Motorcycles on Pedestrian Walkways

[Banana7]

I saw a new sign on beach road that says 1,000 baht fine for driving a motorcycle on the walkway. In Bangkok, the fine is up to 5,000 baht for driving or parking on the sidewalk. There is at least 50 motorcycles parked on the beach road walkway at most times, between north and south roads. There are several manned police booths on beach road. The one near Soi 6 has 2 to about 8 police in it just chatting and looking at their phones. At night, I've seen several motorcycles drive on the pedestrian walkway, within a 100 meters of the police booths, but the police do nothing.

 

Why make laws if there is little or no enforcement?

[newnative]

Funny you should post this as there was an article in the Bangkok Post about the new Bangkok governor trying to crack down on motorcycles on the sidewalks there.  Nice he is trying but likely the effort will fail, as they have in the past.  What is needed in both cities is a permanent crew of patrolling enforcers with the power to issue tickets to motorcycle violators, sidewalk vendors, and anyone else that encroaches on the walkways--with large fines.  They could also be tasked with ticketing double parkers and vehicles that park illegally.  Could be a fairly dangerous job so the patrol crew should be able to keep half of the fines they collect.

[Guderian]

What about the pavement/sidewalk outside the K-Bank between TukCom and Friendship? Always packed with motorbikes parked there and driving back and forth, pedestrians just better get out of the way. And of course this is a favorite spot for the traffic cops to set up shop on a market day to bag people without crash helmets or the right paperwork, but do they even bat an eyelid at all the bikes supposedly parked illegally? Surely it would be easier to just ticket all the parked bikes than to flag down moving targets on the road, so I always assumed that parking and riding a bike on the pavement/sidewalk is not illegal here? Anybody?

[champers]

You will also see police riding motorbikes along Beach Road promenade with no helmet. If you are crossing a one-way street on foot look both ways.

Edited January 7, 2017 by champers
Spellink errur

[A1Str8]

Because they enforce the law when it benefits them.

[LongTimeLurker]

I remember the days when the pavements in Pattaya were so bad the motocy riders refused to drive on them.

[morrobay]

14 hours ago, A1Str8 said:

Because they enforce the law when it benefits them.

Well 1000 baht could benefit someone.  Also those ramps from Beach Rd onto the beach "walk" have to  be blocked. As its an invitation to the moto lowlifes .

 

Edited January 7, 2017 by morrobay

[LennyW]

20 hours ago, Banana7 said:

Why make laws if there is little or no enforcement?

 

I guess you must be pretty new here!

[onemorechang]

21 hours ago, Guderian said:

What about the pavement/sidewalk outside the K-Bank between TukCom and Friendship? Always packed with motorbikes parked there and driving back and forth, pedestrians just better get out of the way. And of course this is a favorite spot for the traffic cops to set up shop on a market day to bag people without crash helmets or the right paperwork, but do they even bat an eyelid at all the bikes supposedly parked illegally? Surely it would be easier to just ticket all the parked bikes than to flag down moving targets on the road, so I always assumed that parking and riding a bike on the pavement/sidewalk is not illegal here? Anybody?

 

Maybe its time to let the cops have a very small percentage of the

revenue they can collect from the  offenders on the roads or pavements

of Thailand.

 

It would obviously have a  few problems,

  but it maybe one way to

start,   to turn the tide of offences,   on the roads of Thailand.

 

The silly money collection days at the side of the road,  do nothing to

help with safety or the well being of fellow motorists.

 

Could start with the ,  crash the red light boys ,  say 1000-1500 a pop

give the cops 10% a nick,, , win win i would say.

 

Sorry,   I  been smoking again.

 

 

 

 

Edited January 8, 2017 by onemorechang

[impulse]

1 hour ago, onemorechang said:

Maybe its time to let the cops have a very small percentage of the revenue they can collect from the  offenders on the roads or pavements of Thailand.

.....

Could start with the ,  crash the red light boys ,  say 1000-1500 a pop give the cops 10% a nick,, , win win i would say.

 

10% a nick?  Not sure how they'd feel about the 90% reduction in their cut...

 

Edit:  Especially if they're still making payments on that last promotion they bought.

Edited January 8, 2017 by impulse

[onemorechang]

you missed  the point

There would be far more revenue collected.

Loads to go round. Win Win.

 

Edited January 8, 2017 by onemorechang

[toenail]

Problems on the Beach Rd promenade/ walkway such as eliminating "lower life" (pimps, ladyboy thieves, jet-ski con-men), motorcyclists using it as a soi, pickups parked on the walkway blaring their music while picnicking in the evening, catching people littering, & lack of supervision ( security cameras never work) could be eliminated if real "live" police were patrolling the Beach Road walkway. A foot patrol 24-7 would be cheaper and more effective than installing more CCTV cameras.


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

[jacko45k]

On 07/01/2017 at 2:49 PM, champers said:

You will also see police riding motorbikes along Beach Road promenade with no helmet. If you are crossing a one-way street on foot look both ways.

That is right, had them scare me driving at me as I walked towards Walking St, I guess they had left work in the soi 9 area and were leaving their parking spots. Of course rules do not apply to them and setting an example, well, no, more about doing what they please.

[Wiggy]

It doesn't benefit the police if laws are enforced. If they were, and everybody complied, there would be no fines and therefore no kickbacks. This is the precise reason why they have 'crackdowns.' They wait until many are flouting the law, 'fine' them (as in a backhander) and then carry on ad infinitum with this corrupt practice. The last thing any police officer wants is for people to comply with the law, because what's in it for them if they do?

[malt25]

22 hours ago, LennyW said:

 

I guess you must be pretty new here!

You'd think he'd know better after 111 posts. But after all, he's only a banana. 

[Banana7]

On 1/7/2017 at 2:47 PM, Guderian said:

What about the pavement/sidewalk outside the K-Bank between TukCom and Friendship? Always packed with motorbikes parked there and driving back and forth, pedestrians just better get out of the way. And of course this is a favorite spot for the traffic cops to set up shop on a market day to bag people without crash helmets or the right paperwork, but do they even bat an eyelid at all the bikes supposedly parked illegally? Surely it would be easier to just ticket all the parked bikes than to flag down moving targets on the road, so I always assumed that parking and riding a bike on the pavement/sidewalk is not illegal here? Anybody?

Not just ticket illegally parked bikes, but load them into a truck and haul them to a police compound. Then charge the owner the fine, haulage charge, and storage charge. Contact the owner after a week in storage to come and get it. If no one claims it in 60 days, sell at auction to clear the charges.

 

Edited January 9, 2017 by Banana7

[Keesters]

8 minutes ago, Banana7 said:

Not just ticket illegally parked bikes, but load them into a truck and haul them to a police compound. Then charge the owner the fine, haulage charge, and storage charge. Contact the owner after a week in storage to come and get it. If no one claims it in 60 days, sell at auction to clear the charges.

 

 

That does happen (but not enough) except contacting the owner part and selling it. Visit one of the compounds and you'll find bikes that have been there a very long time.  My most recent favorite was a car parked on the zebra crossing opposite Tukcom. Saw it there a few times and then I noticed it had been clamped. Haven't seen it since.

[smotherb]

On 1/7/2017 at 2:47 PM, newnative said:

Funny you should post this as there was an article in the Bangkok Post about the new Bangkok governor trying to crack down on motorcycles on the sidewalks there.  Nice he is trying but likely the effort will fail, as they have in the past.  What is needed in both cities is a permanent crew of patrolling enforcers with the power to issue tickets to motorcycle violators, sidewalk vendors, and anyone else that encroaches on the walkways--with large fines.  They could also be tasked with ticketing double parkers and vehicles that park illegally.  Could be a fairly dangerous job so the patrol crew should be able to keep half of the fines they collect.

The concept of an uncluttered throughway is simply not here.  Look at the businesses which place tables, chairs, signs, food carts, and other obstructions on the walkways in front of their places. No wonder driving and parking motor scooters is so common on those walkways, they are not passable anyway. Look at the double-parking in the streets, their inability to park within three feet of the curb, the fact that they simply cannot stay on their side of the traffic lines and the complete disregard for oncoming traffic if they care to pass. Did you ever wonder what they are thinking when they block your exit from a door way or an elevator when they are trying to get in.

[mrfaroukh]

They just want you to feel nice that they are taking care of everything.

[Jonmarleesco]

On 1/7/2017 at 2:30 PM, Banana7 said:

Why make laws if there is little or no enforcement?

This can't be a serious question. Not in Thailand, the land of non-enforcement.

[Jonmarleesco]

4 minutes ago, smotherb said:

The concept of an uncluttered throughway is simply not here.  Look at the businesses which place tables, chairs, signs, food carts, and other obstructions on the walkways in front of their places. No wonder driving and parking motor scooters is so common on those walkways, they are not passable anyway. Look at the double-parking in the streets, their inability to park within three feet of the curb, the fact that they simply cannot stay on their side of the traffic lines and the complete disregard for oncoming traffic if they care to pass. Did you ever wonder what they are thinking when they block your exit from a door way or an elevator when they are trying to get in.

'Did you ever wonder what they are thinking ...' No, I work on the theory that they aren't.

[TulipBulb]

Darn! My money was on the Monday Moan being about roadside hawkers. Still, there's always the Tuesday Bleat and the Wednesday Whine to look forward to.

[smotherb]

14 minutes ago, Jonmarleesco said:

This can't be a serious question. Not in Thailand, the land of non-enforcement.

No, it's more like the land of selective enforcement.

[Wiggy]

Here's the Bangkok effort. Watch out for those pesky scroll wheels:

 

 

[chicowoodduck]

Yup, just a joke....in small print on the sign it says....Who cares??

[newnative]

4 minutes ago, smotherb said:

The concept of an uncluttered throughway is simply not here.  Look at the businesses which place tables, chairs, signs, food carts, and other obstructions on the walkways in front of their places. No wonder driving and parking motor scooters is so common on those walkways, they are not passable anyway. Look at the double-parking in the streets, their inability to park within three feet of the curb, the fact that they simply cannot stay on their side of the traffic lines and the complete disregard for oncoming traffic if they care to pass. Did you ever wonder what they are thinking when they block your exit from a door way or an elevator when they are trying to get in.

All true.  Once upon a time Miss X set up some tables and chairs on the public sidewalk and nobody called her on it.   Mr. Y next door noticed there was no punishment so he set up his laundry drying racks on the sidewalk, too.  Mr. Z then decided he would go one step further and he put some chairs in the street to block anyone from parking.  Nobody said boo.  And, so on and so on and here we are today.  Same for driving motorcycles on the sidewalk and the wrong way, double parking, etc. etc.  Really, the only thing that works is money fines and stiff penalties for unpaid fines.  And, not small fines--it needs to sting.  And, the only other thing that works is permanent, everyday enforcement. No more of these one or two day crackdowns.  The regular police don't want to do the work so a separate, permanent crew is needed. Sort of the old meter maids but with expanded duties.  Sometimes dangerous work dealing with the irate people they will be ticketing so let them keep a nice percentage of what they collect.  None of this is brain surgery--and, unfortunately, none of this will happen because the will just isn't there yet.

[Epidemiologist Dave]

Three weeks ago I was hit from behind on the walkway in Silom by a motorcycle taxi and broke both kneecaps. The driver then reversed over a women cutting her face badly and drove off. Did I report it to the police sitting 20 metres away? No point!

[kokopelli]

Here in Pattaya there is  similar but different problem, pedestrians walking in the roads. Not the sois with no sidewalks, but on main roads with sidewalks and parking lanes. Have seen both Chinese and Middle Easterners strolling abreast in the curb lanes seemingly oblivious to the danger of motorbikes weaving in and out of traffic.

[Banana7]

1 hour ago, kokopelli said:

Here in Pattaya there is  similar but different problem, pedestrians walking in the roads. Not the sois with no sidewalks, but on main roads with sidewalks and parking lanes. Have seen both Chinese and Middle Easterners strolling abreast in the curb lanes seemingly oblivious to the danger of motorbikes weaving in and out of traffic.

One reason maybe because the sidewalks/pedestrian walkways are cluttered with low hanging electric cables, parked motorcycles, parked food carts, merchant display stands, telephone booths, telephone poles, broken pavement, and are not flat because of missing bricks, cement or stones, and all sorts of other obstacles. Basically the pedestrian walkways are too small and many are unfit for walking, the vehicle roadway is 10 times  better for walking.

 

[Banana7]

4 hours ago, Wiggy said:

Here's the Bangkok effort. Watch out for those pesky scroll wheels:

 

 

They should add an email address and phone number so that the public can report violators.  Maybe even pay a reporter 1% commission of the fine, if the authorities catch the violator?