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Video highlighting dangers of cycling in Thailand goes viral

BANGKOK:-- A video posted by a motorist which shows a group of cyclists riding dangerous close to traffic on a busy highway has gone viral.

The video was posted by Facebook user Wissnu Naraya and received more than 4,500 comments on the YouLike Facebook page.

Feedback from netizens was mixed, with some stating how they believed the cyclists were acting dangerously, whilst others said that motorists should be more careful when cyclists are on the road.

Throughout the video explains Mr Wissnu says that whilst he does not hold any feelings against cyclist, he does believe they should be more careful when cycling on busy roads.

He also says that it is often the case that motorists always get the blame if they are involved in an accident with a cyclist, however, cyclists should also be responsible for cycling safely.

Do you think the cyclists are at fault?

Source: ThaiRath

[speedtripler]

Cyclists on an expressway? <deleted>

Why can't they use the frontage Rd?

[eldragon]

Cyclists on an expressway? <deleted>

Why can't they use the frontage Rd?

Perhaps there were already too many motorcycles on the frontage roads.

[richardt1808]

It doesn't matter what the vehicle type is, one of the golden rules for highway driving is that one should, at all times, try to match the speed of the cars around you. When we are all travelling at a similar speed, the risk of running into a slower vehicle is much lower. That is why minimum speeds are also enforced in most first-world countries. There is nothing more dangerous than a stationary or slow moving car on a highway.

Now, also factor that a cyclist is totally unprotected. In the case of an accident with a car or truck, there is nothing between his body and 10 tons of fast moving metal, except a cycling vest and a plastic helmet. One mistake and you're dead.

It just takes just a second of lost concentration on the part of a truck driver for his vehicle to move a few centimeters into the other lane - and those cyclists are all toast!

Whether or not Thai traffic law permits them to use a highway instead of the frontage road, I'm not 100% sure, but what I am 100% sure of, is that if they valued their lives, they would be as far away from the main highway as possible. Forget about the frontage road even - take the scenic route; enjoy the views and arrive alive.

[speedtripler]

My scooter does about 110km Max and it scares the shit out of me to go on the expressway with cars flying past at 140km...

Good luck to these guys - they're going to need it if they keep doing this

[SergeyKot]

I understand all...

but &lt;deleted&gt; u doing on expressroad if ur speed less then 80kmh? (its also tru for auto and motorbikes)

also its OK if u drive on left part of the road, but why u trying to go on right part?

[lee b]

Most cyclists are a danger to both themselfs and others, and in the event of an accident they are never at fault. All you need to do is watch a few YT videos to understand this point.

[MESmith]

Who made the video? Was the car with the camera escorting them, protecting them from other vehicles, or just some nosey netizen?

[Metapod]

why were the cyclists crossing the dotted lines into the middle lane? &lt;deleted&gt; was that?

[robertthebruce]

Thailand is just not Cycle friendly..

saying that, those Cyclists were Cycling too far out of the nearside lane, they should of been Cycling closer to the barrier..

Brave Guys, no way would i be cycling.... as much as i love it..best avoided...

[jkinbkk]

Like most activities involving the use of the roads in Thailand or indeed anywhere, a degree of common sense is required.

Clearly these guys are lacking that due to the fact that they choose to use the highway. Add to that the lack of common sense generally attributed to the majorityThai drivers, then trouble will ensue.

I am a cyclist and choose to undertake my daily outings in the early morning from 5.30am onwards. The roads are still quiet at that time and along with appropriate safety gear, I have in 2 years never encountered any dramas.

Cyclist can ill afford (in Thailand at least) to foster a 'holier than thou' attitude...it'll get them killer.

[zaphod reborn]

Big surprise - they ride their bikes as dangerously as they operate their motorbikes.

Edited October 12, 2015 by zaphod reborn

[deckape]

I think they were doing a paceline, with the front rider peeling off after his turn at the front. They were stupidly using more than one lane. A danger to themselves and others. Yes, they were making good speed, but very poor riding overall.

[kevc]

Don't know about brave guys more like total idiots.

[MESmith]

I think they were doing a paceline, with the front rider peeling off after his turn at the front. They were stupidly using more than one lane. A danger to themselves and others. Yes, they were making good speed, but very poor riding overall.

Yep, a bit more to the left would have been much safer.

[CanInBKK]

Cyclists on an expressway? <deleted>

Why can't they use the frontage Rd?

I agree. I'm on the side of "these bicyclists are a bunch of entitled <presumably high-society> obstructions".

[gandalf12]

The cyclists should be further to the left they are just about straddling the lane line which is stupid. Having said that, motorists need to be more courteous on the road to other users

[Ace of Pop]

If you have any Common Sence you dont use the road as a Gymnasium like those Nob Heads

[huahinjoe]

I think also they should use the Frontage road, its not the Tour de France...

[rethaier]

They should be on the frontage road and prohibited from motorways. Also the idiots should not be consuming the whole lane ridin 3 or 4 abreast. Totally irresponsible.

[Ceruhe]

What was the point in this video? All evidence is against the cyclists, no question about that. I'll give benefit of the doubt that there was no other way (yea yea there was but disregard) and chose the dangerous path...one thing trying to make a point, another thing to be retarded about it, there was no need to be so far off to the right and doubling up (at least it looks like they aren't in a line).It _may_ have been another story if the video dude wasn't there and cars were cutting them close, but the cyclist are way too edging the right side including swaying around.

Anyway, it wasn't the most appropriate area for bikes in the first place, so whatever their meaningless debate is all about...

[coldfusionPaul]

standard safety advice for cyclist groups is to "take the lane" which is what they appear to be doing most of the time.

i've seen very few cycling groups do pace lines correctly here, this is actually far from the worst (think brownian motion). because of that i've given up riding w/groups years ago, scared the crap out of me too many times.

when i have to ride highways i tend to stick to the shoulder as best i can, which goes against best practice though i've never been dinged by cars doing that. i have been dinged by side view mirrors a number of times in bangkok, 90% on hathairat road where passing on the left seems to be a thing.

in any case, motorized vehicles need to drive more responsibly/defensively here. driver behavior pose far greater danger to cyclists than cyclists' own behavior.

[MaeJoMTB]

That video highlights how safe it is here .......

They were being daft, and none of them squished = safe in my mind.

[balo]

This hype about cycliing we've seen in Thailand recently will probably end soon, we just need a couple of deadly accidents.

[Ceruhe]

we just need a couple of deadly accidents.

Hasn't really stopped anything else so far, has it? lol

[coldfusionPaul]

the cycling "hype" has been going on for a decade now and is about a billion baht industry. for the most part it's not just the rich but lower/middle-middle class folks. you can find decent cycling shops & riding groups in the middle of nowhereburi.

[cornishcarlos]

This hype about cycliing we've seen in Thailand recently will probably end soon, we just need a couple of deadly accidents.

There have been several deadly accidents. No convictions as a result though, not that I am aware of anyway.

Those guys in the video were asking to be clipped though, bizarre riding..

[crickets]

I can understand riding in a pelaton but always stick to the left side of the lane.

[Pdavies99]

I ride a mountain bike all the time, (except when dark or rainy) and this video shows some very poor cycling, they are far to way out on the lane, this type of riding is clearly a poor attitude towards the other vehicles etc, also they should have a LED red lights on their bikes, even in day time for safety!

[TPI]

It's sad to see temporary citizens practising their "death moves" in public! They're riding their bikes exactly how they drive their cars, on an expressway as well, swapping lanes to boot!