BMA bans all street food across Bangkok this year

[impulse]

Anyone else forecasting an increase in crime when millions of people lose their livelihood, which for many is the only skill they have that puts them over 300 baht per day?  Well, except the cute ones, and that's not a transition the gov't should be proud of.

 

Edited April 18, 2017 by impulse

[CGW]

Singapore has the best "street" food in the world! IMO, they just don't sell it on the "street"!

[SoilSpoil]

2 hours ago, fforest1 said:

My friend pack your bags and move to Singapore right away

the lifeless sterile paradise you dream of awaits you there...

Our Thai neighbours with kids also complain about the vendors blocking the walkways. Should they move to Singapore too? The main objection in this discussion is illegal occupation of streets and pavement. 

 

 

[SoilSpoil]

4 minutes ago, CGW said:

Singapore has the best "street" food in the world! IMO, they just don't sell it on the "street"!

Same for Taiwan. It seems that regulation and enforcement are curse words in Thailand and our 'Holier-than-the-Thai' forum brigade.

[natway09]

Is this another April Fools Joke.?

At least the motorbikes will love it , more room for them to zoom along on the footpath

[SiamBeast]

Just like the pickup trucks - do they really think it will happen? Thais are resilient (fortunately). What happens is that they will probably kick them out for a while, and after a month or 2, they will re-appear slowly.

 

How about the poor mee-kha who has no job but decides to sell street food to make money for her kids? And how about the thousands of Thais who make a living with their business?

 

Ridiculous. At least I'll have more space to zoom on the footpath with my motorcycle, but I prefer my street food.

[Destiny1990]

22 minutes ago, fforest1 said:

All the street vendors can get jobs at starbucks,Mcdonalds

and Pizza Hut.....Or maybe jumping off a bridge would be better?

Just another job.pavements here already not so wide than have tables and chairs on it maybe not so practical 

[Thechook]

25 minutes ago, fforest1 said:

All the street vendors can get jobs at Starbucks,Mcdonalds

and Pizza Hut.....Or maybe jumping off a bridge would be better?

Do they hire people over 25?

[SiamBeast]

Or how about not bothering food vendors, but removing those a$sholes who sell knock-off Louis Vuitton bags and fake Rolex watches? This is something that has been plaguing the country so it'll give a good opportunity to kill 2 birds with 1 stone. Cleaner pavements, less wannabe wearing knockoffs.

[Destiny1990]

5 minutes ago, Thechook said:

Do they hire people over 25?

Maybe work at a food court probably simular type of food.

[stickyrice2000]

The only thing that makes me feel safe walking around at night is seeing these vendors on the street at night.  It will be a major atmosphere change.  What a great way to chase away travelers and make life more difficult for the poors.  Talking about hitting two birds with one stone.  Great job!

[Dodgydownunder]

I've often wondered how many accidents happen when people (and children) have to navigate their way around an obstacle course of pots of boiling water and pans full of oil frying up meat and fish on the footpath. (usually within arm's reach of a young child and easily knocked over). Greasy remains on the footpath after packing up for the night is disgusting and dangerous.

 

Still.....I think it will be about as enforcable as not allowing people to sit in the rear of a single 2 door pickup cab.

[SABloke]

Well as I've said before, the street vendors have been warned for years: "Stay between the lines and stop throwing trash on the road." Now I bet they'll come grovelling and be willing to compromise and follow the rules for a few months. Cry me a river.

 

The members on here who champion the street vendors seem to be visitors rather than residents: Street vendors blocking the pavement are " a part of Bangkok's charm" only if you're passing through, but not if you have to walk through food sludge in the 7am rush hour, or walk on the road when it's pissing down with rain, because of these "charming" vendors. Also, don't worry about the residents (Thai and foreign alike), there are plenty of secret markets eveywhere. Locals know where to find cheap food and won't starve [emoji6]

 

 

[Prbkk]

2 hours ago, jonclark said:

It seems as if Bangkok is following the London model of gentrification. Which has seen historial working class areas lile Hackney and Shoreditch beutified and redesigned. Driving up house prices and rents making it unaffordable for the locals. 

 

Is Bangkok going to become the hipster hub of the East. Thai men sporting lumberjack shirts and beards while drinking deconstruted coffee??? 

Agree. Singapore went the same way; when Bugis Street was the closest thing they had to seedy/sleazy, not that in ever really came close to genuine sleaze in the post-war period, the govt decided to "manage" it, IE sanitise it beyond recognition. What used to be a fun night "on the wild side" became a pale pink and slightly pathetic experience , with a few past their use-by tranvestites in a show vaguely reminiscent of Pattay Tiffany.

The Hawker Areas in Singapore work better because of their location in proximity to the MRT and how locals use them. However they do not compensate for the loss of the old Satay Club and Newton Circus as it used to be.

[Surasak]

4 hours ago, onemorechang said:

Not a good thing.

Yes they have taken the piss for years ,

But street food is part of Thai culture.

Leave it alone 

 

There are a few more bad things,   that are way more pressing,  that Thailand should address,

like what goes on ,  on the roads of Thailand.

 

 

They only know how to deal with static objects, moving objects are beyond their capabilities.

[Prbkk]

4 minutes ago, Dodgydownunder said:

I've often wondered how many accidents happen when people (and children) have to navigate their way around an obstacle course of pots of boiling water and pans full of oil frying up meat and fish on the footpath. (usually within arm's reach of a young child and easily knocked over). Greasy remains on the footpath after packing up for the night is disgusting and dangerous.

 

Still.....I think it will be about as enforcable as not allowing people to sit in the rear of a single 2 door pickup cab.

That's a valid point. Sukhumvit Soi 8 is a good example. The footpaths are fully occupied by illegal building/structures, the (good quality) street vendors occupy the street. Pedestrians are forced to wander down the middle of the road. Remove the vendors and clear the street? Maybe better to relocate the vendors into one of the alleys.

[tigermoth]

No street food. Just watch the tourist arrivals decline at an astronomical rate. The Junta will tell us that it has increased because of the cleanliness. Just another lie added to their considerable portfolio.

[pitrevie]

11 minutes ago, Dodgydownunder said:

I've often wondered how many accidents happen when people (and children) have to navigate their way around an obstacle course of pots of boiling water and pans full of oil frying up meat and fish on the footpath. (usually within arm's reach of a young child and easily knocked over). Greasy remains on the footpath after packing up for the night is disgusting and dangerous.

 

Still.....I think it will be about as enforcable as not allowing people to sit in the rear of a single 2 door pickup cab.

I agree in my soi they empty their old oil straight into the soi along the wall. 

[sandemara]

6 hours ago, starky said:

but keep the stalls selling the cheap knock offs, fake viagara, sex toys and weapons...?

No! Fake Viagra? What's been doing it for me then?

[SoilSpoil]

5 minutes ago, tigermoth said:

No street food. Just watch the tourist arrivals decline at an astronomical rate. The Junta will tell us that it has increased because of the cleanliness. Just another lie added to their considerable portfolio.

I have never heard of any tourists coming here for street food. Most are probably warned to stay away from it. 

[Destiny1990]

7 minutes ago, sandemara said:

No! Fake Viagra? What's been doing it for me then?

Probably placebo effect.

[JAG]

But there is nothing for them at home. I think it is more likely many will be forced to turn to hustling and petty crime.

 

More people from Issan forced back to the countryside because their livelihoods have been taken also may mean more resentment and possible opposition...

 

I know you don't think that the people have the will to rebel, but if this sort of thing continues to be done to them they may develop that will rapidly.

 

You know street food vending, street stall trading and carrying people in the back of pickups, have all developed because the near feudal conditions in which the less affluent are kept provide few or no alternatives. Banning them without providing alternatives, in transport, accessing food or making a living will really piss a lot of people off. Sooner or later...

 

[humbug]

4 hours ago, oldcarguy said:

Chinatown is great BECAUSE its hectic , crazy, loud and crowded ,

 

and most of the food stalls are in the evening ,

 

I think health and safety requirements  are needed but not to get rid of them....

 

and another few thousand people without work.....

 

I bet 7-11 is happy , 

 

Ohhh but the new MRT stop is coming soon , so we must sanitize the area,,,,,,,yeah no thanks !

 

 

Its not sanitizing Chinatown when the whole left side of the main street has a rope using up one lane of the road to protect pedestrians trying to walk around the street stalls and not being run over during the evenings.

 

It really got out of hand in many areas and seeing the improvement in the flower market street where the shop houses are still selling flowers and those street stalls are now selling their flowers in a large spacial market 30 meters from the street shows that it can be done in a successful way.

[Blackheart1916]

"They cut down all the trees, put em in a tree museum, then they charged people a dollar, just so they could go an see em."

[CantSpell]

5 hours ago, onemorechang said:

Not a good thing.

Yes they have taken the piss for years ,

But street food is part of Thai culture.

Leave it alone 

 

More than culture imo, it is a way of life...

 

Was looking for a room/appartment in Chiang Mai 2 years ago with cooking facilities (gaz or just electric stoves)...

Visited 10-15 residence from 1 to 2 bedrooms, 99% of them: no cooking allowed, even small condos..

Microwave only...

 

So street food ain't for tourist, it is the way of life of normal Thai students, workers (often cumulating 2 jobs): buy food on way home, warm it up  (microwave) and eat....

 

Another stupid announcement with no proper thinking into consequences... 

[Thaimarkz]

2 hours ago, pentap said:

How CNN can make such an announcement defies my logic. The report in my opinion is an insult to many other great cities.

Diverse plus great tasting food can be found in numerous cites world wide, served outdoors, in appropriately run and conducted businesses.

Many street vendors in BBK create mess and pollution. Block or restrict the public rights of way making navigating the pavements very dangerous at times, especially for the elderly, infirm or parents/guardians with young children or infants.

The food is normally exposed to bacteria, pollution and prepared/cooked, stored inadequately.

Bangkok is a major city, not an open street market. It's time business owners wise-up and insure they provide a clean, hygienic and safe environment for their customers, plus tourists

For so long, it's been far too an Irresponsible way of making a living.

Whilst at it, get rid of those annoying street vendors selling t-shirts, socks and the rest of the cxxp etc, who also infringe on people's right-of-way. They too make the city resemble a filthy, uncontrolled, open market place you'd normally find in very rural villages, and in my view, they too also seem to think that they have special rights and privileges!

Greedy! Comes to my mind. Clean the city up. I'm in full support of this move. Make Bangkok a clean and safe place to enjoy. It can be done.


Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect

"The food is normally exposed to bacteria, pollution and prepared/cooked, stored inadequately." Hmmmm?????

Most food will be freshly prepared after ordering in a hot wok where all the bacteria are killed. I eat regularly in these shops and I have never been sick of it. The only serious food poisoning I suffered at the breakfast buffet of a 5 star hotel in BKK... 

If you want a sterile city, you are in the wrong place in BKK.These shops on the street belong to the life and the cityscape and feed many people .. customers as well as providers...

Even in "sterile"  Singapore you will find these street kirchens...

Welcome to Asia.

(and stop these BMA dreamers - their ideas cannot be done!)

Edited April 18, 2017 by Thaimarkz
false spelling

[Kinnock]

Amazing how the interior of a Mercedes Benz can insulate the occupier from the rest of the world.  They are so out-of-touch with normal people, they cannot understand why all office, shop and hotel workers don't eat lunch in Starbucks or Nahm.

 

 

[richard_smith237]

1 hour ago, Dodgydownunder said:

I've often wondered how many accidents happen when people (and children) have to navigate their way around an obstacle course of pots of boiling water and pans full of oil frying up meat and fish on the footpath. (usually within arm's reach of a young child and easily knocked over). Greasy remains on the footpath after packing up for the night is disgusting and dangerous.

 

Still.....I think it will be about as enforcable as not allowing people to sit in the rear of a single 2 door pickup cab.

 

My sister hurt herself on a visit here...  a street vendor had disposed of their Oil across the pavement, which was then washed away with water... the pavement was slick, almost icy... my sister feet just 'went from under her'... 

 

When with my Chid I generally drive everywhere to avoid these issues... Boiling Oil at face level - the potential is quite frightening, especially on a pavement made narrower by foot-carts and high footfall. 

We can't push a child in a pushchair down the pavements, again these stalls present too much obstacle... 

 

All of that said: These stalls are part of Bangkok, they are part of its charm and character...  I feel a much better solution of control rather than a ban would be better. 

Allow 'certain areas' where pavements (sidewalks) are wide enough, or have off the street food courts (like Singapore)... a blanket Ban seems lazy. 

 

Isn't it better instead to issue licenses ? - but then that opens up more opportunity for corruption. 

 

 

 

[lvr181]

Memo To: BMA

Re: street vendors.

 

Control NOT banning is the answer!

[hanuman2543]

7 hours ago, starky said:

No more slings, I am guessing not much work for the food sellers who I imagine can afford a cart but not rent on a shop and no food for the thousands? Millions? for whom street food is basically their primary food source. So what? Get rid of the food vendors one of the great things about Thailand but keep the stalls selling the cheap knock offs, fake viagara, sex toys and weapons...?

You forgot the child porn