http://www.bangkokpost.com/feature/peop ... g-crusader
Cycling crusader
SIRA LEEPIPATNAVIT IS PUSHING FOR PRACTICAL BIKE LANES AND A SHARE OF THE ROAD
Published: 28/01/2011 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: Life
'Could you please just move your van a few metres further - out of the bike lane?" said Sira Leepipatnavit, retelling how he had to gently explain to a van driver what a bicycle lane on the footpath along Ratchadamnoen Avenue meant to a small commuter like himself in the fast lane of Bangkok and how the blockage was causing a problem.
Sira Leepipatnavit can’t ride in peace on any trip if he and his bicycle are not allowed a share of the road. PHOTOS: YINGYONG UN-ANONGRAK
Sira could have been just another cyclist who enjoys travelling around the city on his bicycle. But he could never sit back comfortably in the saddle, not even for a single trip in peace unless the motor vehicles let him share the road, which is why his trips usually take longer than expected, since he is prompted to regularly stop. Every once in a while he also stops to explain to other commuters about the concept of a bike lane, or to file a complaint to the police.
In his day job, Sira is a campaign officer at the Green World Foundation (GWF), a non-profit organisation that promotes a greener world. But outside of work, he campaigns to bring about friendlier roads and safety for city cyclists. After many different approaches, Sira eventually came up with the most efficient and effective way to gain success in his cause.
Initially, he approached commuters randomly and tried to convince them to agree with the idea of having everyone share the roads. Then he decided to pass out flyers explaining this idea. Now he is collecting information and will present his findings to a government agency when Bangkok commuters are ready to actually embrace the introduction of bike lanes.
"I have been jotting down everything about bicycle riding and bike lanes in my head and on notepads," said Sira. His notes include small details like appropriate cross-slope specifications for bicycles on pedestrian bridges.
Sira started riding a bicycle when he was studying at Thammasat University's Rangsit campus, which is located in the suburbs, and gave up using public transport and opted for the bike in his third-year when he moved to the Tha Prachan campus in the city. He also campaigned for a greener world through cycling during his fourth year at university in which he arranging free bicycle tours on Rattanakosin Island, which allowed other people to share his fun experiences in the saddle.
On one of many occassions, while riding his two-wheeler in a rare bike lane, the 24-year-old cyclist came to a public van service stop where a few vans were parked in the designated bike lane. Instead of riding around the obstructing vans, Sira decided to park his vintage bicycle, approach one of the drivers, and explain to him why he wasn't supposed to be parked there. After his soft explanation, the driver agreed to move out of the bike lane.
A casual explanation for easier understanding of how to share the road with bicycles is shown in graphs for general commuters like motorcycle taxi drivers and mobile street vendors.
"But just a few days later, I found the vans were back again, blocking the bike lane [on the footpath]," said Sira, a political science graduate from Thammasat University.
Since the very first encounter - and unable to ignore the issue - Sira continued to ask the drivers to keep their vans out of the bike lane each time he saw them. But every encounter became tougher for him to persuade the drivers to move for the second, third, and fourth time.
Even when he raised some traffic laws, which he read in a law book that states no motor vehicles are allowed on the footpath, the drivers weren't deterred.
At one point, Sira took out his camera and pretended to be a reporter in order to take photos of the offences as evidence that there were vans blocking the bike lane. However, the drivers didn't seem to be bothered at all by his efforts. And more importantly, even the police officer whom he filed several complaints with didn't show any interest in dealing with the issue.
The photos taken by Sira depicting vans blocking the footpath/bike lane were later published in a few local newspapers. And weeks later, all the vans were parked out of the bike lane. It was a small victory for the the cyclist, but he wasn't sure if the success was a direct result of the incriminating photos being published or not.
"At the very least, the case was taken care of and it drew more public attention," said Sira, who further explained that he hoped such photos in the future will raise more public awareness on the issue. In the meantime, he continues to regularly report any traffic-related irregularities that unfold, from cracked footpaths to noisy tuk tuks.
Early last year, the campaigner formed a team of friends to hand out flyers to city commuters and street vendors in the Lad Ya area after a brand new red bike lane was opened. Armed with flyers, the soft-spoken campaigner walked up to each individual who was parked in the bike lane and explained to them why cyclists like him desperately need the bike lane.
Traffic laws indirectly related to bike lane and traffic block rules are listed on the back of a flyer, which looks much like a traffic ticket.
To his surprise, the 70 flyers he had prepared were all snatched up by the motorcycle taxi drivers, tuk-tuk drivers, motorists and street vendors in a matter of minutes.
"Nobody had a clue what to do or treat the narrow red lane along the main road," said Sira, referring to the 100m bike lane that starts from Wong Wian Yai, where dozens of motor vehicles and street vendors with carts park.
The flyers, which looked like traffic tickets, featured traffic laws indirectly related to bike lanes and roadblock abuses on one side, and a casual explanation of how to share the road with cyclists using graphics for easier understanding.
Some of the commuters were accepting of the idea while others were offended by being told that they were not allowed to use the space. Motorcycle taxi drivers were especially annoyed with Sira telling them not to park on the footpath - part of which serves as the bike lane - because parking a motor vehicle there was against the law.
"I understand their anger ... they don't know where else to park their motorbikes. And I haven't found a good solution for them yet either," admitted Sira. Parking a motorcycle off the bike lane closer to the main road means that it will likely be hit by a car, but at the same time, parking a motorbike on the footpath/bike lane means the motorbike owner will be fined by the traffic police.
Sira knows that the bike lane issue is not for him to handle alone. He can't possibly preach to the millions of commuters one by one on the roads or deal with the police individually.
All he can do, for now, is take note of every offence on the road or solutions, as some day it will be handy when Bangkok is ready to welcome the use of bike lanes.
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