The Department of Land Transport has said it wants cyclists to register for licenses to use the road. Do you think this will solve anything?
It’s totally irrelevant. Almost ridiculous, I would say. A driving license is not always a guarantee of safety. We should not inconvenience the general public to accommodate the actions of drunk drivers. If that’s how Thailand deals with road safety, then pedestrians should have to register for licenses to use the sidewalk too. People use bicycles regularly all across the city. Introducing licenses would just create more problems and give crooked members of authority new ways to fine people.
What kind of change would you like to see happen?
I would like to see initiatives that are more relevant to the cause of the problem: drunk drivers. How about bars and clubs close on time? Why not allow hardcore clubbers to park their cars overnight and have shuttle buses to take them home? One less drunk driver on the road makes a lot of difference.
Cyclist deaths are a huge talking point right now. Has the number of people riding bikes in the city risen dramatically?
Eight years ago, we had 5,000 members on our web board. Today we have 43,000 members on our Facebook page. There are a lot of cyclists in the city. You can find all kind of cyclist groups, from hipsters who leisurely ride their bikes to coffee shops to old-school grandmothers to fully-equipped adrenaline junkies. I believe there are plenty more cyclists who are not members of our
page.
How has cycling in Bangkok enhanced your everyday life?
It takes three buses to reach my office from my house. I discovered that cycling is a far more convenient way to get to work. It’s flexible. I don’t have to get up early and rush to work anymore.
How does your group support cyclists in Bangkok?
Cyclists are family. Social media has helped enrich our community like never before. When one of our members posts on Facebook that he has a flat tire, other cyclists nearby can contact him and offer help.
Follow Bangkok Bicycle Campaign at www.fb.com/BangkokBicycle
