Damn the environment
Re: "Cyclists being led down the garden path", (BP, Opinion, May 24)
Putting a non-bicycling general in charge of deciding the fate of cycling paths is like having a smoker make decisions about a smoking lounge.
Cycling paths and free bicycles are a couple of the few decent things Bangkok's city fathers are doing to improve the city. Another is the plan to extend the promenade along parts of the river.
What does Bangkok have regarding large natural parks? Essentially nothing. If Bangkok's largest park is considered the lungs of the city, then Bangkok has lungs the size of a thumbnail. The best plan would be to relocate the city to higher ground because it's heading for year round standing water. The next best thing would be to try to make Bangkok greener.
In parts of the US, there's a system whereby small businesses and/or individuals can volunteer to maintain stretches of road, doing such things as picking up litter.
If maintenance is an issue for Bangkok's bike paths (which I think is a canard), then surely some businesses or groups or individuals wouldn't mind devoting an hour per week to maintain a section, let's say one kilometre. If you want a nice environment, sometimes you have to put in some effort.
In my adopted town of Chiang Rai, there are ideal places along the river for bike and jogging paths. Unfortunately, the city fathers here either don't know about it (they're too busy thinking of economic issues), or they don't care about improving the city. For a relatively low cost (compared to building a factory, for example), some lovely parks could be developed here. Note: I, as a farang, sometimes walk along Thai roads with a trash bag and pick up litter. It takes about 15 minutes to fill up a medium-sized bag.
Maybe it's just not an Asian thing: to care about the natural environment. Asians are too seized on the idea of businesses everywhere, and making as much money as possible. Their attitude: the environment be damned. If you want to see some nice trees and hear birds sing, just look on the internet, there are plenty of pretty pictures.
Ken AlbertsenChiang Rai