The common link between motorists ,street vendors and police plying city roads is that they all violate bike lanes – that left most strip, clearly and bearing the image of a white bicycle.
A random survey carried out recently by the Green World Foundation found 483 cars, vendor carts and a police motorcycle, as well as items like city trash bins in the special lane along an 8 kilometre route around Wong Wian Yai and parts of Thon Buri
“There’s little improvement,” foundation campaign officer Sira Leepipatnavit said,referring to the right of cyclists to safe passage on the roads.It was the third in a series of surveys the foundation has carried out. The latest survey was assisted by a group of velunteers.
The survey found 363 items blocking the lane on a 1.7 kilometre section of Lat YA Road, 23 items on 1.2 kilometre of Prachatpok Road, 36 items on 800 metres of Intarapithak Road, 41 0n 630 metres of somdej Phrachao Taksin Road and 20 around the Wong Wian Yai roundabout.
Sira conducted the fist survey on july 23,2010,in Wong Wian Yai area. Pamphlets were also distributed, urging commuters and vendors to keep out of bicycle lanes. The second survey was conducted on phra Arthit Road on September 24 the same year. There were 51 cars and 13 other items including rubbish bins and barricades blocking a 600 metre section of the bike lane there. Wong Wian Yai and Phra Arthit Road were chosen for the survey because both have well-marked bike lanes.
The survey results suggested little public understanding on the use of this environmentally-friendly mode of transportasion. The occupation of bilk lanes by other vehicles may be the result of unclear traffic regulations.
The law requires drivers to park no further than 30 centimetres from the footpatch. When on roads with designated bike lanes, motorsts still stick to the 30 centimetre parking regulation, trespassing on the special, which is a punishable act.
They may be afraid their cars would be hit if they parked next to the special lane, about 1 metre from the footpath. Besides, police hardly brother to take any action against motorists for parking in bike lanes-in fact, they often park their own vehicles in the lance