As i said earlier, I am not opposed to the idea but rather that I think the idea if it became reality would quickly become something far removed from the concept. The potential plus points are:
1. A safe and pleasant walkway (and possibly cycle way) along the coastline for several kilometres.
2. If paid for and organised by the expat/tourist community it might send a positive signal to the local Thais.
3. Would improve access to the beach.
4. Might encourage other community benefit projects such as litter patrols and awareness, and other pedestrian/cycle only pathways.
5. Might slightly reduce some of the traffic in the town, encouraging people to walk or cycle - health benefits of this too.
Potential minus points are:
1. Might encourage undesirables to loiter there, particularly at night.
2. Extremely difficult to prevent motorcycles using it at any time.
3. Likely to attract hordes of hawkers and food sellers, who will set up stall and block the path.
4. If paid for and organised by expats/tourists it could be seen as farang interference and might be resented by the Thais.
5. Unlikely to be used by the Thais unless shade is also provided.
6. (Personal opinion - warning!) Enthusiasm and help for the building and upkeep of the pathway will likely wane before it has even been completed.
7. Beach and sea conditions could well render the project impossible over time.
8. Land laws, beachfront property owners and local officials could well render the project impossible over time.
9. If undertaken by the local authorities construction will never be completed and will be made with sub-standard materials because of back-handers and skimming (see roads in Prachuap Kiri Khan for evidence).
10. If the police take control of patrolling it, as they would probably insist on, patrols would be few and far between, and may well consist of a snoozing MIB in a Starbucks sponsored police box at one end. Conversely if a security company is employed to patrol along it, this would probably consist of an off duty MIB snoozing in an Avalon sponsored Mediterranean style hut with a leaking roof located somewhere near the middle of the path. Finally if the expat community patrols it, there would quickly appear a thread on HHAD listing all the farangs who have been shot, mugged, raped, bitten and chased by dogs, threatened or otherwise abused while on duty, or otherwise.
If anyone else can think of something i might have forgotten, plus or minus, please chip in...
That's very rude B&S! You set up a poll to guage peoples opinions, then slag them off if they don't like or see flaws in your idea. Were you one of these spoil t children that always got there own way or may be you still are?