City hall won’t fine drivers parking in access lane
Pattaya officials say work will begin in January on a wheelchair lane for disabled residents near the Redemptorist Vocational School for Persons with Disabilities that falls far short of expectations.
Chief city hall architect Somchai Thaikul said the Soi Paniadchang lane will not be separated from traffic by anything more than a painted line, a revelation bound to disappoint wheelchair users already complaining about parked cars and unpredictable traffic.
It can be quite dangerous for people in wheelchairs to get from the Redemptorist Center to Big C Extra.
The city has allocated more than 3 million baht for the path from Big C Extra on Central Road down the soi to the Redemptorist Center. Politicians touting their benevolence toward the disabled made a big deal out of the announcement, leading residents to believe the path would be separated from traffic by a barrier.
Instead, the city somehow will manage to spend the 3 million baht giving the side of the road some asphalt and a lick of paint.
Somchai said he hoped that Soi Paniadchang residents would respect the painted line and not park in the lane, blocking wheelchairs as happens now. But he admitted police will not actually fine anyone doing so and, thus, officials can do little more than just hope for the best.
