Thousands of Thais get on their bikes
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Thais celebrated Car Free Day early this year, with many activities - including bicycle parades - held in Bangkok and elsewhere yesterday.
World Car Free Day will be marked across the globe today.
Thousands of Thais marked the occasion with an array of activities in Bangkok, Songkhla, Lampang, Nakhon Ratchasima and other provinces.
In the capital, more than 30,000 people joined a bicycle parade organised by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and 87 allies.
They rode from Sanam Luang to Silom Road, normally one of the busiest roads in the country but closed to traffic yesterday.
“We want to encourage car users to switch to bicycles or public transport,” Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra said.
Sukhumbhand said the BMA wanted to reduce the use of private cars by 70 per cent by 2029 and it had seen positive a sign in that last year Car Free Day attracted about 20,000 bicyclists – well below this year’s figure.
In Songkhla, the Nation Broadcasting Corporation organised a bicycle parade over more than 20km of the old town of this southern province.
The event attracted more than 1,200 participants including Nation Multimedia Group chairman Suthichai Yoon. NBC, like The Nation, is a part of NMG.
The route passed Songkhla Lake and included a stop at the Lampor temple. Excitement ran high among the participants as the event was broadcast live via an NMG drone.
“I’ve seen a lot while cycling. It’s a way to absorb the local ways of life, which includes some elements of Sino-Portuguese,” cyclist Anan Suriyakarn said.
In Lampang, residents hit the streets on bicycles and enjoyed the moment even though it rained.
The general consensus was that cycling reduces pollution and enhances fitness.
In Nakhon Ratchasima, more than 800 people joined the event.
