Krabi thinks cycles are trendy

KRABI  Krabi provincial administration will spend over THB100 million to install bicycle parking racks at 13 tourist spots to make the province more bike friendly.
The provincial governor, Songpol Sawattham, said the project will promote bike tourism and bicycle riding in the province.
This is in line with a Ministry of Tourism’s directive to promote bike tourism, but there are very serious concerns that it should be matched by a road safety campaign to make Thailand’s roads safer. The country has the second worst accident rate worldwide.
“The province is pushing bicycles for health and tourism for both tourists and locals,” the governor commented.
inside no 4There are between 3,000 and 4,000 bicyclists in the province and more than 30 cycling groups that organise cycling trips almost every week, he said.
“Biking is a trendy and an emerging activity…the province partners with Tourism Authority of Thailand, airlines as well as private companies to promote and organise a programme to support this potential market.”
Besides encouraging residents to use bicycles in their daily life, tourists will be able to explore Krabi more conveniently, the governor said.
Easy enough to promote, but with it comes a responsibility to ensure a safe environment in the province. Cyclists are at the bottom of the pecking order, after motor cyclists. They are at risk from drunk drivers and more so a vast number of incompetents who bribed their way to gaining a driver’s license.
The parking zones for bicycles will be available at 13 key spots: Klong Haeng tourist car parking; Ao Nang Beach; the Ancient Bead Museum; Maharaj Market; Krabi Hospital; Ruen Pae restaurant; Thara Public Park; Krabi Airport; Salt Hot Spring Klong Thom; Namtok Ron Klong Thom Waterfall; Chalermphrakiat Pavilion; Lanta Yai municipal port bridge; and Klong Tob beach.
The Krabi Tourism and Sports Office will also create a draft master plan to promote bicycle riding in the province, the governor added.
Krabi, which lies along the coast of the Andaman Sea in South Thailand, is a top tourist destination with hundreds of beaches and 130 islands, including Lanta and the jewels of the Andaman coast, the six islands of Mu Koh Phi Phi National Park.
It has an international airport and is served by regional flights from Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.

sourced:ttrweekly.com