BANGKOK, Oct 27 – In an effort to promote tourism in Thailand’s provinces and encourage more people to ride bicycles, two ministries have assigned government agencies to gather information on safely designing and building bicycle lanes and tourism destinations, according to Soithip Trisuddhi, Permanent Secretary for Transport.
Ms Soithip said her ministry had met with the Tourism and Sports Ministry on building more bicycle lanes to give a boost to the provincial tourism industry and agreed to assign particular government agencies to compile essential information.
The Transport Ministry’s Department of Rural Roads has already built bicycle lanes in a number of provinces, she said, but not many people know about them due to lack of public relations.
The purpose of building bicycle lanes nationwide is for the public to enjoy good health by switching to ride bicycles instead of driving cars or motorcycles, conserve energy, strengthening family relationships and to develop tourism destinations.
Ms Soithip said a bicycle lane is planned to Hew Pla Kang, now popular among visitors and is on the way to Khao Yai in Saraburi province.
Meanwhile, the Department of Rural Roads plans to boost safety for celebrants on 11 bridges across the Chao Phraya River during the Loy Krathong Festival on November 6, said Chartchai Tipsunave, director-general of the department.
Mr Chartchai said the department has coordinated with Bangkok and provincial police for officers to patrol from 5.30pm to midnight on that day to facilitate the celebrations.
