Warunya Thongrod
Seven Pattaya hotels and the Green Leaf Foundation will again
try to entice local residents to give up motorized vehicles and try
bicycling, at least for a day.
Green Leaf Vice President
Jeerapol Sinthunawa said the organization has been organizing cycling
events for four years, including last year’s “Car Free Day” Sept. 22.
Deputy Mayor Wutisak Rermkitkarn met Aug. 1 with
Green Leaf officials and executives from the Dusit Thani, Siam Bay View,
Siam Bayshore, Pattaya Dusit D2 Baraquda, Long Beach Garden and Thai
Garden hotels to begin planning for a Nov. 23-24 bicycle awareness
workshop and bike trek.
Each hotel pledged to contribute 20 bikes for riders to pedal on around
the city Nov. 24 beginning at 3 p.m. The track will run from Pattaya
City Hall, down Beach Road to Bali Hai Pier, to the Sophon Market at the
South Road intersection and back along Third Road to city hall.
A day before, the Green Leaf Foundation will offer a seminar on safe
bicycling and city traffic lights at Pattaya School No. 5. A
bicycle-riding exam also will be offered.
“Bicycling in Pattaya is quite dangerous since there
are large number of cars,” Wutisak said. “Nevertheless, Pattaya is
determined to sponsor the use of bicycles even if we are stuck with
people’s materialism and the government’s policy helping people buy
their first car. Both have made Pattaya a city with a small number of
bicycles.”
He said if the city offers more bicycling events, more people will give
up cars and motorbikes.
Green Leaf Vice President Jeerapol Sinthunawa said the organization has
been organizing cycling events for four years, including last year’s
“Car Free Day” Sept. 22, and the donation of 100 bikes for Koh Larn
residents.
“Last year only 300 youths took bicycle exams, since they all want to
drive motorbikes,” Jeerapol said. “I invite youths to see the importance
of using bicycles correctly.”
Green Leaf officials also suggested to Wutisak that the city organize a
bike show, which would not only illustrate their advantage, but let
locals buy bikes that currently are only available in Bangkok.
