Pedal power in print

NATION NEXT BOOKS took |the opportunity of the just-ended Bangkok International Book Fair 2016 to launch “Pan Thiew Muang Jakkrayan”, a new book focusing on bicycle tours. 

“We wanted to be part of the movement to encourage the cycling trend in this country while simultaneously promoting our digital TV channel. In 2014, we kicked off our first bike project in five provinces and were surprised at the good response,” Adisak Limprungpatanakij, president of the Nation Broadcasting Corporation, told the audience during a talk to introduce the book.

“That prompted us to expand our bike campaign further and take it to all corners of the country. The provinces were happy with the idea as it helped them promote their various tourist attractions. Last year we held bike tours in 20 provinces.

“Our aim today is to convince all provinces to turn their cities into safe cycling cities. We all know that cycling is good for the health and helps to reduce global warming, so we’ve made it part of the agenda to campaign for cycling nationwide.”

Niphon Bunyapataro, 82, chief adviser to the Thailand Folding Bicycle Club, and cycling enthusiast Anuwan Kosol, have joined almost all the tours organised by Nation Bike Thailand.

 “I signed up for Nation Bike Thailand’s first activity in Bang-Na. Later, I thought it would be a good idea to donate necessities like milk, snacks, clothes and daily essentials to children and monks everywhere I went,” Anuwan explained. “I particularly enjoyed the bike routes in Surat Thani and Songkhla, which involve a lot of uphill riding.”

“My knees were painful and the doctor suggested I take up swimming or cycling. I thought cycling would be more fun and started by riding just a few kilometres near my home and working up to 20 km,” Niphon told the audience to warm applause. 

“The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has built bike lanes at some public parks including Lumpini and at Waree Pirom next to Makhamthet and Sagae Ngarm lakes in Klong Samwa district. It’s a great place to cycle.” 

The 150-page book, which is illustrated with lots of photos, covers bike routes in 18 provinces and provides details of their interesting tourist attractions and products as well as bike tips. They include Bangkok’s eastern district of Bang-Na, Lampang, Nan, Krabi, Chumphon, Phitsanulok, Pathum Thani, Trang, Pattaya, Surat Thani, Songkhla, Roi-Et, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Hat Yai, Hua Hin, Nonthaburi, and Rayong.

Nation Bike Thailand is planning cycling trips in 22 provinces this year, and has already organised two, in Bangkok and Yala. The next takes place on April 30 in Kanchanaburi.

“Yala is the only city in Thailand that has bike lanes on the footpath as well as on the road. Yala has the best city planning in the country. More than 60,000 people joined the cycling event,” said Pongsak Yingchoncharoen, the mayor of Yala Municipality. 

 

On Your Bikes

 

- The book is priced at Bt200 available at all branches of |SE-ED Book Centre and other leading bookstores.

- To join Nation Bike Thailand’s activities, register at www.nationtv.tv

- Follow with the movement of Nation Bike Thailand at Facebook.com/nationbike