About 50,000 people who signed up for the "Bike for Dad" cycling event turned out to receive T-shirts and mementos at the National Stadium on Saturday.
Bespoke fashion: A military cadet prepares T-shirts for distribution to cyclists who have registered for next week's ‘Bike for Dad’ event.
Armed forces personnel were deployed from 8am-5pm to distribute the gift sets to registered cyclists on behalf of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn. Another 50,000 sets will be handed out today.
Each gift set includes a T-shirt, wristband and commemorative pin.
The Crown Prince will lead the 29km ride along Bangkok’s streets on Dec 11, modelled after the similar “Bike for Mom” event on Aug 16 which drew tens of thousands of participants nationwide.
Bike for Dad will also be held in provinces across the country, while Thais living abroad have also been encouraged to stage their own events.
A rehearsal of the cycling event was due to begin at 6am today at the Royal Plaza.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration is working with the Metropolitan Electricity Authority to repair street lights as well as install 1,000 new lights along the cycling route.
Decorations are also being placed along the course, and efforts are being made to improve the road surface ahead of the event, the BMA said.
More than 1,700 new CCTV cameras will be installed along the route and connected to the city’s traffic control centre, according to the BMA.
Medical and emergency units will also be deployed to provide any assistance necessary during the event.
The BMA has asked contractors working on construction projects along the cycling route — which includes the 700-metre Sky Walk project on Ratchadamri Road — to halt work temporarily while the event is under way.
Bangkok governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra on Friday inspected the installation of new lighting at the Royal Plaza. He also inspected Chulalongkorn University, which will serve as a rest spot for cyclists during the event.
Bike for Dad participants will begin their ride at 3pm from the Royal Plaza, completing a circuit which will pass Siriraj Hospital, where His Majesty the King is currently staying.
After the cycling event, the Crown Prince will also preside over an outdoor performance of a khon masked dance performance. The performances will also be staged for public viewing at the Royal Plaza from Dec 12-13.