General Reports

[LittleBigMan]

I have ridden bikes in the streets of LOS Angeles and New York. Riding one in the lower Sukhumvit area of Bangkok is much safer in every way.

First of all, most of the time there is barely any movement in that area other than the bikes that are maneuvering between traffic lanes to get to the front of the line at the next 3 minute red traffic light stop.

In the 3 years I have been riding my bike through these auto / truck / bus traffic jams day and night I think I saw one minor fender-bender between a couple of cars and no accidents with a motorcycle, much less with an electric bicycle.

I don't use it to travel from Nana to Immigration. Not due to safety, just because the skytrain is now much faster. But I will ride it from Nana to Silom / Patpong (takes about 10 minutes compared to 5-6 times that by skytrain / subway or taxi), to Khaosan Road or Chinatown (25 minutes to Khaosan Road vs an hour or more by car taxi). And zipping around from Nana to Soi Cowboy or from MBK to Ekkamai is a cool snap compared to climbing up and down skytrain platforms, standing in the heat waiting for the next train, squeezing into the crowded train cars.

When I arrive at my destination, it being a "bicycle" I have no problem parking and locking it at the nearest sidewalk bicycle rack right outside the front door of the mall, restaurant or entertainment venue.

The risks of riding a two wheeler in the lower Sukhumvit area where I and most locals would ride a bike in their daily rounds is way overstated, imo. I have seen more pedestrians barely dodging potential serious injury while crossing Sukhumvit IN a crosswalk WITH the traffic light on their side and in a crowd of other pedestrians than I have seen for myself and other bike riders in those same areas.

I now see women in evening gowns riding one of those foldable, stand up electric scooters through traffic on Sukhumvit Road on their way to the bar areas. LOL.

Maximum speed possible with an electric bicycle like mine is about 35 kilometers per hour and most of the time I top out at only 18-20 kph, which I believe cuts way down on the risk of an accident. We're just not going fast enough to get into much trouble from our actions. But certainly faster and literally cooler temperature-wise than walking. Yes, I know some drunk driving a truck can slam into me on the street, having nothing to do with any safety measures I might take. But he could also slam into the taxi next to me, the pedestrian crossing the street or even up and onto the sidewalk.

I don't recommend this option to anyone who is not confident that they can maneuver between traffic lanes without clipping every side view mirror in the line up.

This is a excellent opinion as to Bangkok!

[SubCmdr]

There are lies, damn, lies and statistics.

The absolute numbers you gave do not show me the statistical probability of actually being involved in a motorcycle accident. Makes perfect sense that if you are involved in a motorcycle accident there are more fatalities. Rich people die in weird ways most regular people don't. It does not matter how many people die in ski accidents each year. I don't ski.

Riding a motorcycle is more dangerous than driving a car. That is not my point. My point is: I don't live my life in fear.

What is the expression? If you are scared find the institution that suits you and attend it. LOL!

When 15000 die on flights I will indeed stop flying.

Motorcyclists account for 74% of all road deaths, according to the Department of Disease Control. Of the 20,000 people killed on roads each year, 15,000 of them are motorcyclists.

[TConor]

Somebody died on a flight to Thailand when the plane hit turbulence. You going to stop flying now? LOL.

I still don't know if I am going to wake up each morning. Probabilities are that each day that passes the likely hood of that increases. Doesn't stop me from living my life to the fullest. I'd never live my life based on fear. I live it based on personal preferences and service to others.

EihTooms Ride on brother! Hell ain't half full.

LOL!

When 15000 die on flights I will indeed stop flying.

Motorcyclists account for 74% of all road deaths, according to the Department of Disease Control. Of the 20,000 people killed on roads each year, 15,000 of them are motorcyclists.

[Nyezhov]

I have a high capacity box on the back of my bike.

I have rain gear. I actually like it better when it is raining because the streets are deserted.

Gore Tex is your friend. Rain keeps the tourists away.

Rain costs more. Larger tip to my Remorque chauffer because he gets drenched on the 2 mile ride to Angkor.

[SubCmdr]

Never sell a house and move to any city/country whether it be Frankfurt, AC, Tampa, Tokyo, Bangkok, etc unless you lived there for at least a year first. Rent your house out for a year and try to live in the city/country you want to retire in. Living somewhere is NEVER the same as visiting even if you visit 2+ months every year. A country, its rules, and often its people wear on you if you are continuously there. Now if you're not happy on where you live now then just go for it. Make a call if the housing market will go up or down in your home city before selling your house.

I couldn't agree more. You also have to secure the legal right to be somewhere else for the learn term before turning your back on and cutting ties completely. Of course if you leave a place (like I did) that resembles the Titanic then maybe the plan should be to just stay on the move instead of trying to return home.

[Banana Boi]

I had planned on retiring in Thailand but covid interrupted that. Now that covid is over I am having second thoughts. Selling my house is such a big deal and so final..

Never sell a house and move to any city/country whether it be Frankfurt, AC, Tampa, Tokyo, Bangkok, etc unless you lived there for at least a year first. Rent your house out for a year and try to live in the city/country you want to retire in. Living somewhere is NEVER the same as visiting even if you visit 2+ months every year. A country, its rules, and often its people wear on you if you are continuously there. Now if you're not happy on where you live now then just go for it. Make a call if the housing market will go up or down in your home city before selling your house.

it only takes one collapse of an escalator in that or any other mall to kill or mentally cripple a half dozen of us with our Mister Donut muffin still in our mouth

Mister Donut muffin. Too funny.

[SubCmdr]

Risk reward = it may only take 1 time to end your life if you are lucky or if unlucky make you a physical or mental cripple. Buying a car is is so small a cost for life insurance. How do you get those cases of beer home on a bike. Convenience is a separate matter. Especially when it rains.

Somebody died on a flight to Thailand when the plane hit turbulence. You going to stop flying now? LOL.

I still don't know if I am going to wake up each morning. Probabilities are that each day that passes the likely hood of that increases. Doesn't stop me from living my life to the fullest. I'd never live my life based on fear. I live it based on personal preferences and service to others.

EihTooms Ride on brother! Hell ain't half full.

LOL!

[EihTooms]

Risk reward = it may only take 1 time to end your life if you are lucky or if unlucky make you a physical or mental cripple. Buying a car is is so small a cost for life insurance. How do you get those cases of beer home on a bike. Convenience is a separate matter. Especially when it rains.

When it rains I walk the 1-2 kilometers to Nana bts or the subway station at Terminal21 with an umbrella.

Of course, it only takes one collapse of an escalator in that or any other mall to kill or mentally cripple a half dozen of us with our Mister Donut muffin still in our mouth.

And there was that lady who somehow managed to get her leg severed on the pedestrian people-mover at the airport.

Now, don't say it can't happen. I have read it does. It only takes one.

My bike has a place to put a couple of six packs. But for me it is going to be soda, not beer.

[Mr Enternational]

How do you get those cases of beer home on a bike.

I have a high capacity box on the back of my bike.

Convenience is a separate matter. Especially when it rains.

I have rain gear. I actually like it better when it is raining because the streets are deserted.

[TConor]

I have ridden bikes in the streets of LOS Angeles and New York. Riding one in the lower Sukhumvit area of Bangkok is much safer in every way.

First of all, most of the time there is barely any movement in that area other than the bikes that are maneuvering between traffic lanes to get to the front of the line at the next 3 minute red traffic light stop.

In the 3 years I have been riding my bike through these auto / truck / bus traffic jams day and night I think I saw one minor fender-bender between a couple of cars and no accidents with a motorcycle, much less with an electric bicycle.

I don't use it to travel from Nana to Immigration. Not due to safety, just because the skytrain is now much faster. But I will ride it from Nana to Silom / Patpong (takes about 10 minutes compared to 5-6 times that by skytrain / subway or taxi), to Khaosan Road or Chinatown (25 minutes to Khaosan Road vs an hour or more by car taxi). And zipping around from Nana to Soi Cowboy or from MBK to Ekkamai is a cool snap compared to climbing up and down skytrain platforms, standing in the heat waiting for the next train, squeezing into the crowded train cars.

When I arrive at my destination, it being a "bicycle" I have no problem parking and locking it at the nearest sidewalk bicycle rack right outside the front door of the mall, restaurant or entertainment venue.

The risks of riding a two wheeler in the lower Sukhumvit area where I and most locals would ride a bike in their daily rounds is way overstated, imo. I have seen more pedestrians barely dodging potential serious injury while crossing Sukhumvit IN a crosswalk WITH the traffic light on their side and in a crowd of other pedestrians than I have seen for myself and other bike riders in those same areas.

I now see women in evening gowns riding one of those foldable, stand up electric scooters through traffic on Sukhumvit Road on their way to the bar areas. LOL.

Maximum speed possible with an electric bicycle like mine is about 35 kilometers per hour and most of the time I top out at only 18-20 kph, which I believe cuts way down on the risk of an accident. We're just not going fast enough to get into much trouble from our actions. But certainly faster and literally cooler temperature-wise than walking. Yes, I know some drunk driving a truck can slam into me on the street, having nothing to do with any safety measures I might take. But he could also slam into the taxi next to me, the pedestrian crossing the street or even up and onto the sidewalk.

I don't recommend this option to anyone who is not confident that they can maneuver between traffic lanes without clipping every side view mirror in the line up.

Risk reward = it may only take 1 time to end your life if you are lucky or if unlucky make you a physical or mental cripple. Buying a car is is so small a cost for life insurance. How do you get those cases of beer home on a bike. Convenience is a separate matter. Especially when it rains.

[EihTooms]

Just did some research and found out that 74% of all deaths on the roads of Thailand are motor cycle deaths. Around 45 every day.

That is impressive but I did not recommend getting a motorcycle nor do I own or drive one.

I am talking about riding a bicycle (which happens to have a 300-400 Watt electric motor as well as pedals) and NOT a motorcycle.

You do know I am not talking about traveling on an open road from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, right? Electric bicycles have a distance range of about 30 kilometers on a full battery with an adult man sitting on it and tops out at about 30 kilometers per hour.

I am quite sure 74% of the deaths for people traveling between Nana Plaza and Soi Cowboy, between Patpong and Khaosan Road or to and from Foodland Market on Soi 11 are not bicycle riders. In fact, I would be surprised if there was more than 2 death per year of any kind for any reason in any vehicle along those routes in a year. And those 2 were probably guys hit by a tour bus side view mirror while standing near the curb on Soi 4.

[AggieDad1]

I had planned on retiring in Thailand but covid interrupted that. Now that covid is over I am having second thoughts. Selling my house is such a big deal and so final. I have found where I live now to be not so bad even though I'm quite perturbed about the future in this country. I'm of two minds and procrastinating.

Right now the future is so uncertain. In 2010 I was working in China nearing retirement and China did not look bad as a place to retire. Then the new leader in 2012 changed all that. Before covid Vietnam looked good as a retirement place. But Vietnam forced a lot of people to leave during covid and I don't think hardly any have returned. Thailand looks promising but I am worried about the tax law changes. But with the real estate market in the US the way it is I would be stupid to sell now. I guess I will keep visiting for now. No easy choices.

[Turgid]

Living in Thailand works for me. I blew the bolts in SoCal, sold my house and moved to Pattaya.

I had planned on retiring in Thailand but covid interrupted that. Now that covid is over I am having second thoughts. Selling my house is such a big deal and so final. I have found where I live now to be not so bad even though I'm quite perturbed about the future in this country. I'm of two minds and procrastinating.

[Turgid]

I have ridden bikes in the streets of LOS Angeles and New York. Riding one in the lower Sukhumvit area of Bangkok is much safer in every way.

First of all, most of the time there is barely any movement in that area other than the bikes that are maneuvering between traffic lanes to get to the front of the line at the next 3 minute red traffic light stop.

In the 3 years I have been riding my bike through these auto / truck / bus traffic jams day and night I think I saw one minor fender-bender between a couple of cars and no accidents with a motorcycle, much less with an electric bicycle.

I don't use it to travel from Nana to Immigration. Not due to safety, just because the skytrain is now much faster. But I will ride it from Nana to Silom / Patpong (takes about 10 minutes compared to 5-6 times that by skytrain / subway or taxi), to Khaosan Road or Chinatown (25 minutes to Khaosan Road vs an hour or more by car taxi). And zipping around from Nana to Soi Cowboy or from MBK to Ekkamai is a cool snap compared to climbing up and down skytrain platforms, standing in the heat waiting for the next train, squeezing into the crowded train cars.

When I arrive at my destination, it being a "bicycle" I have no problem parking and locking it at the nearest sidewalk bicycle rack right outside the front door of the mall, restaurant or entertainment venue.

The risks of riding a two wheeler in the lower Sukhumvit area where I and most locals would ride a bike in their daily rounds is way overstated, imo. I have seen more pedestrians barely dodging potential serious injury while crossing Sukhumvit IN a crosswalk WITH the traffic light on their side and in a crowd of other pedestrians than I have seen for myself and other bike riders in those same areas.

I now see women in evening gowns riding one of those foldable, stand up electric scooters through traffic on Sukhumvit Road on their way to the bar areas. LOL.

Maximum speed possible with an electric bicycle like mine is about 35 kilometers per hour and most of the time I top out at only 18-20 kph, which I believe cuts way down on the risk of an accident. We're just not going fast enough to get into much trouble from our actions. But certainly faster and literally cooler temperature-wise than walking. Yes, I know some drunk driving a truck can slam into me on the street, having nothing to do with any safety measures I might take. But he could also slam into the taxi next to me, the pedestrian crossing the street or even up and onto the sidewalk.

I don't recommend this option to anyone who is not confident that they can maneuver between traffic lanes without clipping every side view mirror in the line up.

Just did some research and found out that 74% of all deaths on the roads of Thailand are motor cycle deaths. Around 45 every day.

[Leekiea]

Hi.

Just wondering if there is a 'go to' App or site to use for translating terms such as OWO, CIM etc etc into Thai? I know the answer is probably, if the girl doesn't know the very basics of lingo in English then it's probably best to avoid her, but at the same time a few times in bars and street I've got some very funny looks when negotiating price and when I show my translations on my phone which leads me to believe I've copied a poor translation off the net.

Why don't you download some pictures from Google to your phone and show them to the girls? That will be easier to understand. Just a thought.