Siam, Silom, Sukhumvit street markets shut down

[webfact]

Siam, Silom, Sukhumvit street markets shut down

By Sasiwan Mokkhasen, Staff Reporter -

 

Sandals were hung on the railing of a bank branch on Sukhumvit Road on Wednesday night by Pornthipa Boonmart, 49.

 

BANGKOK —Instead of staying home like most of her friends, Pornthipa Boonmart on Wednesday went to her spot on Soi Sukhumvit 5 where she has sold goods to passers-by for over 30 years.

 

Under the watchful eyes of officers there to end the practice, the 49-year-old hung shoes from the railing of a Thanachart Bank branch. The officers seemed okay with that, so long as she didn’t take space with a table.

 

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/bangkok/2016/10/06/siam-silom-sukhumvit-street-markets-shut/

 

-- © Copyright Khaosod English 2016-10-07

[jerojero]

A little room on the sidewalks ain't a bad idea. Now stop the idiots driving motorbikes on sidewalks!

[daoyai]

sidewalk vendors are a tradition and a way for some to survive, not part of the fascist remake of the economy though so, tough luck peasants.

[camble]

This action is long overdue.  Sidewalks are for pedestrians. Vendors were paying the police to occupy most of the space. 

[steveyinasia]

There is a huge vacant block on Sukhumvit Soi 7 where the old seafood stalls used to be.  Dismantled years ago and nothing has happened since  they could have left the stalls going for many more years.  Since it has been vacant for such a long time and in an ideal location, why not have the stall holders ply their trade there, off the footpaths and still in easy reach?

[British Bulldog]

Well, perhaps not for everybody, but I for one loved strolling along looking at all the knick Knacks for sale ... and speaking a bit of the language, one could pick up a bargain or two ... however, it's what places like BKK was all about for tourist, without them the City looses its character

[new2here]

I think like many things in life, that there's room here for a compromise that reasonably balanced several interests.

Yes, the sidewalks are principally for pedestrian movement and not for static commerce. I also agree that having street-based vendors is a part of the Thai tourist image (whether or not that's good is a different discussion) ... And I also agree that is one way that some nationals on the lower end of the earnings spectrum, make their livelihood.

So.. I think that in many cases there can be designated spaces where explicitly measured spaces are set up for merchants and that those spaces, when occupied to not materially impede the safe and efficient flow of pedestrian traffic as well.

I guess I just don't think this has to be a zero sum game and that there really can be compromises that can be made that in the end fairly balance multiple needs.


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

[Mickmouse1]

Dying tradition but then again niw I can walk without being pushed or pushing any idiots blocking my way looking at goods or buying goods?

[Patanawet]

20 minutes ago, Mickmouse1 said:

idiots blocking my way looking at goods or buying goods?

How inconsiderate of them. Truly idiots.

Edited October 7, 2016 by Patanawet

[nikmar]

1 hour ago, steveyinasia said:

There is a huge vacant block on Sukhumvit Soi 7 where the old seafood stalls used to be.  Dismantled years ago and nothing has happened since  they could have left the stalls going for many more years.  Since it has been vacant for such a long time and in an ideal location, why not have the stall holders ply their trade there, off the footpaths and still in easy reach?

 

Far too logical.

[alfalfa19]

2 hours ago, steveyinasia said:

There is a huge vacant block on Sukhumvit Soi 7 where the old seafood stalls used to be.  Dismantled years ago and nothing has happened since  they could have left the stalls going for many more years.  Since it has been vacant for such a long time and in an ideal location, why not have the stall holders ply their trade there, off the footpaths and still in easy reach?

This is quite logical, and a win win solution.  Thus, it will not be implemented. 

[IMA_FARANG]

They closed down the stree food area at Soi 38, Sukhumvit.

Singapore closed down Bugis Street a long time ago.

When will they be closing down the walking street in Pattaya?

And soi Nana in Bangkok?

 

[mercman24]

haven't got a problem myself but some take the piss. for eg  in soi 4  the stall outside MORNING NIGHT bar, taking up all the pavement and a bit further up the food stall outside KS BAR  right by a concrete pillar so its only possible for one person to use at a time, total blockage, no consideration at all for others

[Patanawet]

4 minutes ago, mercman24 said:

 in soi 4 

Soi 4??

[overherebc]

9 minutes ago, IMA_FARANG said:

They closed down the stree food area at Soi 38, Sukhumvit.

Singapore closed down Bugis Street a long time ago.

When will they be closing down the walking street in Pattaya?

And soi Nana in Bangkok?

 

 

Well, the other day I was in BKK and a bloke in a pub told me it was soon.

[YeahSiam]

I'm all in favour of this.

These hawkers aren't selling anything you can't get in a million purpose-built facilities.

I don't see why thousands should be inconvenienced because one vendor or family wants to make a living.

The bulk of the complaints against them have been made by Thais in an increasingly overcrowded city.

Thankfully, the opinions of a few farangs who can't stand the thought of Bangkok becoming more modernised and who need something to gawp at probably didn't figure in the municipal authorities' decision

[Patanawet]

2 minutes ago, YeahSiam said:

I don't see why thousands should be inconvenienced because one vendor or family wants to make a living.

Not one for exaggeration, are you?

 

These markets occupy a few stretches of road in thousands of kilometres of road in Bangkok.

They add character and attract tourists as well as giving employment to honest low or no income Thais.

I also question your assertion that 'the bulk of complaints are made by Thais' (reference please). The lunchtime customers in Silom were mainly working Thais getting their lunch.

I'm really sorry if you have been inconvenienced by a minute or two going about your daily business but I do doubt if you or many farang complainants (there I go generalising without any  proof) have ever been anywhere near the affected areas.

Now, Silom having had first its afternoon and now night markets close, is just another boring high street; not another Singapore as some had wanted but just another grimy inner city street.

 

What is needed is legal and sensible regulation by an honest administration.

No more fleecing of these  stallholders by police and  teksakij (sorry spelling) thugs.

 

[Patanawet]

1 hour ago, overherebc said:

 

Well, the other day I was in BKK and a bloke in a pub told me it was soon.

Ha ha. Maybe the bloke in the Bangkok pub didn't realise that it is the Bangkok administration initiating these actions and will probably have little effect on Walking Street in Pattaya. Or will it?

Edited October 7, 2016 by Patanawet
grammar

[eldragon]

Why don't they put the vendors in the street and let the pedestrians have the sidewalk? Then the hawkers will know it feels to have a bus or taxi zipping behind them while they're trying to get around someone or something.

[Dexlowe]

3 minutes ago, Patanawet said:

as well as giving employment to honest low or no income Thais.

 

You need an awful lot of money to be able to afford one of these spots. It's prime real estate for vendors.

 

7 minutes ago, Patanawet said:

They add character and attract tourists

 

So do souks and bazaars.

 

7 minutes ago, Patanawet said:

The lunchtime customers in Silom were mainly working Thais getting their lunch.

 

Hey, guess what! It'll now be easy and quicker for them to go slightly further afield to find a nosh. Unless they decide they'd rather starve than walk an extra 50 metres. And they'll no longer have to join the parade of school kids dodging traffic on the road. 

[NoshowJones]

5 hours ago, daoyai said:

sidewalk vendors are a tradition and a way for some to survive, not part of the fascist remake of the economy though so, tough luck peasants.

There is room for stalls on the sidewalk in some places, but in lower Sukhumvit on the odd Sois between Sois 3 up to about Soi 11 there are

vendors on both sides of the sidewalk with hardly any room for people walking past. We all know the reason for that don't we?

[NoshowJones]

4 hours ago, steveyinasia said:

There is a huge vacant block on Sukhumvit Soi 7 where the old seafood stalls used to be.  Dismantled years ago and nothing has happened since  they could have left the stalls going for many more years.  Since it has been vacant for such a long time and in an ideal location, why not have the stall holders ply their trade there, off the footpaths and still in easy reach?

There is a very easy answer to this, common sense and Thai authorities are very incompatible.

[NoshowJones]

3 hours ago, British Bulldog said:

Well, perhaps not for everybody, but I for one loved strolling along looking at all the knick Knacks for sale ... and speaking a bit of the language, one could pick up a bargain or two ... however, it's what places like BKK was all about for tourist, without them the City looses its character

Good point, but there is much room for compromise here, think about it.

[gdgbb]

6 hours ago, daoyai said:

sidewalk vendors are a tradition and a way for some to survive, not part of the fascist remake of the economy though so, tough luck peasants.

 

They are a traditionally illegal way for some to make a living off the backs of the rest of us.

[gdgbb]

4 hours ago, steveyinasia said:

There is a huge vacant block on Sukhumvit Soi 7 where the old seafood stalls used to be.  Dismantled years ago and nothing has happened since  they could have left the stalls going for many more years.  Since it has been vacant for such a long time and in an ideal location, why not have the stall holders ply their trade there, off the footpaths and still in easy reach?

 

It is not a vacant block, it is occupied by the family that lives in the property and owns the land that the property is located on, nothing to do with BMA.

[gdgbb]

2 hours ago, nikmar said:

 

Far too logical.

 

In fact, completely illogical.  Why not allow traders to operate from your place as you seem to be in favour of them occupying property that belongs to other people that live there.

[gdgbb]

2 hours ago, alfalfa19 said:

This is quite logical, and a win win solution.  Thus, it will not be implemented. 

 

It will not even be contemplated, never mind implemented, because the family that lives there will object.

Edited October 7, 2016 by gdgbb

[YeahSiam]

1 hour ago, Patanawet said:

Not one for exaggeration, are you?

 

These markets occupy a few stretches of road in thousands of kilometres of road in Bangkok.

They add character and attract tourists as well as giving employment to honest low or no income Thais.

I also question your assertion that 'the bulk of complaints are made by Thais' (reference please). The lunchtime customers in Silom were mainly working Thais getting their lunch.

I'm really sorry if you have been inconvenienced by a minute or two going about your daily business but I do doubt if you or many farang complainants (there I go generalising without any  proof) have ever been anywhere near the affected areas.

Now, Silom having had first its afternoon and now night markets close, is just another boring high street; not another Singapore as some had wanted but just another grimy inner city street.

 

What is needed is legal and sensible regulation by an honest administration.

No more fleecing of these  stallholders by police and  teksakij (sorry spelling) thugs.

 

You're correct in that I'm not one for exaggeration but you're tragically wrong about my not being near the affected areas. 

I'm in Asoke every day, mate since I live close to it.

The markets do occupy a few stretches of road but those stretches are almost always the busiest in their locales.

If you had even a clue what you were talking about, you'd know that getting to Asoke or Siam BTS at rush hour when those stalls are out is a major headache.

People have to take the risk of being run over by traffic if they want to get anywhere in a reasonable timeframe.

I don't need to provide reference - it's simple deduction eg There are far more Thais in Bangkok and passing through those stretches but maybe you know different, eh?

 

[gdgbb]

2 hours ago, IMA_FARANG said:

They closed down the stree food area at Soi 38, Sukhumvit.

Singapore closed down Bugis Street a long time ago.

When will they be closing down the walking street in Pattaya?

And soi Nana in Bangkok?

 

Sukhumvit Road hasn't been closed so why should Soi 4 and Walking Street be closed?

[gdgbb]

1 hour ago, Patanawet said:

Not one for exaggeration, are you?

 

These markets occupy a few stretches of road in thousands of kilometres of road in Bangkok.

They add character and attract tourists as well as giving employment to honest low or no income Thais.

I also question your assertion that 'the bulk of complaints are made by Thais' (reference please). The lunchtime customers in Silom were mainly working Thais getting their lunch.

I'm really sorry if you have been inconvenienced by a minute or two going about your daily business but I do doubt if you or many farang complainants (there I go generalising without any  proof) have ever been anywhere near the affected areas.

Now, Silom having had first its afternoon and now night markets close, is just another boring high street; not another Singapore as some had wanted but just another grimy inner city street.

 

What is needed is legal and sensible regulation by an honest administration.

No more fleecing of these  stallholders by police and  teksakij (sorry spelling) thugs.

 

 

"What is needed is legal and sensible regulation by an honest administration."

 

Exactly, but make your mind up, on one hand you are condoning the illegal occupation of the public pavement by the vendors, who are not low or no income Thais, ("...giving employment to honest low or no income Thais") but on the other hand you're demanding legal regulation of the vendors.  What you have right now is legal, and sensible, regulation of those vendors.