Thailand will have longest bike lane in Asia in 2017

[mojorison]

Thailand, the hub of quantity.

[Jimlove]

That lane will be filled with fatal accidents caused by all the drunk idiots driving around here ... Thailand is hub of Drunk driving and unfortunately at same time have the most incompetent police force in the World - not a good combo

They really like to show off here and now with this ... Too bad they never learn from their mistakes but TiT ...

[tominbkk]

I guarantee nobody will keep the motorbikes off this if there is the slightest advantage of them using it.

I offer you Ekamai-Ram Intra, Bangkok's 20-odd-km-long bicycle path which is almost universally used by motorcycles.

p.s. Follow the money. How much is the budget for this? Who is the contractor? Who is the minister signing off the project? How much is the skim?

Seconded on the Ramintra-Ekamai route. When it first opened years ago it was great. Now you have to face frequent motorbikes whizzing past you recklessly.

[lap82]

The mayor of the city I come from in Brazil (Sao Paulo) is also crazy about bike lanes and he's implating many of them there. It seems to be a tendency all around the world.

[Krataiboy]

The plan for a 200-kilometre cycling route to give Thais and tourists alike a taste of the Kindom’s scenic beauty is a great idea. But superimposing it on some of Thailand’s busiest, most polluted and dangerous major roads definitely is a recipe for disaster.

A far safer, less costly and far more attractive alternative would be to devise a new route to utilise the network of little-used country roads with which the Kingdom is blessed.

[IAMHERE]

How long before the first Road RAGE incident, and will a death be involved ?

[Alwyn]

The longest food stall and lottery ticket lane in all of Asia and all in the joke of Asia!

[Somtamnication]

BREAKING NEWS: Thailand will have the longest lanes of patients waiting at emergency rooms!

[Songhua]

The longest food stall and lottery ticket lane in all of Asia and all in the joke of Asia!

At least the nu naa (fried rat) vendors in Singburi and Chainat will be able to provide safer parking than on the shoulder of the highway itself.

[jaiyen]

They estimate to use 40 tons of rubber for the bike lane surface. Thats 1 ton to do 4.5 klms. No where

near enough for a good surface using the benefits of rubber. It wont bind with the cheap tarmac they

will use and will delaminate within a year. A total waste of time and money, unless there are white

envelopes involved ! A better idea is to make 40 tons of condoms, then everybody will be happy !!

[Jonmarleesco]

A pity they don't put more effort into the longest pavement, one with priority given to the pedestrians.

[IsaanUSA]

Very cool!

[balo]

This will end up as a joke, 90% of the traffic will be motorbikes.

[cruisemonkey]

Too bad the bikes won't be using it, everybody else will, though

... but, by going the wrong way will cancel out the fact I shouldn't be driving my scooter on it.

[spidermike007]

Thailand is considered one of the least bike friendly countries in the world. There are so few bile lanes in the country now. This will be a good start. But, they will have to figure out a way to keep out motorbikes, etc. And since there is no law enforcement here, that will be difficult to do. But, it is worth a try.

[ikke]

Better be : Thailand the HUB of the bike lanes....

[spidermike007]

I would suggest a massive fine for motorbikes using the bike lane. A message needs to be sent. One 10,000 baht fine, and the entire country would know in 24 hours! But, who would levy the fines? That requires real police work. I guess if the government made a deal with the police, suggesting that they can keep 80% of the fine, and the balance goes to the department, that might work. 8,000 baht per officer, per infraction. Might be the most heavily patrolled section of Thailand! And the bikes would have the lane all to themselves. That would scare the bejesus out of the motorbikes.

[BritTim]

I am surprised the article did not extol the virtues of the bike lane along lower Sukhumvit (the one shared with the Tourist Walkway). I would point out to the cynics that this is never used by motorcycles. Unlike the ghost cyclists, they are unable to ride through the food stalls, clothing and fake Viagra vendors, and bottoms of pedestrian bridges that block the path.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

...existing bicycle lanes such as the ones located within Suvarnabhumi Airport popularly known as the ‘Sanam Kiew’ or Green court currently ranked as one of the five best airports with bicycle lanes in the world; is being widely used by bicycle riders.

Sanam Kiew stretches for distance of more than 23 km and attracts more than 4,000 bicyclists daily.

It is at present temporary closed to undergo renovation and refurbishment and will again open at the end of the year

Didn't the bike lanes near Swampy just open new for the first time not that long ago?

And now they're temporarily closed already for "renovation and refurbishment."

Probably used the same contractors that install the ever-breaking and subsiding sidewalk tiles used widely around the city.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

I am surprised the article did not extol the virtues of the bike lane along lower Sukhumvit (the one shared with the Tourist Walkway). I would point out to the cynics that this is never used by motorcycles. Unlike the ghost cyclists, they are unable to ride through the food stalls, clothing and fake Viagra vendors, and bottoms of pedestrian bridges that block the path.

The reality, of course, is that there is NO real bike lane along the lower/odd-numbered sois portion of Sukhumvit Road. And certainly it's not any section of sidewalk (to be called that, charitably) where anyone rides bicycles.

There is, in reality, a few sections of crowded, broken up sidewalk where paint lines and the words "bike lane" are painted on the ground, inbetween cars and motorcycles parked on the sidewalk, phone booths, vendor stands, street poles and various other obstructions.

One can only assume that the promised 200 km rural bikeway project will end up in similar straights, but with its own localized version of obstructions, impediments, subsidence, etc etc.

Edited August 8, 2015 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[BritTim]

I am surprised the article did not extol the virtues of the bike lane along lower Sukhumvit (the one shared with the Tourist Walkway). I would point out to the cynics that this is never used by motorcycles. Unlike the ghost cyclists, they are unable to ride through the food stalls, clothing and fake Viagra vendors, and bottoms of pedestrian bridges that block the path.

The reality, of course, is that there is NO real bike lane along the lower/odd-numbered sois portion of Sukhumvit Road. And certainly it's not any section of sidewalk (to be called that, charitably) where anyone rides bicycles.

There is, in reality, a few sections of crowded, broken up sidewalk where paint lines and the words "bike lane" are painted on the ground, inbetween cars and motorcycles parked on the sidewalk, phone booths, vendor stands, street poles and various other obstructions.

One can only assume that the promised 200 km rural bikeway project will end up in similar straights, but with its own localized version of obstructions, impediments, subsidence, etc etc.

I am actually curious about one thing. Suppose, as a cyclist, one was riding along the side of the road near Sukhumvit Soi 7. Could the police fine you for failing to use the designated cycle path?

[lamyai3]

Better be : Thailand the HUB of the bike lanes....

It's certainly the hub of superlatives. I'm guessing they've been looking to find the longest something ever since the rather embarrassing news earlier this year about having the shortest something!

[MaxYakov]

I am surprised the article did not extol the virtues of the bike lane along lower Sukhumvit (the one shared with the Tourist Walkway). I would point out to the cynics that this is never used by motorcycles. Unlike the ghost cyclists, they are unable to ride through the food stalls, clothing and fake Viagra vendors, and bottoms of pedestrian bridges that block the path.

The reality, of course, is that there is NO real bike lane along the lower/odd-numbered sois portion of Sukhumvit Road. And certainly it's not any section of sidewalk (to be called that, charitably) where anyone rides bicycles.

There is, in reality, a few sections of crowded, broken up sidewalk where paint lines and the words "bike lane" are painted on the ground, inbetween cars and motorcycles parked on the sidewalk, phone booths, vendor stands, street poles and various other obstructions.

One can only assume that the promised 200 km rural bikeway project will end up in similar straights, but with its own localized version of obstructions, impediments, subsidence, etc etc.

Yes.

So I operate my bicycle similarly to a motorbike, car or bus everywhere on Sukhumvit and on every other road or soi. I have yet to encounter a food vendor or other obnoxious obstacle in the right-hand (fast) lane anywhere on Sukhumvit - other than those pesky motor vehicles that are using my road. I welcome the gridlock of motorized vehicles so I can safely lane-split and cut right through it all, going where even motorbikes cannot.

As do the motorbikes and often-times cars, I can easily bail to sidewalk of things get too risky on the road or I see someone or something I want to seen close-up.

Cycling - the only way to travel Bangkok, IMHO

More fun than sitting in my room playing a video game or watching video or even posting on TV. Of course, there is the danger that it could get too real and I would find myself at Bumrungrad one day.

[MaxYakov]

I am surprised the article did not extol the virtues of the bike lane along lower Sukhumvit (the one shared with the Tourist Walkway). I would point out to the cynics that this is never used by motorcycles. Unlike the ghost cyclists, they are unable to ride through the food stalls, clothing and fake Viagra vendors, and bottoms of pedestrian bridges that block the path.

The reality, of course, is that there is NO real bike lane along the lower/odd-numbered sois portion of Sukhumvit Road. And certainly it's not any section of sidewalk (to be called that, charitably) where anyone rides bicycles.

There is, in reality, a few sections of crowded, broken up sidewalk where paint lines and the words "bike lane" are painted on the ground, inbetween cars and motorcycles parked on the sidewalk, phone booths, vendor stands, street poles and various other obstructions.

One can only assume that the promised 200 km rural bikeway project will end up in similar straights, but with its own localized version of obstructions, impediments, subsidence, etc etc.

I am actually curious about one thing. Suppose, as a cyclist, one was riding along the side of the road near Sukhumvit Soi 7. Could the police fine you for failing to use the designated cycle path?

I absolutely sure that, after over six years of cycling in lower Sukhumvit and just about everywhere else in Bangkok, that a cyclist could do just about anything on the road with absolute impunity from the RTP.

Similarly to motorbikes, I often break every traffic law from circumventing lights to going against traffic flow, lane-splitting, you name it. My hypothesis is that if you're on a bicycle, you are assumed to have little or no money so you will be ignored by the RTP.

The only two times I've been stopped by the RTP was by a walking drunk one in an alley near Sukhumvit 3/1 who had absolutely no reason to stop me and another time as I was standing next to my bike near Khao San road (inexplicably, for an ad hoc search for drugs).

You're at greater risk of initiating road rage in a motorist than being stopped by the RTP. One would have to do something really crazy to be stopped by them and am having difficulty imagining what that would be short of going on some kind of murderous rampage.

[Neeranam]

And the Biggest Death Toll, Unfortunately

Just to let you know, if it weren't for people like you, who are miserable in Thailand, and think of something negative to say even when there is positive news, I would read and participate in the news section of TV. Sadly, you will remain probably in Thailand and the forum.

Great News.

Thailand is developing. The guys like above have proabably only been here a short time and can't see how it has changed in say the last 30 years.

[boomerangutang]

Good news!

Agreed... as long as it is policed in some way and doesn't become good news for motorbikes !!!

Sorry to sound pessimistic, but there is no route anywhere in Thailand, not even through busy markets - which doesn't have frequent motorbikes. I have been trying for years to get a mere 1.5 Km bicycle/jogging route to go around a beautiful steep hill in my area near Chiang Rai. I even offered to clear the route myself. I spoke with pu yai ban (village headman) and all he could say is, "what sort of money is there in it for me, if I give permission?" It was like talking to a brick wall.

[BritTim]

I am actually curious about one thing. Suppose, as a cyclist, one was riding along the side of the road near Sukhumvit Soi 7. Could the police fine you for failing to use the designated cycle path?

I absolutely sure that, after over six years of cycling in lower Sukhumvit and just about everywhere else in Bangkok, that a cyclist could do just about anything on the road with absolute impunity from the RTP.

Similarly to motorbikes, I often break every traffic law from circumventing lights to going against traffic flow, lane-splitting, you name it. My hypothesis is that if you're on a bicycle, you are assumed to have little or no money so you will be ignored by the RTP.

The only two times I've been stopped by the RTP was by a walking drunk one in an alley near Sukhumvit 3/1 who had absolutely no reason to stop me and another time as I was standing next to my bike near Khao San road (inexplicably, for an ad hoc search for drugs).

You're at greater risk of initiating road rage in a motorist than being stopped by the RTP. One would have to do something really crazy to be stopped by them and am having difficulty imagining what that would be short of going on some kind of murderous rampage.

The RTP may, indeed, leave cyclists alone because of their perceived impecunious state. Alternatively, they may regard cyclists as lunatics that may be dangerous to approach. Not saying I agree, but people cycling in the Bangkok heat and pollution, putting their lives in the hands of typical Thai drivers could be regarded by some as exhibiting self destructive tendencies.

[Neeranam]

Good news!

Agreed... as long as it is policed in some way and doesn't become good news for motorbikes !!!

Sorry to sound pessimistic, but there is no route anywhere in Thailand, not even through busy markets - which doesn't have frequent motorbikes. I have been trying for years to get a mere 1.5 Km bicycle/jogging route to go around a beautiful steep hill in my area near Chiang Rai. I even offered to clear the route myself. I spoke with pu yai ban (village headman) and all he could say is, "what sort of money is there in it for me, if I give permission?" It was like talking to a brick wall.

When you've been in Thailand for a few years and learn more words, you'll realize this is the way it works.