PM urges riders to participate in good spirit
PRIME MINISTER Prayut Chan-o-cha said he appreciated the public's united participation in the "Bike for Dad" campaign scheduled for this afternoon and called on them to ensure the event is held with grace and spirit.
Government Spokesman Maj-General Sansern Kaewkamnerd quoted Prayut as saying that the cyclists should pay attention to the traffic rules, not compete with one other, and give clear hand signals.
HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn will lead the cyclists on the 29-kilometre ride held in honour of His Majesty the King’s 88th birthday on December 5.
Pol Maj-General Songpol Wattanachai, deputy police spokesman, said some 20,000 police would be deployed at 17 spots covering all areas of the event to ensure safety.
Medical personnel will also be on hand, along with military academy students deployed for the event, he said.
Massage service
The Corrections Department will dispatch 30 female prisoners to offer massage services for the cyclists, while the women’s prisons will offer cooked food. Both services are free of charge.
The department’s director-general, Wittaya Suriyawong, said the inmates involved would have records of good behaviour and be nearing the end of their prison terms.
The prisoners have trained for 12 weeks for a total of 150 hours.
Massages will take about 10-20 minutes per person, so the masseuses should be able to serve about 200-300 people per hour.
Meanwhile in Prachin Buri province, a 97-year-old man, Sawat Yanderm, will join the event being held in Prachantakam district today.
He said he had decided to participate because he wanted to express his loyalty to His Majesty the King.
He will use his own old bicycle and has expressed confidence in his ability to complete the ride, have prepared by cycling daily.
People in provinces throughout the country are ready to join the rides in their home towns. Each will start at 3pm, the same time as in the capital.
