Too many motorbikes on sidewalks to handle, police say

[hhinner]

^^ Good for you @caller. Keep doing it. It really annoys them but they know they can't do anything about it.

[Nereus]

And herein lies the problem! Just another version of "mai pen rai".
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Pedestrians, keep calm and be mindful

https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opi ... l#cxrecs_s

Readers from most countries would probably have been shocked by the recent story of a teenage girl in Bangkok who was knocked down while walking along a footpath by a speeding motorcycle.

However for us Thais, given our first-hand experience of dealing with rogue motorcyclists, this kind of thing is far too commonplace.

On Monday morning the pedestrian, a secondary school student, was hit by a messenger bike while she was walking on the pavement along Lat Phrao Road. She suffered minor injuries and was sent to a nearby hospital. The incident went viral after it was shared on social media by a bystander. Netizens angrily condemned the reckless messenger, demanding he face the maximum penalty.

The Royal Thai Police (RTP) responded by admitting there were too many motorcycles on the footpath in the area, which falls under the jurisdiction of Chok Chai police station.

At the same time, Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang scolded the messenger but defended his tessakit city inspectors for keeping an eye out for careless motorcyclists.

But the problem will not go away as that would require a more sweeping change in attitude. Pol Gen Aswin urged all motorcyclists to think how would they feel if the victim had been their sister or daughter. He also referred to the fine -- up to 5,000 baht -- the offender will likely be slapped with, in line with the Public Cleanliness and Orderliness Act. The Land Traffic Act has provisions to add another fine of up to 1,000 baht.

The harsh words delivered by Pol Gen Aswin and the RTP amazed me, as it is hardly a new phenomenon to see motorbikes tearing along the pavement in full disregard of the law and public safety.

Do the police and the governor, a retired police general, really believe these people don't know they are breaking the law and could be fined? I'm sure everyone is fully aware of that, but they simply adopt a "couldn't care less" attitude. It's much easier to speed along a footpath and honk at any pedestrians who block their way than slow down.

Turns out it was also a lot easier to blame this "incident" on a shortage of traffic police than examine the lack of law enforcement, or negligence of the authorities and the so-called S-Guards they invented that are supposed to prevent motorcycles from entering footpaths.

The motorcyclists always create their own "special lane" while police turn a blind eye and the city inspectors are preoccupied chasing street vendors and collecting "fees".

I'm sure many of the motorcycle taxi drivers who have been assigned by City Hall to monitor the illegal use of footpaths -- for a share of the fines/spoils -- were happy when vending carts were banned. Many footpaths were cleared of vendors but have not been improved for pedestrians.

It is time the governor and police apprised themselves of the fact that riding illegally on Bangkok's pavements is almost as famous as Bangkok street food.

British Grand Prix racer Scott Redding, who was in Thailand last month for the MotoGP in Buri Ram, recorded some footage as he walked along one of the city's footpaths one evening. At least five motorcycles can be seen passing his camera before the short clip ends. Redding also pointed out how common it was for motorcyclists to avoid congested roads by hopping onto footpaths.

I wonder if the governor is aware that Redding -- who has to ride under strict rules on a professional racing circuit -- has condemned Bangkok's pavements to his legions of Instagram followers. It is quite shameful.

Before the governor gets angry and vows to change motorcyclists' attitude, he should consider thinking about how to make his staff do their jobs properly. (Incidentally, that same morning a foreigner was injured when he stumbled into a one-foot-tall steel pole rising up from the middle of a footpath in the Sathon area. God only knows what the pole was doing there!).

It's difficult for foreigners, especially those coming from litigation-friendly nations like the US, to understand why walking on a city footpath can be such a challenge. But Thais are more skilful in avoiding harm to stay safe.

Having grown up in Thailand, where people are proud of living in a Buddhist country, I see all these street mishaps as an exercise for us to be mindful wherever we are and whatever we do -- be it crossing the street or walking on a footpath. They want Bangkok to be a good place for people to practice mindfulness with their every breath.

Let's all keep calm and be mindful.

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[Nereus]

Fine for motorbikes using footpaths doubles to B2,000

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... -to-b2-000

Motorcyclists caught driving on Bangkok’s footpaths will face a fine of 2,000 baht, an increase from 1,000 baht, starting on Aug 1, deputy city governor Sakoltee Phattiyakul said on Wednesday.

City Hall decided to double the fine because motorcyclists were still using the city’s footpaths, despite repeated warnings and campaigns, Mr Sakoltee said. He was speaking after chairing a meeting with senior officials from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s city law enforcement department.

All district offices had been asked to strictly forbid motorbikes using footpaths, and set up centres where the fines can be paid. Enforcement of the existing rate of 1,000 baht had failed to reduce the number of motorcyclists travelling on footpaths, the deputy governor said.

The new rate of 2,000 baht will be enforced from Aug 1 onwards, Mr Sakoltee said.

The law enforcement department had been assigned to work with the strategy and evaluation department and create a mobile phone app for checking records of motorcyclists using footpaths.

From July 9 last year to July 21 this year, a total of 20,659 motorcyclists had been caught travelling on footpaths. Of these 4,197 were given warnings and 14,878 would face legal action. The remaining 1,784 were already in legal proceedings.

Fines amounting to 11,179,500 baht had been collected, Thai media reported.

[Spitfire]

Crazy that they say that the problem is too far gone and that there is no point enforcing the law ... nuts. What they should do is crack down hard on this big time everywhere, along with other things the public dislike, and do their job. Selective law enforcement or the "can't be arsed approach" because it's too ingrained is not OK and a symptom of a lazy corrupt police farce.

[handdrummer]

Set up a barrier, on the footpath, with a wide enough opening for people and not for motorbikes, to pass through. CCTV would also help in finding the perpetrators and fining them. Increase the fine to 5000Bht. Of course nothing will be done and the corruption, which is the culture of the country, will go on.

[Big Boy]

Set up a barrier, on the footpath, with a wide enough opening for people and not for motorbikes, to pass through.

............ and force wheelchairs, prams, etc. into the road?

[oakdale160]

Give the police a break, there are just too many bad guys and law breakers out there and its so hot. just be careful bad guys and we can all get along and take frequent naps.

[Nereus]

Set up a barrier, on the footpath, with a wide enough opening for people and not for motorbikes, to pass through.

............ and force wheelchairs, prams, etc. into the road?

Actually, that has already been tried. Just made it worse!

[handdrummer]

Set up a barrier, on the footpath, with a wide enough opening for people and not for motorbikes, to pass through.

............ and force wheelchairs, prams, etc. into the road?

I've never seen prams and wheel chairs on the "sidewalks" in Bangkok. That is a valid point though.

[Big Boy]

HaHa, it's 26 years since I pushed a pram in Bangkok. You may be right, but I've never really looked.

[STEVE G]

Report motorcycles riding on footpaths today for a 1,000 baht reward
https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/transpo ... aht-reward

[dtaai-maai]

^^That's hilarious, Steve. Thanks for brightening my day in this time of Brexit gloom... Someone could make a decent living at this!

[Nereus]

3-year ban proposed on sidewalk-hogging motorcycle taxi drivers

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... -sidewalks

City Hall gathering opinions from drivers and pedestrians before deciding on tough punishment

Motorcycle-taxi drivers who repeatedly ride on sidewalks could have their queue jackets confiscated for up to three years, under a proposal being considered by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.

BMA spokesman Pongsakorn Kwanmuang discussed the idea on Friday after leading a team to conduct a survey at the Asok intersection, gathering opinions of both drivers and pedestrians.

“Every opinion will be taken into consideration. We want to know whether the people agree with the policy or not, and what their suggestions on the matter are. This is for the orderliness of Bangkok,” he said.

Pol Capt Pongsakorn and his team also invited motorcycle-taxi drivers in the Thong Lor area to voice their opinions.

A total of 10,000 flyers have been distributed to all 50 districts in Bangkok to gather opinions from motorcycle-taxi drivers and other people, according to the spokesman.

The results will be considered in the drafting of a proposal to be presented to a subcommittee on the management of motorcycle taxis on Oct 31. It will then be forwarded to the main committee co-chaired by the BMA and the Department of Land Transport.

Pol Capt Pongsakorn said the three-year ban was just an idea and still had to be thought through to ensure fairness, adding that the main committee may not agree with something so drastic.

Since July 9 last year, BMA officials have arrested 24,337 motorcyclists for pavement riding and collected about 17 million baht in fines.

[Big Boy]

Propose what they like, who would enforce it?

[handdrummer]

"Would have to be thought through." Well, that's the end of that idea.