'Bike for Dad' day may be declared national holiday

[WhizBang]

Sure why not, and let's declare it a dry day too.

[poohy]

Really cant see it making much difference here in the real world in the countryside as i have yet to see locals dressed in yellow and more importantly no ones got a bike

[meom]

Another public holiday. Ahh so all of the wealthy can have another day off, but the poor who need to work to survive have to keep going. dec 5 is enough

Wouldn't it be automatic overtime for all those that have to work?

[Snackbar]

I don't get it. Where's the correlation? Cycling and improved health.

Possibly the most hazardous activity to undertake, cycling in Thailand. Encourage well meaning citizens to expose themselves to the second most dangerous roads in the world. Surely there are fundamental transport issues to address before promoting cycling. <deleted>

[HooHaa]

one does envy these "developing" countries and the flexibility of their economies.

To be able to arbitrarily add multiple national holidays without financial consequence must be nice.

[HooHaa]

I don't get it. Where's the correlation? Cycling and improved health.

Possibly the most hazardous activity to undertake, cycling in Thailand. Encourage well meaning citizens to expose themselves to the second most dangerous roads in the world. Surely there are fundamental transport issues to address before promoting cycling. <deleted>

have another large popcorn and soda, i manage to ride daily in thailand without issue and have been doing so for years.

find another excuse to avoid cycling, that one doesn't cut it.

[Bob12345]

If they make it a national holiday, they should make it a "car-free" (&motorbike free) national holiday.

Cyclists and cars don't go well together in Thailand, so let's make it a safe cyclist day.

[fforest1]

Why Bike for Dad or Mom ???

Why not walk for Dad? Pick up trash for Dad? Pubic service for Dad? Donate to the temple for Dad? Plant a tree for Dad ? How about yoga for Dad..

Whats with biking?

Biking

Biking

Biking

Why all this attention on biking?

Edited November 18, 2015 by fforest1

[MZurf]

Why Bike for Dad or Mom ???

Why not walk for Dad? Pick up trash for Dad? Pubic service for Dad? Donate to the temple for Dad? Plant a tree for Dad ? How about yoga for Dad..

Whats with biking?

Biking

Biking

Biking

Why all this attention on biking?

Because Uncle Too is very into biking, so obviously so should everyone else.

[MZurf]

"Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha handed yellow shirts to ministers at the meeting"

At last. Secure in his dominance, the big guy finally shows his hand unashamedly in a way he wouldn't have dared a year or so ago. I wonder if this would make Suthep smile?

Isn't yellow the colour of the King ?

Given all considerations though should some discretion not have been applied ?

Sure, if reconciliation was the goal.

[samsara]

has any info ever been given as to where the money from the prince promotion tour goes?

[Jeremy50]

I don't get it. Where's the correlation? Cycling and improved health.

Possibly the most hazardous activity to undertake, cycling in Thailand. Encourage well meaning citizens to expose themselves to the second most dangerous roads in the world. Surely there are fundamental transport issues to address before promoting cycling. <deleted>

-Cycling is popular with the younger Royals.

-Cycling is the fastest growing sport in Thailand.

-The PM cycles.

-Cycling events take place almost every day in Thailand.

-Cycling is great for health, and for maintaining a healthy weight.

-Cycling is environmentally friendly.

-Most families in Thailand own a push bike of some kind.

-Thousands of younger school children still cycle to school.

-Farmers and salespeople use bikes in the countryside.

The planned event is really just to show support for HM The King. Every provincial town is holding a ride, starting at 3pm. Numbers in the provinces are not limited, but are in Bangkok. The distance is only 20k, which even you could probably manage.

[Bluespunk]

Why Bike for Dad or Mom ???

Why not walk for Dad? Pick up trash for Dad? Pubic service for Dad? Donate to the temple for Dad? Plant a tree for Dad ? How about yoga for Dad..

Whats with biking?

Biking

Biking

Biking

Why all this attention on biking?

I think there was a Run for Mum the week before the bike event last time round.

[Snackbar]

Some interesting articles online about where the money goes.

[MrJohnson]

It is all part of the grand plan of myth making.

[samsensam]

Selling Bikes

Selling shirts, more like,

Do the proceeds for all those unofficial shirts go to good causes?

it would be nice to think the proceeds would do some good but i seriously doubt you'll get the vendors to hand over any money

[brewsterbudgen]

has any info ever been given as to where the money from the prince promotion tour goes?

Probably best not discussed. In light of recent events the whole thing is rather sinister and depressing.

[fred Kubasa]

Lost count -- Is that National Holiday number 35 or 45 ?

[CantSpell]

Money will go to donations...

They might just build 2 or 3 more parks...

[HollyT]

Not ANOTHER extra holiday! Thailand already has more regular holidays than any other country in the World except one. This year several extra holidays were already declared if memory serves me. Student class time has already been greatly reduced; adding more holidays isn't going to help them learn anything when they are in class so infrequently. But, maybe that's the idea.

Most the holidays are in school holiday time anyway (April, October)

[Wilsonandson]

I hope it is a holiday. I watched bike for mom and really enjoyed it. I love cycling. The concert put on at the end had some beautiful music. I wish bike for dad goodluck. I only wish I could take part, but I'm not that healthy enough to cycle all that way. Just cycling to my local market is enough exercise for me. I wonder if there are safe cycling routes in Bangkok? I know the airport has a cycling track and big parks too but is there anywhere else you can go?

[MaxYakov]

I hope it is a holiday. I watched bike for mom and really enjoyed it. I love cycling. The concert put on at the end had some beautiful music. I wish bike for dad goodluck. I only wish I could take part, but I'm not that healthy enough to cycle all that way. Just cycling to my local market is enough exercise for me. I wonder if there are safe cycling routes in Bangkok? I know the airport has a cycling track and big parks too but is there anywhere else you can go?

Queen Sirikit Park Asok Bangkok (near Asok BTS/MRT)- Large circular bicycle track an separate walk/jog track

Lumphini Park (near Sala Daeng BTS/MRT) - Long, circuitous cycle/walk/jog tracks

Khaosan Road/Temple Area - Several kilometers of separate, roadside bicycle lanes

Notes:

1) To hide the New Google Maps large Query/Info display box covering the upper left of the map, click on the little left-arrow at the box's upper-right.

2) BTS allows non-folding bikes. MRT, Airport Link and riverboats - folding bikes only

Good Luck getting to any of the above from wherever you reside!

Edited November 20, 2015 by MaxYakov

[Yooyung]

Its a good event....great idea BUT could they have picked a worse time to hold it? 3:00 pm on FRIDAY afternoon!!!! I am glad I don't work in Bangkok and commute north home to where I live. Its going to be a car park on the road.....isnt it?

Edited November 20, 2015 by Yooyung

[MaxYakov]

Its a good event....great idea BUT could they have picked a worse time to hold it? 3:00 pm on FRIDAY afternoon!!!! I am glad I don't work in Bangkok and commute north home to where I live. Its going to be a car park on the road.....isnt it?

Gridlock - the safest Bangkok cycling environ, in IMHO.

Get those cars and buses stopped, but watch those pesky motorbikes!

A collision at road could ruin your entire day - Max Yakov*

* = But unashamedly ripped off from (allegedly) Thucydides

Edited November 20, 2015 by MaxYakov

[sapson]

Do we have a verdict yet? to holiday or not?

[waldroj]

Do we have a verdict yet? to holiday or not?

They're still trying to find the coin they tossed to decide the result. Seems someone stole it!

[Wilsonandson]

I hope it is a holiday. I watched bike for mom and really enjoyed it. I love cycling. The concert put on at the end had some beautiful music. I wish bike for dad goodluck. I only wish I could take part, but I'm not that healthy enough to cycle all that way. Just cycling to my local market is enough exercise for me. I wonder if there are safe cycling routes in Bangkok? I know the airport has a cycling track and big parks too but is there anywhere else you can go?

Queen Sirikit Park Asok Bangkok (near Asok BTS/MRT)- Large circular bicycle track an separate walk/jog track

Lumphini Park (near Sala Daeng BTS/MRT) - Long, circuitous cycle/walk/jog tracks

Khaosan Road/Temple Area - Several kilometers of separate, roadside bicycle lanes

Notes:

1) To hide the New Google Maps large Query/Info display box covering the upper left of the map, click on the little left-arrow at the box's upper-right.

2) BTS allows non-folding bikes. MRT, Airport Link and riverboats - folding bikes only

Good Luck getting to any of the above from wherever you reside!

Thankyou so much for this information. Hopefully in the future there will be cycle lanes in the city centre. On a recent visit to Belgium I was impressed by their bicycle lane system. Of course this is Thailand, but with some streets it could work if those streets banned motorcycles using the bicycle lane. It's worth a try at the very least.

[sapson]

It seems to have gone very quiet on the chances of this being a national holiday.....................sadly, I guess we can assume it now wont be, unless anyone knows different?

[NongKhaiKid]

It would be nice, and sensible, to make an early announcement in order people can make various arrangements for banking, travel etc. but that almost guarantees a last minute decision. Forward planning and thoughtfulness isn't a big deal here.

If and when the decision is made and a 4 day holiday, at least, is on the cards the Minister of Tourism, will leap into action with her pre-prepared imaginary figures on how many people will be travelling and how much they will spend.

Edited November 30, 2015 by NongKhaiKid

[balo]

National holiday so everyone can ride a bicycle. Only in Thailand.