Motorcycles on Pedestrian Walkways

[roo860]

 

Why are you all so afraid of Thai people?  I am not.  The biggest A-hole behind the wheel is usually the smallest in person.  Tough behind the wheel, but let them step out of the car or motorbike.  

 

Horsepower does equate to intimidation if one won't stand for it.

 

Unfortunately Tony it's more than likely the vehicle will hit you first. Not a case of being scared of Thai people, it's a case of using your 'noggin'.

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[champers]

47 minutes ago, TonyClifton said:

 

Why are you all so afraid of Thai people?  I am not.  The biggest A-hole behind the wheel is usually the smallest in person.  Tough behind the wheel, but let them step out of the car or motorbike.  

 

Horsepower does equate to intimidation if one won't stand for it.

 

They only get out of the car after they have run you over, if at all. I hope your insurance is up to date.

[Keesters]

On 1/13/2017 at 11:41 AM, TonyClifton said:

I walk the sidewalks in a place where the motorcycles seem to ride with impunity.  I DO NOT give them access. If there is a small path where the sidewalk is clear, I use it all as much as possible.  I make them wait for me to get out of the way.  Alternatively, I also don't let the cars push me off the crosswalks.

 

If I see someone trying to beat me across, I make sure they stop and then I slow to a crawl just so I can stare them down.  

 

 

 

Congratulations. I do similar. The offenders know they are doing wrong but will charge on and inconvenience you unless you challenge them. If more (Sheepies) stood up for their rights and challenged law breakers; motorcycles on footpaths; cars not stopping for pedestrians on zebras; dogs on public streets etc etc Thailand could be a really nice place to live rather than just the so so place it is now.

[Keesters]

On 1/10/2017 at 1:15 PM, johng said:

I thought it was legal for motorcycles to use the  pavement/sidewalk  if the road was blocked by other traffic ??

 

Pattaya has the "tetsakit"  local council enforcement officers  that regularly  harass the  sidecar/push cart vendors  round up ladyboys, "palm tree ghosts" and drug pushers, pretty sure they do ticketing and wheel clamping too.

 

But they don't do it enough and issue fines rarely. South Pattaya road Tukcom to 2nd road lights on market side has only a very narrow sidewalk for pedestrians most of the time. The sidewalk is taken  over by shop stalls, vendors etc. City police come along and politely tell them to move and clear the path or they will face a 2000 baht fine. The offenders move away, the police go away, the offenders move back. Police do not visit again for weeks and the process starts again. No fines, no jail, nothing.

[Banana7]

Here is the sign in Pattaya on Beach Road about the 1,000 baht fine. Also a few pics of motorcycles on the pedestrian walkway, several are parked, 2 were driving, All of these photos were taken in the span of about 20 minutes.

 

I can't understand the authorities:

 

1. They could make it safer for tourists and more legal if they hired someone to enforce the law;

 

2. The city could increase revenues from the fines and towing charges and use the money to improve the walkways or sewers;

 

3. Increase employment by hiring by-law enforcement officers to ticket and tow the vehicles.

 

[Banana7]

Now the deputy governor of the Bangkok metropolitan administration (BMA) has said " After the erection of these signs, if riding motorcycles still are seen on sidewalks, or people still file complaints of illegal riding with photos of violations attached,  then city police will face transfer for negligence of duty". See details here: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/965431-riding-motorcycles-on-bangkoks-sidewalks-is-illegal/

 

How come the Mayor of Pattaya and Police Chief of Pattaya or Police Chief of Bang Lamung don't make the same statement?

 

 

 

 

[champers]

As stated earlier, the police ride their bikes along this promenade and without helmets too. Like the 2 cartoon characters on the sign. I sit on the beach often and people, me included, order food from a menu and 10 minutes later it gets delivered - by a motorbike. You will notice a lot of trading going on in the same place (photos from boat trips mainly). That's also not allowed, supposedly. People have to make a living.

[EvenSteven]

Complex problem, that in a first world country is easily solved.  Pedestrians at risk on sidewalks and the fact that public water is not potable and food poisoning is not uncommon are reasons why I refer to Thailand as a third world country and only visit but not live there.  My guess is that it will take about 5-10 years before we see substantive improvements to the quality of life in the major urban centres of Thailand.

[champers]

Interesting article and 2 front page photos in the Bangkok Post today. We are not allowed to copy their copy on here, so take a look at their online version.

[Banana7]

I hear the fines for illegal parking are about to increase 10 fold to 5,000 baht, as well as towing of vehicles in Bangkok. How come no one in authority in Pattaya is serious about preventing illegal parking? It could become a huge source of revenue for the city and also make the city safer.

[Guderian]

10 hours ago, Banana7 said:

I hear the fines for illegal parking are about to increase 10 fold to 5,000 baht, as well as towing of vehicles in Bangkok. How come no one in authority in Pattaya is serious about preventing illegal parking? It could become a huge source of revenue for the city and also make the city safer.

 

Driving along Thepprasit yesterday afternoon the Chinese tour buses taking the masses to the Colosseum show weren't just double-parked but actually triple parked on the south side, blocking the entire Jomtien-bound side of the road. Traffic heading that way had to cross the central reservation and drive down the fast lane of the traffic trying to get to Suk. Madness. Why can't the cops or City Hall do something about the stupid and selfish parking on Thepprasit which makes the most dangerous road in Pattaya even worse?

[Keesters]

On 1/25/2017 at 0:52 AM, champers said:

As stated earlier, the police ride their bikes along this promenade and without helmets too. Like the 2 cartoon characters on the sign. I sit on the beach often and people, me included, order food from a menu and 10 minutes later it gets delivered - by a motorbike. You will notice a lot of trading going on in the same place (photos from boat trips mainly). That's also not allowed, supposedly. People have to make a living.

Yes people have to make a living. But it CAN be made legally without breaking laws or inconveniencing people/pedestrians.

 

It is but a few steps from the road to where you sit. Are these motorcyclists unable to WALK?

 

 

[champers]

2 minutes ago, Keesters said:

Yes people have to make a living. But it CAN be made legally without breaking laws or inconveniencing people/pedestrians.

 

It is but a few steps from the road to where you sit. Are these motorcyclists unable to WALK?

 

 

I am not condoning or defending their behaviours but just stating how it is. In particular, I don't see how the rules and laws can be enforced when those responsible for enforcement also fail to comply and are brazen and shamefaced about it.

[champers]

12 hours ago, Banana7 said:

I hear the fines for illegal parking are about to increase 10 fold to 5,000 baht, as well as towing of vehicles in Bangkok. How come no one in authority in Pattaya is serious about preventing illegal parking? It could become a huge source of revenue for the city and also make the city safer.

You are mistaken if you think authorities in Bangkok are serious about enforcement. My post id69 refers to photos from main roads in Bangkok showing bikes on pavements, including a BIB.

[toenail]

A couple years ago I was walking with my two Thai buddies on the Beach Rd promenade and a speeding motorbike dude came buzzing down the walk-way towards us. I made the arm movement to slow down and said, "My-dee" (bad) and my two Thai friends said to me, "Not polite. Mind your own business." After my reply saying it was not legal, they said, "Maybe he come back and kill you or bring gang to hurt you."   The logical thinking I have of protecting your community is not the same as Thais.  (Saving Face and all that nonsense has to do why you do not correct someone in what they are doing wrong...)

[morrobay]

15 hours ago, toenail said:

A couple years ago I was walking with my two Thai buddies on the Beach Rd promenade and a speeding motorbike dude came buzzing down the walk-way towards us. I made the arm movement to slow down and said, "My-dee" (bad) and my two Thai friends said to me, "Not polite. Mind your own business." After my reply saying it was not legal, they said, "Maybe he come back and kill you or bring gang to hurt you."   The logical thinking I have of protecting your community is not the same as Thais.  (Saving Face and all that nonsense has to do why you do not correct someone in what they are doing wrong...)

I also made  slow down arm movement to one of these lowlife moto taxi jerks on "beach walk" in front of Mikes Shopping Mall. He stopped and starred at me and I stared back until he goes across  Beach rd and grabs one of his lowlife friends and they come back and yell at me for a minute. Thats the problem with culture here: no one complains about any thing so all these reckless lowlifes can hijack this face thing to continue being reckless. I mostly walk on the sand ( walking on the promenade in daytime  is not what it used to be !)  and ignore the lowlifes. If you get angry at them - thats all you would be doing here all day long. Actually forget these worthless signs along the promenade. what the promenade needs is more lamp posts.  

[johng]

What the promenade needs is more shady trees and lots and lots of benches that they "somehow forgot" to install on the last round of "improvements"
Most of the motorbikes in the promenade are vendors delivering food to the beach chairs. You would have thought that the super CCTV could be used to read the number plate of "offenders" and then the police could stay in the aircon office and issue a fine..much easier than going out in the hot sun trying to catch them.

[Keesters]

On 2/3/2017 at 11:03 AM, morrobay said:

Thats the problem with culture here: no one complains about any thing

Well it's a good job some people (mostly non-Thai) complained 70 years ago or the Thais would all be speaking Japanese and this forum would be in German.