Over 20,000 cyclists join in ‘Bangkok Car-free Day 2014’

BANGKOK, September 21 (TNA) - More than 20,000 cyclists early today joined the ‘Bangkok Car-free Day 2014’, organised by Bangkok Metropolitan Administration or BMA and 87 organisations to encourage motorists to use public transport. The event was also to mark the ‘World Car –Free Day’ which is set on September 22 every year. The cyclists started riding bicycles from Sanam Luang to Ratchadamnoen Avenue, Si Ayutthaya Road, Ratchadamri Road and will end their journey in central Bangkok on Silom Road. Silom Road as well as its adjacent Narathiwat Ratchanakharin intersection will be closed to traffic from 8.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m.. Presiding over the opening of the event, BMA governor Mom Rajawong Sukhumbhand Paribatra said he is determined to reduce the number of motorists in the Thai capital to 30 per cent and will try to encourage Bangkokians to switch to travelling by mass public transportation. Mom Rajawong Sukhumbhand also said he would try to make public transportation in Bangkok becomes popular through five measures including accelerating the 13 electric-powered train projects, expanding routes of electric-powered trains and monorail into Bangkok outskirts, mapping out public transportation system which would enable people reaching their offices within an hour, improving mass public transportation system, and administering traffic to make it more efficient. Such events were also held in other provinces, including Samut Prakan, Chon Buri, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Trang and Lampang. (TNA)