In Chiang Mai, Social Attitudes Crush Bicycling Prospects
Note: this article is part of this week’s EcoWorldly cycling series: Cycling and its importance in countries around the world.
In Chiang Mai, Thailand’s second largest city, you bicycle at your risk in spite of the clear advantages to the environment and physical health.
Next to the pedestrian, the bicycle is regarded as the lowest in the mode of transportation chain.
Chiang Mai’s roads team with vehicles of all sorts and ubiquitous motorcycles that screech, hoot and zig-zag through the traffic.
If anything, the undefined movement of the motorcycles poses the biggest threat to bicyclists. They are forced to stay on the edge of the road where they can potentially ram into the curb. The absence of bicycle tracks on many roads further worsens the situation.