Seven Pattaya hotels and the Green Leaf Foundation will again try to entice local residents to give up motorized vehicles and try bicycling, at least for a day.
Deputy Mayor Wutisak Rermkitkarn met Aug. 1 with Green Leaf officials and executives from the Dusit Thani, Siam Bay View, Siam Bayshore, Pattaya Dusit D2 Baraquda, Long Beach Garden and Thai Garden hotels to begin planning for a Nov. 23-24 bicycle awareness workshop and bike trek.
Each hotel pledged to contribute 20 bikes for riders to pedal on around the city Nov. 24 beginning at 3 p.m. The track will run from Pattaya City Hall, down Beach Road to Bali Hai Pier, to the Sophon Market at the South Road intersection and back along Third Road to city hall.
Green Leaf Vice President Jeerapol Sinthunawa said the organization has been organizing cycling events for four years, including last year’s “Car Free Day” Sept. 22.
A day before, the Green Leaf Foundation will offer a seminar on safe bicycling and city traffic lights at Pattaya School No. 5. A bicycle-riding exam also will be offered.
“Bicycling in Pattaya is quite dangerous since there are large number of cars,” Wutisak said. “Nevertheless, Pattaya is determined to sponsor the use of bicycles even if we are stuck with people’s materialism and the government’s policy helping people buy their first car. Both have made Pattaya a city with a small number of bicycles.”
He said if the city offers more bicycling events, more people will give up cars and motorbikes.
Green Leaf Vice President Jeerapol Sinthunawa said the organization has been organizing cycling events for four years, including last year’s “Car Free Day” Sept. 22, and the donation of 100 bikes for Koh Larn residents.
“Last year only 300 youths took bicycle exams, since they all want to drive motorbikes,” Jeerapol said. “I invite youths to see the importance of using bicycles correctly.”
Green Leaf officials also suggested to Wutisak that the city organize a bike show, which would not only illustrate their advantage, but let locals buy bikes that currently are only available in Bangkok.
