Bangkok Administration starts more sidewalk vendors cleanup operation

[webfact]

City starts more sidewalk vendors cleanup operation



BANGKOK: -- The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) yesterday began clearing street vendors from sidewalks this year, starting first with vendors at Wat Rakang Khositaram temple.

The cleanup operation followed complaints that many illegal vendor stalls had been set up on footpaths and in parking spaces of the temple causing visitors inconvenience.

The cleanup operation was praised by visitors to the temple who said now it is easier for people to get in and make merit there.

“Usually, entering the temple feels like going to the market. Now, it is looking much more like a temple”, one visitor said.

The BMA has asked affected vendors to sell goods in front of their own houses in the Rakang community instead.

However most vendors were not willing to move.

One vendor argued that there is not enough space to sell goods in front of her house.

The maximum width of the lane in the Wat Rakang community is about 2 meters, so the vendors questioned the BMA how they could possibly sell goods in front of their own houses.

Most vendors said they do business at Wat Rakang for more than 20 years.

They said they were willing to pay if the temple wants them to pay in order to sell goods inside the temple.

So far the BMA has forced some 14,000 vendors to move out of 39 public areas in 21 districts to new places provided by the city to make way for pedestrians as part of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s clean-up campaign.

This year, the BMA plans more with the cleanup operation starts at Wat Rakang Khositaram.

The operation will also cover Pak Khlong Talad Flower Market, areas under Phra Pok Klao Bridge, Pratunam and Banglampu markets as well as Siam square.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/151274


-- Thai PBS 2016-02-17

[canopus1969]

If they keep cleaning up the place I might even deem to visit Bangkok someday

[shirtless]

This government is good at putting people out of work,

[Hardback]

This government is good at putting people out of work,

Yes, but once the city streets are rid of poor, upcountry riff raff - the good citizens of Bangkok can enjoy their sceptered capital and bask in its fresh, uncluttered, pristine splendor.

[impulse]

This government is good at putting people out of work,

Or maybe they're taking illegal rent money from a crooked mafia and putting it into the pockets of investors who have actually spent money to develop facilities for vendors?

[craigt3365]

This government is good at putting people out of work,

I've not visited many places in Bangkok, but during my last 2 visits, vendors are still on the street. Lower Suk seems to be limited to after 6pm or something. But I had to dodge through a bunch on the way to the embassy 2 weeks ago. And on the previous trip, got run off the sidewalk by scooter taxis.

[ezzra]

Where ever I park my cart, that's my spot... amazingly, many vendors convinced that the country owes

them a living, and what ever they want to do to earn a living braking the laws or not, that's ok with them,

getting angry at the authorities for pointing out that civil laws must be respected....

[impulse]

Where ever I park my cart, that's my spot...

getting angry at the authorities for pointing out that civil laws must be respected....

If that were the case, there would be blood in the streets every night when the vendors roll up and fight for the prime spots.

It's controlled, and it's not hard to follow the money.

I'd get pissed off, too if I paid a crooked official every week for 10+ years for a prime spot, then got booted, probably by that same official who now either has to enforce the law (grudgingly) or get transferred to an inactive post with no "perks".

Edited February 17, 2016 by impulse

[NeverSure]

Part of the charm of Thailand is the street vendors...

Any time you want to get bored out of your gourd on the clean and well organized streets of downtown Portland, Oregon, lemme know.

[samsensam]

cant wait for them to clear up the streets in my area. on the non street vendor days the atmosphere is so much better; you can walk relaxed and comfortably on the pavement, you can see and easily access shops that are hidden away the rest of the time of the time - these business owners need to make a living to and are prevented from doing so by illegal street vendors blocking their shop fronts.

[oztaurus]

Part of the charm of Thailand is the street vendors...

Any time you want to get bored out of your gourd on the clean and well organized streets of downtown Portland, Oregon, lemme know.

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There don't seem to be a ;ot of pedestrians on the sidewalks of Portland ...... and since when do Thai walk more than 50 metres, they are much more likely to go by "mo-sy" than to mosey along

[amja]

To me Bkk are a spakling place, much to thank for all the sidewalk markets an foodstalls!

Never mind it it takes 10minutes more to walk a distance when you have people selling all kinds of stuff.

Bing able to sit down on a wiggly plastic chair for nice food and/or a drink even it it´s ate at night.

That is Bkk charm for me!

Most of the complainers here are the bitter old men that yell about almost everything.

For those, I recommend move to Vladivostok! Nightlife very quiet (if there is any, i did not find) sidewalks and streets totally free from any marketeers!

The Bkk I loved are quickly going away, my heart bleed.

Amja

[Bill Miller]

I was wondering if there had been a crackdown of some sort in my area of Udomsuk. For about two days I was actually able to walk along the pavements. Downside was that none of "my" vendors were there, and I had a hankering for some fried chicken.
Last night, though, it was back to business as usual.
I would applaud a measure that restricted the vendors from taking up both sides of the side walk such that every time somebody stops at a booth the entire enterprise comes to a standstill. Also a "no enterprise zone" around utility poles would be useful. Many spots you have to edge around even without the other pedestrians when the tables are set up.

[smutcakes]

Where ever I park my cart, that's my spot... amazingly, many vendors convinced that the country owes

them a living, and what ever they want to do to earn a living braking the laws or not, that's ok with them,

getting angry at the authorities for pointing out that civil laws must be respected....

It is not legal, but these vendors are widely used on a daily basis by Thai's on the way to work, lunch, and on the way back. They provide cheap street food to the local population, without which there would be a dearth of cheap options available for the local population in many places. Office workers around Bangkok frequent these places on mass every single day.

Yes it can be frustrating at times walkig through them, and yes it is against the law and a little rich them getting annoyed about people trying to move them- but they do provide a very valuable provision to the local populace which i think Bangkok would be poorer without.

I would dearly love someone in an interview to ask one of these Chiefs of police etc, why there are these stalls all over sSukhumvit, clear as day, blocking the streets, selling contraband etc, why when they come out with comments about clearing it up have these areas never been touched? They are as clear as day, anyone can see them- please tell us why it is so difficult and who is protecting them.

[MYKTHEMIN]

To me Bkk are a spakling place, much to thank for all the sidewalk markets an foodstalls!

Never mind it it takes 10minutes more to walk a distance when you have people selling all kinds of stuff.

Bing able to sit down on a wiggly plastic chair for nice food and/or a drink even it it´s ate at night.

That is Bkk charm for me!

Most of the complainers here are the bitter old men that yell about almost everything.

For those, I recommend move to Vladivostok! Nightlife very quiet (if there is any, i did not find) sidewalks and streets totally free from any marketeers!

The Bkk I loved are quickly going away, my heart bleed.

Amja

I love the street venders, it is part of the charm, if they go, many will not bother to go there, I for 1.

[Thian]

Also cleanup the vendors at Saphan Kwai please, i'm tired of them...they don't stay behind the yellow line and make the sidewalk dirty as an open gutter. They have very low umbrellas and block the pedestrians walking to the bts.

Those people make BKK such a dirty filthy city, if they just had nice booths or stands to sell from out of quiet streetcorners it would be great to have them but they just take over the pavements and don't give a poop about other people.