| Although many people may feel that bicycling in | | | | Carrefour |
| Bangkok is not a tenable proposition, it can be | | | | Amorn, Fortune Town |
| done with relative safety and offers much | | | | Pro Bike, 237 Soi 2, Sarasin Road, between |
| convenience for many excursions that would be | | | | Rajadamri Road and Langsuan Road, west of |
| time-consuming and exhausting if done by foot. | | | | Lumpini Park |
| Bangkok has made a weak attempt at supporting | | | | AiMbike, 62/10 Soi Chaengwattana-Pakkred17, |
| bicycles by sporadically marking sidewalk lanes for | | | | Chaeng Wattana Road, opposite Central Chaeng |
| bikes, allowing bicycles on the MRT (subway), the | | | | Wattana Department store |
| BTS (SkyTrain), and riverboats. However, the | | | | Craig's List Thailand |
| MRT and riverboats require that the bicycle be of | | | | Types Available |
| the foldable type and be folded to be allowed | | | | All types are available, including very expensive, |
| aboard. Also, there is a long elevated walkway | | | | for example a 300,000 THB high-performance |
| that links the north end of Lumpini Park with | | | | model at Pro Bike. |
| Sukumvit Soi 10 which provides a convenient, | | | | Rough Pricing |
| safe and fast transit between Lumpini Park and | | | | 2,500 THB - 10,000 THB (Low Range) |
| the lower Sukumvit area. | | | | 7,000 THB - 24,000 THB (foldable/mountain) |
| Right of Way | | | | 25,000 THB - 300,000 THB (high end) |
| The general right of way rule in Thailand is that | | | | Cycling in Lumpini Park |
| the largest/heaviest vehicle has the right of way; | | | | Lumpini Park is large with many wide paths and |
| pedestrians have the lowest. In short, "if it's | | | | roads with little to no traffic; there are many |
| bigger than you, it will kill you unless you get out | | | | canals, lots of greenery, a few snack bars, and |
| of its way". My rule is to give right of way to all | | | | several areas with tables and benches. The park |
| vehicles and pedestrians. This prevents unwanted | | | | allows bicycling from 10:00 - 15:00 seven days a |
| confrontations with both vehicles and pedestrians. | | | | week. There are security guards to enforce |
| This applies especially to sidewalks, since many | | | | these hours. The nearest train station to Lumpini |
| sidewalks are marked with a bicycle lane. | | | | Park is the Silom station on both the MRT and |
| Although many sidewalks are marked with about | | | | BTS lines, at the south west corner of the park. |
| a 1 meter wide bike lane, the use of the lanes by | | | | Elevated Pedestrian and Bicycle Walkway |
| bikes is so light that it is often cluttered with | | | | This metal structure is about 3 to 5 metres or |
| mobile vendors and pedestrians. | | | | more above ground level. It is about one |
| Often, in tourist areas especially, the sidewalks | | | | kilometre long, starting at the base of Sukhumvit |
| have vendors and pedestrians so it is difficult to | | | | Soi 10 and ending at the north-east corner of |
| continue riding safely, so the bicycle should be | | | | Lumpini Park. It is quite wide, maybe 10 meters, |
| walked or the sidewalk abandoned for the street. | | | | and is divided into a pedestrian part and a bicycle |
| The Bicycle Bell | | | | part. The times that I have been on it, it was |
| It is often important to let a pedestrian know | | | | almost totally empty with never more than 5 |
| that you are approaching from behind by using | | | | people walking and one cyclist; it seems most |
| the bell as far away as possible so that they | | | | people are unaware of its existence. |
| have time to recognize it and act accordingly... if | | | | Stairways up to the overpass have a ramp to |
| they hear it, that is. | | | | allow bicycles to be pushed or ridden up, but they |
| Sidewalks or Street? | | | | are a bit steep; you will need strong legs and/or a |
| Because of the crowded or poor conditions of | | | | multi-gear bike to ride up. |
| many sidewalks, it is often necessary to alternate | | | | If you use this overpass to get to Lumpini, you |
| between the sidewalk and street. This is especially | | | | end up at the intersection of Sarasin Road and |
| true when trying to make the best time in a | | | | Wireless Road. The gate to Lumpini is to the left |
| trade-off with safety. Some street traffic | | | | (south), about 60 or 70 meters along Wireless |
| conditions are potentially unsafe due to high-speed | | | | Road, just past the school. |
| traffic and the fact that dedicated bike lanes in | | | | Conclusion |
| Bangkok are rare. The buses are the biggest | | | | For the intrepid, bicycling in Bangkok offers an |
| offenders with their seemingly oblivious attitude | | | | attractive alternative to walking or incurring the |
| and frequent stops. From both safety and rapid | | | | cost and lack of spontaneity or control of using |
| transit perspectives, gridlocked traffic is the best | | | | taxis, motorbikes, and tuk tuks. Bicycling is very |
| for a bicycle on the street. | | | | good for short-range shopping trips or getting to |
| Intersections | | | | know the local neighborhood. Consider it as a sort |
| These are probably the most dangerous part of | | | | of 'high-speed' walking with the option to actually |
| bicycling. The advantage the cyclist has, is that he | | | | walk, if so desired. |
| or she can decide to cross an intersection as | | | | With the allowance of foldable bicycles on MRT |
| either a pedestrian or a vehicle depending on the | | | | (subway), BTS (SkyTrain elevated railway), |
| situation. | | | | riverboats, and buses, the same advantages can |
| Where to Buy Bicycles in Bangkok | | | | be had for long-range trips or trips anywhere in |
| Tesco-Lotus | | | | Thailand. |
| Big C | | | | |