More than 1,500 cyclists braved the roads and hills of Pattaya and Jomtien Beach to raise awareness of global warming in two consecutive bicycling events.
Teerasak Jatupong, director of Pattaya’s defense and security department, and Manoj Nongyai, president of the Pattaya Bicycle Association, opened the April 29 “Cycling Pattaya, the Tourism City” trek from the Eastern National Indoor Sports Stadium to the Chak Nok reservoir.
Competitors were split into road and mountain bike divisions and men and women’s competitions. No prizes were awarded for finishing ahead of the pack, but everyone received a souvenir.
Organizers said the event was held to both encourage people to exercise via cycling as well as reinforce bicycles as an alternative means of transportation to cars and trucks, thereby reducing global warming.
Cyclists set out from the stadium past Noenjai Temple and around the Chak Nok reservoir and back to the starting line.
The next day, outside the Royal Cliff Beach Resort, the Pattaya Bicycle Association, Tourism Authority of Thailand Pattaya office and Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration organized the Pattaya Mountain Bike Challenge.
Teerasak and Manoj again did the honors, setting riders out on a rigorous race over the hills and back trails on Pratamnak Hill.
