Over 30,000 cyclists joined Bangkok Car Free Day 14 at Sanam Luang this morning in the biggest turnout of cyclists to promote the use of mass transport and to reduce the use of private cars in Bangkok.
Bangkok Governor M.R. Sukhumbhand Paribatra who chaired the event said that public response to Car Free Day was overwhelming this year with more than 87 network organizations participating.

All the cyclists later left Sanam Luang toward designated routes to their destination on Silom road from Soi Saladaeng to Narathivatratchanagarind where many activities were planned which include free medical checkup, free handout of tree saplings, extreme cycling show and many others.

Deputy Bangkok Governor Mrs Pussadee Tamthai said that the event was intended to encourage Bangkokians to switch from private cars to public transport or to turn to bicycles.

She disclosed that during the eight months of this year a total of 600,800 new cars were registered bringing the number of registered cars in the city to 8.55 million compared to last year’s 8.2 million cars.

Because there are so many cars on the streets, traffic flow has substantially reduced with the flow on main roads averaging 26 kilometre per hour and 13 kilometre per hour on Sukhumvit road, said Mrs Pussadee, adding that this has translated into higher costs of travelling.

Based on the estimate that there are six million trips a day and each trip covers a distance of 12 kilometre, she said that fuel cost in Bangkok per day amounts to 126 million baht.

Over 30,000 cyclists join Bangkok Car Free Day - Thai PBS English News