I wanted to get a better idea of how bicycles are used around my adopted home town of Petchaburi at the northern end of the Thai peninsular. I had a feeling that more than a remnant remained of the old style of using them as the go-to day-to-day transport but I wasn't sure how much. So one morning I cycled into the market area and spent an hour or two wandering about wearing metaphorical blinkers to look for people on bikes.
We have plenty of healthy people using bicycles to keep fit around the roads outside of the town, usually in groups and usually well kitted out. They seem to be a happy bunch always quick to greet me. These people are cycling because they choose to not because it's the best way for them to do what they need to.
In the busy market area I was pleasantly surprised. Bicycles were over-whelmingly outnumbered by motorbikes, as I knew they would be, but there were a significant number of pedal bikes around. However, a quick estimate gave me the depressing figure of perhaps 2% of two-wheeled transport being bicycles. But then, having experienced the chaotic bedlam of buzzing motors around the central market area many times this was actually more than I expected. I guess some other parts of the region would have a lot more.
I was pleased that this was the first one I saw. I knew the town still had a few of these "samlors" (three wheels) and I got to see how they work a little better. They all park for the night at the same intersection but tend to work different parts of the town centre. Built as taxi's for passengers they do more than this and I saw several cycling around with loads of goods and presumably instructions where to take them. I also saw one taking a woman around several places to do her errands as a nice personal service.
Same man, different day
Both the samlors and their riders tend to look quite old so I do wonder if this will be the last generation of them in the town. It does look quite hard work. Motorcycle taxis are a more common choice and there are a few four-wheel cabs of diifferent styles on offer.
But it wasn't just samlors. I regularly saw cyclists pedalling around, although sometimes the bike seemed to be more of a pushcart for shopping without much pedalling.
The only cyclist I saw around the market wearing a helmet. She even had panniers! But still with a basket strapped on top. I don't know for sure but from my own experience I suspect the catapault she is carrying is a way to deter dogs who always show more interest in a cyclist than a pedestrian.
Some of the market vendors were using their bicycle as a very portable market stall with the basket(s) stuffed full of their limited wares, which were always food.
And then there were all the bicycles parked next to homes. Cheap, basic bikes used as a convenient way to run local errands by the market residents and often made to carry a passenger behind. Easier to store and both easier and cheaper to maintain than a motorbike. I was happy to see so many of these.
Perhaps the owner has "upgraded" to a motorbike.
The range of designs and adaptations were quite impressive, such as bikes with side-cars, one with very solidly-built front storage, and one tricycle "pedalled" by a hand-lever.
But what stood out was that the vast majority of the people riding around the market were relatively old. There were plenty of younger people around but they were all riding motorbikes. Petchaburi is a great place for cycling given that all the roads are flat with the only uphills being on the few river bridges. Inevitable perhaps but I like this town enough to think that there could one day come a move to halt the motor's charge and produce a cleaner, healthier and more attractive town by encouraging cycling.
Who's in the saddle?
