More than 2,000 cyclists trekked 40 kilometers around Pattaya to promote new bike routes and tourism in the Nation Bike Thailand 2015 event.
Organized by Nation Multimedia Group and the Pattaya Bicycle Association, riders cycled routes around Mabprachan Reservoir and to Big Buddha Hill and back to highlight a planned government-funded bicycle route.
Chonburi Deputy Gov. Teerayuth Siriwan and Adisak Limpungpattanakit, CEO of Nation TV, joined city, regional and tourism officials at the starting line June 14.
Pattaya Mayor Ittipol Khunpleum (4th left) took part in the Nation Bike Thailand 2015 event on June 14.
Riders began at the Dolphin Roundabout, rolled up to the Naklua Market, past the Banglamung Police Station and made a U-turn at Wat Mai Chonglom and headed to Chaiyapornvithi Road. They then trekked around Lake Mabprachan, past Siam Country Club and stopped to take photos. The ride then returned to Chaiyapornvithi Road, moved onto to Sukhumvit and back to north Pattaya.
Teerayuth said Chonburi and Pattaya are prioritizing the needs of cyclists and want to create areas they won’t have to share the road with cars. This event will raise awareness among drivers about the increasing number of cyclists on the roads.
An estimated 2,000 cyclists took to the road aiming to promote both tourism and cycling.
Pattaya will also be building a dedicated bike path around the Mabprachan Reservoir which will be a pilot for other similar projects to come in the area.
Adisak said the ride was just the second in the Pattaya area – although the company organizes similar treks throughout the country. It will continue to promote tourism and the use of bikes, he said.
