PM wants more land for bike lane expansion

Despite a near accident yesterday, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is still keen on bike riding and is seeking talks with owners of buildings near the Rama VIII Bridge to ask for space to build bicycle lanes along the Chao Phraya River.

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Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, front left, avoids a fallen cyclist as he takes a trip through Koh Rattanakosin in inner Bangkok to mark the reopening of bike lanes after their recent repairs. (Photos by Pornprom Satrabhaya)

PM to ask land owners for bike lane space

Wassana Nanuam

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is seeking talks with owners of buildings near the Rama VIII Bridge to ask for space to build bicycle lanes along the Chao Phraya River.

The premier plans to send staff to talk to the owners who include hotel and shop operators. He wants to push the government's plan to promote tourism and cycling by building paths and riverside gardens as new places for relaxation.

The government wants to use small parts of their compounds for the project. "We don't know whether they will agree with us because they have to make sacrifices," he said.

Gen Wilas Arunsri, secretary-general to the prime minister, said about seven kilometres of lanes near the Rama VIII Bridge on each side of the river will be built under the plan.

"Tourists want to cycle around Koh Rattanakosin (Rattanakosin Island)," Gen Wilas said. "Cycling lanes would make the area look more beautiful."

Koh Rattanakosin, Bangkok's historical district, is famous for its old temples and palaces. It is surrounded by the Chao Phraya River along with a network of canals, giving it the name of "island".

The situation is under control here as the PM leads the pack with Bangkok governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra at his side (to his right and our left in the photo).

City Hall recently finished repair work on its 12-lane cycle project covering a distance of eight kilometres in Rattanakosin Island to mark His Majesty the King's 87th birthday.

Bangkok governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra, who joined Gen Prayut in riding on the path in the Rattanakosin Island area yesterday, said a major drawback to cycling in the city is not a lack of facilities but the motorists who insist on parking their cars on the lanes.

The premier said he would encourage drivers to respect cyclists' rights.

Yesterday at least, there were no cars blocking bicycle lanes which were also free of motorcycles.

The cabinet has approved an Interior Ministry project to build 25km of bike lanes on each side of the river, according to sources at the Public Works and Town and Country Planning Department and City Hall.

Construction is estimated to cost 500-600 million baht for each kilometre of the lane, for a total of 30 billion baht.

"A section of bike lanes between the Phra Pinklao and Rama VIII bridges would be built first," a source said, adding the route would stretch about 5-7 kilometres along each side of the river.

Work on this section should start next year, the source said.

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