Long-time New Mandala contributor Michael H. Nelson has sent me this picture from Sukhumvit Road. Hoping to bolster his climate change credentials, Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayothin has recently introduced bicycle lanes in this area of the city.
This is a picture of the section that runs from Soi Nana and passes the Nana skytrain station. Call me old-fashioned…but this looks like a roadside market to me. If bikes are actually ever added to this mix it will be absolute chaos! Bike lanes are a great idea.
But this example looks like a recipe for disaster…
5 responses so far ↓
1 Falang ban nok kok na // Oct 19, 2007 at 2:46 pm
Looks like a great idea – a ride-through market!
2 Sidh S. // Oct 20, 2007 at 2:19 am
There are a few great shots of these amusing bike lanes in 2bangkok website. If GovernorApirak really wants to make this work, he should take over the road traffic surface NOT the pedestrian footpath. But that would take too much political will (and risk) and Bangkok’s footpaths and roads are actually managed by different agencies. I think KhunApirak is already making a bold move with the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, the first route to begin service next year – as that actually reclaimed vehicle traffic lanes. Fingers crossed that it works, becomes popular and there are extensions of the system…
3 Nicholas Farrelly // Oct 20, 2007 at 2:42 am
Thanks Sidh,
I have found some of those pictures on the 2Bangkok site.
For everyone else – they are certainly worth a look, and a chuckle!
Best wishes to all,
Nich
4 Thailand Weather // Oct 22, 2007 at 1:48 am
Well, those lanes can be used between 3.30 am and 5.30am as there is less people: well still need to be cautious though ;-p
very useful lanes !
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