essential "Thainess" that really appeals to me.

Please do the same in Pattaya. It is not just the capital that suffers from sidewalk vendors.

In reality in many areas if you want to get somewhere by foot then walking in the road is the only viable option. Moving vendors to side streets seems a sensible option as people who want to shop can go there and leave the pavements for the purpose intended. The authorities should also clamp down on motor cycles who increasingly use pavements to avoid traffic.

A perfect example s Soi 11. You might get around the corner on the sidewalk/foot path but very quickly you are in the street until you get where you need to go.

Id be happy if there werent metre deep holes ,or paving stones sticking up 10 inches, or electric poles slap bang in the middle or road signs at head height to inflict maximum damage alond with shop awnings at the same height to take an eye out or electric cables finished off with tape etc etc.....apart from that the street vendors arent my worry.they can stay.

some of the stalls are great but when you only have room for one person to walk along the sidewalk due to stalls on both sides its rediculous especially if someone stops to buy. Yes they are a part of thai cities but they need to be controlled so people can still use the sidewalks and have the room to walk freely and not have to stay bent over as they walk due to the low roofed areas used to keep the stalls products dry/out of the sun.

I'd quite like to be able to walk down the street without it being an obstacle course, and I don't really give a shit if that fits into some idea of how you think the city should look.

Dallas Texas might be a good for for you.

Great weather, hot blondes. and no one uses side walks ... so they are all yours !

One has to bear in mind that these vendors are not purely targeting foreigners. Indeed, they are more selling to Thais and this has been a long term part of the culture.

To simply dismiss them takes away a lot of the cultural value that initially has impressed visitors, and has drawn people to the country. If Thailand ends with a cleaned-up capital, amongst other areas and cities, then I believe it is losing a great attraction. Why should BKK suddenly want to appear the same as the likes of purely clean cities of Germany or Norway, for example? Isn't it the 'quaintness' or almost 'cuteness' of olde world ways which attract, certainly Western, visitors and Thai visitors themselves?

I'm not for the motion of cleaning up the street sellers. I'd let them be, and promote attitude change towards what is a part of the culture. Nothing to do with education, politics nor TAT's aims. Night markets are a part of the ceremony of Thailand, in my humble opinion.

In a moment of irony it seems to be lost on many the the very reason the streets are crowded, is because people come to enjoy the street stalls. Peopel vote with thier money, and for decades have voted for street stalls and awesome food.

Vibrant, alive, fun and liberating for the Thai people who can have their own business, and not become corporate slaves.

Noting is better for a strong stable family life than a viable family owned and operated business.

You know, it was this way for a long time, BKK is famous for it .. many many people LOVE it.

To the whiners ... there is a whole world of "dead" and lifeless streets that only connect you to the next mini mall that is a repleca of the mini mall you just left.

Go there.

Nahh. All this gives life to the city. Do we really want to see Bangkok turned into yet another bland, faceless capital city, with clean, well paved, streets, well dressed people, and starbux and KFC on every corner?

Do we really want to be forced to walk on the 2nd deadliest streets in the world? Once they clear these sidewalks hopefully they will repair them too so that people can walk on them without twisting an ankle.

Sure, let's not get rid of them. But they could be organised more sensibly, along with an improvement of the pavements and removal of pointless street furniture and clutter, in order to make walking a possibility.

Agree with comments about getting rid of the sex toys and such, other than that I don't have much of an issue with the street vendors though some places can be difficult to get from point A to point B on the sidewalk... What would be a big help many places is putting an end to motorcycles using the sidewalks as roads... I can emphasize with their wanting to avoid the streets but the motorcycles pose a real, physical threat to pedestrians. About the street vendors, I think they should look at all options - it would be a great help if both sides of the sidewalk were not lined with vendors and or seating for noodle vendors....

Thailand is loosing all of it's attractions and emphasizing the downsides. Trend is clear and solid, steady on downwards. Will take decades to fix, if ever.

Most of the ones I walk past on my way from work sell utter crap. Be happy to see them and their Clavin Klein underwear disappear. The food ones I like but what's the answer if you can't regulate? They certainly aren't environmentally friendly with what they tip into the drains.

OB

The article does not point how the revenues that the city and "other" people and or "other" entities receive from all the street vendors will be reduced significantly if the street vendors are removed.

There will be ramifications....unemployment being one of them.

Personally I think the issue of street vendors is far from a priority issue while the new rulings are good examples of all the more misguided thinking on the part of the "New Government Order" while certainly, as in, without a doubt, there are far, far more important matters needing to be addressed.

You have to wonder, what exactly, is going on in the minds of the current administration???

Cheers

The street vendors are the life and soul of Thailand - i agree we with Bangkokequity, dont want to make Thailand look like the soul less Singapore or Malaysia - this is why i love Thailand (get shot of the sex toys by all means but otherwise let them be) - instead do something about neutering the street dogs, enforcing the laws on motorcycle helmets - plan more green spaces (why was the Night market in Bangkok not bought for the city to remain in perpetuity - shameful) - clean up the country - start to reduce the plastic holocaust that is poisoning the beaches and towns and seas - stop the cosmetics and attack the real problems

In reality in many areas if you want to get somewhere by foot then walking in the road is the only viable option. Moving vendors to side streets seems a sensible option as people who want to shop can go there and leave the pavements for the purpose intended. The authorities should also clamp down on motor cycles who increasingly use pavements to avoid traffic.

What about people who want to walk down the side streets?

It may have to be a 'win some' lose some'. An obvious compromise.

I'd quite like to be able to walk down the street without it being an obstacle course, and I don't really give a shit if that fits into some idea of how you think the city should look.

this story has been wrote about for years! no action taken as of now. the stalls "rent" from someone and it will never change!

In a moment of irony it seems to be lost on many the the very reason the streets are crowded, is because people come to enjoy the street stalls. Peopel vote with thier money, and for decades have voted for street stalls and awesome food.

Vibrant, alive, fun and liberating for the Thai people who can have their own business, and not become corporate slaves.

Noting is better for a strong stable family life than a viable family owned and operated business.

You know, it was this way for a long time, BKK is famous for it .. many many people LOVE it.

To the whiners ... there is a whole world of "dead" and lifeless streets that only connect you to the next mini mall that is a repleca of the mini mall you just left.

Go there.

Partially agree, but after being harassed and having to walk bent over every time, much of the way from the sky train depot to my shopping destination became annoying.

I will gladly walk down side streets to enjoy the street stalls often. I enjoy that. Hopefully there can be some compromise. It will be great if things remain the same after hours.

The people claiming street stalls selling crappy T-shirts, sex toys, copy CD's, copy watches, knives, underpants and sunglasses somehow makes Thailand a vibrant place are comical.

Footpaths are called footpaths for a reason.

If you want cheap crap, go to Chatuchak on the weekend, otherwise, let me walk down the street without having to dodge idiots stopping to buy 50baht crap.

Id be happy if there werent metre deep holes ,or paving stones sticking up 10 inches, or electric poles slap bang in the middle or road signs at head height to inflict maximum damage alond with shop awnings at the same height to take an eye out or electric cables finished off with tape etc etc.....apart from that the street vendors arent my worry.they can stay.

If you want things up to Western standards you may have to start paying Western wages. Do they have sewage plants in Thailand?

One has to bear in mind that these vendors are not purely targeting foreigners. Indeed, they are more selling to Thais and this has been a long term part of the culture.

To simply dismiss them takes away a lot of the cultural value that initially has impressed visitors, and has drawn people to the country. If Thailand ends with a cleaned-up capital, amongst other areas and cities, then I believe it is losing a great attraction. Why should BKK suddenly want to appear the same as the likes of purely clean cities of Germany or Norway, for example? Isn't it the 'quaintness' or almost 'cuteness' of olde world ways which attract, certainly Western, visitors and Thai visitors themselves?

I'm not for the motion of cleaning up the street sellers. I'd let them be, and promote attitude change towards what is a part of the culture. Nothing to do with education, politics nor TAT's aims. Night markets are a part of the ceremony of Thailand, in my humble opinion.

Quaintness creates a safety issue.

Cute.