webfact Posted October 13, 2016 Share Posted October 13, 2016 EDITORIAL Bangkok footpaths liberated at last The Nation With more such efforts, the BMA can silence sceptics who expect the illegal sidewalk vendors to creep back in BANGKOK: -- Downtown Bangkok footpaths have all of a sudden become free of vending stalls thanks to City Hall's belated but still welcome enforcement of the law prohibiting the obstruction of pedestrian walkways. Over the past week the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has strictly enforced the law in all areas of the city, following several months of relaxed rules and "easing-out zones" for street vendors. Officials from the BMA's City Law Enforcement Department have this week remained stationed at different locations to enforce the ban on roadside vending. Full story: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Bangkok-footpaths-liberated-at-last-30297630.html -- © Copyright The Nation 2016-10-14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NongKhaiKid Posted October 13, 2016 Share Posted October 13, 2016 And how long will it last ? Enforcement of anything here has a short shelf life and as for ' strictly ', is that anything like the infamous crackdowns, purges etc. ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waldroj Posted October 13, 2016 Share Posted October 13, 2016 Pedestrians beware! This will be greatly appreciated by motorcycle taxis and other motorised two-wheel users. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fruitman Posted October 14, 2016 Share Posted October 14, 2016 It was easyier to just build elevated walkingbridges through the city...so now we have those plus empty sidewalks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brer Fox Posted October 14, 2016 Share Posted October 14, 2016 (edited) Last time I looked a few days ago the footpath vendors were thick on the ground along Soi 4 Sukhumvit. Only about a year or so a go a pedestrian was killed when he was forced to step onto the road to avoid them. "The BMA has no other choice," he said. "If we don't take any action, we could be charged with dereliction of duty." So there, it is being done not for the benefit of pedestrians all but is an ass covering exercise by the BMA. So typical of Thailand's bureaucracy in looking after themselves rather than the people. If any benefit comes to the people it is purely co-incidental. Edited October 14, 2016 by Brer Fox Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowboat Posted October 14, 2016 Share Posted October 14, 2016 As much as these vendors were a pain, they had viable businesses and sold to locals and visitors. They had suppliers as well.. Sadly no imaginative solutions were discussed just the iron fist was used. A sad but common occurrence in Thailand today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJBangkok Posted October 14, 2016 Share Posted October 14, 2016 The tessakit officers haven't given up completely on their cash cow. Yesterday they had a booth set up around suhhumvit Soi 13 asking people to take a survey with big signs "What do you think about no sidewalk vendors " in English not Thai. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CosmicSurfer Posted October 14, 2016 Share Posted October 14, 2016 (edited) Bring back the Vendors and give the Boot to the Motorcy !!! CS Edited October 14, 2016 by CosmicSurfer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trogers Posted October 14, 2016 Share Posted October 14, 2016 3 minutes ago, yellowboat said: As much as these vendors were a pain, they had viable businesses and sold to locals and visitors. They had suppliers as well.. Sadly no imaginative solutions were discussed just the iron fist was used. A sad but common occurrence in Thailand today. What imaginative solution did your country came up with for their sidewalks? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowboat Posted October 14, 2016 Share Posted October 14, 2016 1 minute ago, trogers said: What imaginative solution did your country came up with for their sidewalks? Bigger side walks, market venues and excellent mass transit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trogers Posted October 14, 2016 Share Posted October 14, 2016 3 minutes ago, yellowboat said: Bigger side walks, market venues and excellent mass transit Bigger sidewalks to accommodate more carts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madmitch Posted October 14, 2016 Share Posted October 14, 2016 A pain maybe but these vendors were part of what makes Bangkok Bangkok. Every time I return I see a more sterile city catering to the middle classes and hi-sos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teatree Posted October 14, 2016 Share Posted October 14, 2016 I just hope it isn't a temporary policy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowboat Posted October 14, 2016 Share Posted October 14, 2016 8 minutes ago, trogers said: Bigger sidewalks to accommodate more carts? Yes and for more people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
halloween Posted October 14, 2016 Share Posted October 14, 2016 19 minutes ago, yellowboat said: As much as these vendors were a pain, they had viable businesses and sold to locals and visitors. They had suppliers as well.. Sadly no imaginative solutions were discussed just the iron fist was used. A sad but common occurrence in Thailand today. From elections to viable businesses, you seem to happily support those breaking the law and advocate allowing them to continue. What other illegal "viable businesses" should be given a free pass - beggars, drug dealers, counterfeiters? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcfish Posted October 14, 2016 Share Posted October 14, 2016 About bloody time. I live smack in the middle of it and I guessing... Actually I know nearly all the posters crying about it do not, so tough luck, you're once a year trip to lower Sukhumvit will be inconvenienced on your walk to soi 4 Nana Plaza but that's life The thai people deserve a clean and modern bangkok and not a lawless one. Sent from my SC-01D using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trogers Posted October 14, 2016 Share Posted October 14, 2016 8 minutes ago, madmitch said: A pain maybe but these vendors were part of what makes Bangkok Bangkok. Every time I return I see a more sterile city catering to the middle classes and hi-sos. I prefer to think of it as less stinky sidewalks. No more pouring food scrap and gravy into the storm drains... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowboat Posted October 14, 2016 Share Posted October 14, 2016 1 minute ago, halloween said: From elections to viable businesses, you seem to happily support those breaking the law and advocate allowing them to continue. What other illegal "viable businesses" should be given a free pass - beggars, drug dealers, counterfeiters? No, am interested in their viable, legal business and a creative that way they can continue. Not all their products are illegal if memory serves. Bought a nice Thai lamp there. Other countries in the region seem to have sorted these problems out, while Thailand seems to not be able to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brer Fox Posted October 14, 2016 Share Posted October 14, 2016 13 minutes ago, trogers said: Bigger sidewalks to accommodate more carts? The vendors should put their carts on the road and take the same chances with the traffic as the pedestrians have to when they are required to step around them and so exposing life and limb. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trogers Posted October 14, 2016 Share Posted October 14, 2016 1 minute ago, Brer Fox said: The vendors should put their carts on the road and take the same chances with the traffic as the pedestrians have to when they are required to step around them and so exposing life and limb. I doubt those carts would cut off the parking spaces of their customers... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fruitman Posted October 14, 2016 Share Posted October 14, 2016 29 minutes ago, trogers said: What imaginative solution did your country came up with for their sidewalks? We have shops to buy tshirts, hairpins, peanuts...yes i know it's very strange For hotdogs and food we have small trailers and kiosks. To sit and eat we have benches under tree's and parks or it's food you can eat on the go (no fork/spoon needed). Yup very odd again. Also my fellowfarang are not lazy and can walk well, they even use bicycles in the city, imagine that! So weird. And on top of that they even like to be in sunshine! Our sidewalks are flat (no holes), wide, have tree's, busstops, special tiles for blind people to follow, ramps for wheelchairs, no standing advertisings, no dripping aircondrains, no lowhanging umbrella's/trafficsigns with sharp points, no people standing in the way, zebracrossings with stoplights, no broken drains (heavy duty), no filthy black smurry, no rats/cockroaches, benches at busstops, flowers in planters (not in the walkway)...i'll get my coat before you start chasing me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brer Fox Posted October 14, 2016 Share Posted October 14, 2016 (edited) 23 minutes ago, halloween said: From elections to viable businesses, you seem to happily support those breaking the law and advocate allowing them to continue. What other illegal "viable businesses" should be given a free pass - beggars, drug dealers, counterfeiters? All those businesses you speak of are already given a free pass at certain times of the day and night so long as they pay the rent to the "right" people acting as the footpath marketing mafia. Edited October 14, 2016 by Brer Fox Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trogers Posted October 14, 2016 Share Posted October 14, 2016 Just now, fruitman said: We have shops to buy tshirts, hairpins, peanuts...yes i know it's very strange For hotdogs and food we have small trailers and kiosks. To sit and eat we have benches under tree's and parks or it's food you can eat on the go (no fork/spoon needed). Yup very odd again. Also my fellowfarang are not lazy and can walk well, they even use bicycles in the city, imagine that! So weird. And on top of that they even like to be in sunshine! Our sidewalks are flat (no holes), wide, have tree's, busstops, special tiles for blind people to follow, ramps for wheelchairs, no standing advertisings, no dripping aircondrains, no lowhanging umbrella's/trafficsigns with sharp points, no people standing in the way, zebracrossings with stoplights, no broken drains (heavy duty), no filthy black smurry, no rats/cockroaches, benches at busstops, flowers in planters (not in the walkway)...i'll get my coat before you start chasing me. Bangkok too have shops next to sidewalks. But they all cost money to rent or buy. And it takes more money to maintain. Why do you think the sidewalks here are so overwhelmed by carts, blocking the shops? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fruitman Posted October 14, 2016 Share Posted October 14, 2016 1 minute ago, trogers said: Why do you think the sidewalks here are so overwhelmed by carts, blocking the shops? Because the real paying shopowners might get to see guns when they protest against vendors infront of their window? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bark Posted October 14, 2016 Share Posted October 14, 2016 1 hour ago, Brer Fox said: Last time I looked a few days ago the footpath vendors were thick on the ground along Soi 4 Sukhumvit. Only about a year or so a go a pedestrian was killed when he was forced to step onto the road to avoid them. "The BMA has no other choice," he said. "If we don't take any action, we could be charged with dereliction of duty." So there, it is being done not for the benefit of pedestrians all but is an ass covering exercise by the BMA. So typical of Thailand's bureaucracy in looking after themselves rather than the people. If any benefit comes to the people it is purely co-incidental. Really ? So if Western police do not enforce the law, it is OK ? They will not lose their jobs ? Sad statement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
callaway Posted October 14, 2016 Share Posted October 14, 2016 38 minutes ago, fruitman said: We have shops to buy tshirts, hairpins, peanuts...yes i know it's very strange For hotdogs and food we have small trailers and kiosks. To sit and eat we have benches under tree's and parks or it's food you can eat on the go (no fork/spoon needed). Yup very odd again. Also my fellowfarang are not lazy and can walk well, they even use bicycles in the city, imagine that! So weird. And on top of that they even like to be in sunshine! Our sidewalks are flat (no holes), wide, have tree's, busstops, special tiles for blind people to follow, ramps for wheelchairs, no standing advertisings, no dripping aircondrains, no lowhanging umbrella's/trafficsigns with sharp points, no people standing in the way, zebracrossings with stoplights, no broken drains (heavy duty), no filthy black smurry, no rats/cockroaches, benches at busstops, flowers in planters (not in the walkway)...i'll get my coat before you start chasing me. The place sounds so good. Head back there. Bangkok is like no other and that is what makes it unique. How many Singapores do we actually need? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PremiumLane Posted October 14, 2016 Share Posted October 14, 2016 1 hour ago, halloween said: From elections to viable businesses, you seem to happily support those breaking the law and advocate allowing them to continue. What other illegal "viable businesses" should be given a free pass - beggars, drug dealers, counterfeiters? A fine example of hyperbole Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fruitman Posted October 14, 2016 Share Posted October 14, 2016 38 minutes ago, callaway said: The place sounds so good. Head back there. Bangkok is like no other and that is what makes it unique. How many Singapores do we actually need? The streetvendors can all go upcountry, loads of cities there and much more space. Bangkokians can shop in malls and walk to them over clean tidy sidewalks. People like yourself can stay upcountry as well since you don't want to live in a 2nd singapore. Enjoy them grilled fieldrats Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fforest1 Posted October 14, 2016 Share Posted October 14, 2016 29 minutes ago, fruitman said: The streetvendors can all go upcountry, loads of cities there and much more space. Bangkokians can shop in malls and walk to them over clean tidy sidewalks. People like yourself can stay upcountry as well since you don't want to live in a 2nd singapore. Enjoy them grilled fieldrats The street vendors are not leaving...Street vending is part of Thai culture... Sure they might get beat back or a while... For a week a month a year.. But they have always come back and probley always will... I think most people like the street vendors and would not want it any other way....For those that like living in a sterile environment Singapore is your paradise...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridge2bridge Posted October 14, 2016 Share Posted October 14, 2016 And what do the people who worked these stalls do to earn money to survive? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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