How to change Thai people's mentality towards bicycles.

[Revolutionnary]

Hi,
I am a fervent bike rider in Chiang Mai. I do understand your issues about the heat as I have been bike-riding through the hot summer and let me point out that getting hot and sweaty is nothing compared to getting wet from the pouring downfalls. Here is my trick to dry out sweat all quite fast: I carry a fan with me at all times...I don't use it on the bicycle but when I arrive and I have noticed that my perspiration is coming out less and that the drying off process is becoming faster...yes, your body adapts and not only does your overall health improve immensely but your body temperature regulation gets alot more effective. And I am a teacher so I have to be presentable in front of my students but I always tell them that if I come in sweaty, it is because I had to pedal my way up a couple of hills and I have seen the admiration in their eyes because, thanks to the growing green consciousness, everyone who makes the effort of pedaling to work and to the market and everywhere else is a HERO...I am a hero...I am saving the planet...and this feeling is well-worth the little extra time, effort and preparation it takes to make our air more breathable...and, to top it all, I have lost 2 kilos and my girlfriend loves the increase in my...
If everyone puts in just a little effort, we can truly make a huge difference and soon the people who are full of themselves in their brand new Mercedes, thinking they have the right to pollute, be lazy and disdainful will come to realize that they are bad people, and their karma will get back to them eventually...dying from pollution-caused lung cancer when the rest of us will be so proud and healthy that we'll be pedaling our way without even breaking a sweat, in our cleaner and cooler cities...
The planet is crying for help, don't we dare give up on her...

[Sean Moran]

[stilljustbrowsing]

Just tried the Bicycle thing, Wow!, Followed the road signs so had to turn left out of my village ( Iwanted to go 1km right) , 5kms later I find..... Oh yeah,.... the U turn bridge, had to charge through (on my bike remember) five lanes of traffic, not so bad 'cos the traffic lights are controlled by the police so it takes at least 10 minutes between \\ //// breaks ( sorry, I meant light changes). Did the U turn and was then five lanes on the wrong side of the road! (hoping for some traffic lights!) Didn't happen, but never mind, an accident, Oh bliss! All the traffic stopped so I was able to continue my journey, one hour later, I went passed my home in the right direction heading for where I wanted to go! (Knackered already)

[Martinus]

I just sold my bicycle best thing I ever did

[stilljustbrowsing]

Hope you had an export licence!

[Banana Orchard]

You have made some good points, New Biker. Yes, biking is excellent for our environment as well as for health. You should do it and continue doing this whenever you're back in Thailand.

You wondered why Thai people don't do it? Why they're too lazy even to make a five-minute walk from A to B? I think you should know the answer because you're Thai. You should have known much better than other expats here why we don't use many bicycle in our country. Yes, there are some lazy people out there. Yes, some people think only poor will ride.

However, don't forget reality, New Biker.

Questions:

Is it practical for Thai to ride bicycle in this sort of weather, especially, in Bangkok?
Where is the bike lane? Does the goverment provide them for us? What is more, would you like to take a risk riding in a busy traffic to work and how far you think we should go?

Your idea is good, you have started doing this from yourself.
As for me, I do something else to save the Earth, for example, I refuse to take plastic bags when I shopping at supermarkets. I always bring my own reusable cloth bags with me.

Still, my mentality towards bicycle is something I would never do----to be honest!
I would rather walk.

[Junglejim]

Riding a pedal pike any where other than perhaps a village is surely just too dangerous in a country where driving is defensive. Even in a village there's drunk drivers on motorbikes and numurous potholes.

Surely the risk of an accident in Thailand outweighs the health benefit of cycling. Anyhow, what health benefit? You're unprotected from vehicle fumes which are more dangerous these days with the growth of gasohol and lpg gas which have a lot more carcigens than normal fuels. And how can a rider where a face mask if they're puffing and panting. You'll be breathing in your exhaled carbon dioxide which will leave your skin all tingling and your brain tired.

[Ian]

perhaps if bicycles were dearer more people would buy them In my youth I would often ride from London to South Wales and back at the weekend, just to visit my grandparents. In Thailand a Farang on a bike seems acceptable, I think the logic is, he is a Farang so he must be rich, so he is cycling for fun/exercise. Many of my neighbours have car, motorbike, bicycle, they use them according to the distance they travel. But one thing they never do is walk.

[stilljustbrowsing]

Go to the local Porche dealer if you want an expensive bicycle.
I used to cycle from Liverpool to North Wales during holidays, going uphill was hard work, espesially if the wind was in the wrong direction, going down hill? YaaaaaaHhhooooooo!

[bangbang]

I've never been to Thailand. Here in the Philippines, we have polluted areas and clean areas. In areas that are clean, I see a lot of people riding bikes. In the more polluted areas, not so much. Maybe it has to do with the environment in Thailand? Is it heavily polluted there? All the smoke and heat is bad for your health. But if its clean, biking should be encouraged. It's a clean way of transportation. Healthy exercise as well.