There have always been attempts to make Bangkok a bicycle-friendly city. Despite continuous reports of biking accidents, as well as the lack of cycling infrastructure such as bike lanes, both cyclists and non-cyclists alike have campaigned more heavily in recent years to promote cycling as an urban culture.
University bicycle clubs across the country are among initiatives to encourage people to consider cycling as a routine mode of transportation, and their continuing efforts have contributed to the growing popularity of biking.
At Thammasat University, bike lanes cover 13km, while forums on bike-related topics have been organised throughout the year. Thammasat Bike Week is held four times annually for enthusiasts to get together. There is also the First Bike scheme allowing all freshies to buy a bicycle at a price lower than in the market.
Mahidol University's Salaya campus is a stronger champion of bicycles. Bike parking spots are provided in many places all through the university. There is also the Jakka Centre — a dedicated bicycle complex where like-minded cyclists can share, sell and exchange ideas about cycling.
But one of the most active university bike communities is Green Bike Club — a brainchild of King Mongkut University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT). The club originated from a simple idea that energy saving should be promoted at the university level.
"It's KMUTT's policy to raise students' awareness regarding energy conservation and environmental management, as well as safety. And the ultimate goal is to make energy saving practical in daily life," said Suchada Chaisawadi, club adviser and KMUTT's Centre of Energy Environmental Safety and Health director.
The university's Green Bike Club kicked off in 2007, long before the bike trend took off among city dwellers, with members distributing donated bicycles to underprivileged university staff such as security guards and housekeepers. Back then, some old bikes were stationed at the university's dormitories for students to use.
"It wasn't really practical," Suchada recounted.
Donated bikes were left broken and unattended. The university then decided to establish a proper bike system. In 2011, one building was allocated to the Green Bike Club as headquarters for eco-friendly activities, and it began promoting them to the community near the university.
"We continue receiving bikes donated from our former students, but this time we run the bike centre where people are allowed to borrow a bike with no charge," explained Suchada.
Automatic bike lock powered by solar cells.
In the building, there's also a repair centre where maintenance equipment is provided. For those who bring their own bikes to the campus, there are two parking options. First, they can leave their two-wheelers under the care of the centre's staff. Or they can use the automatic bike lock system powered by solar cells, which is designed by KMUTT professors and students.
Suchada saw the university's small compound in Bang Mod as a perk instead of a hindrance. With the campus having internal roads amounting to 1.2km, Suchada saw this as an opportunity to promote walking and cycling as a transportation mode within the campus. In a way, it could also reduce car use.
"Biking is the most appropriate way to commute within the university," she said. "However, cars are still allowed on campus. We have also promoted a 'Share The Road' campaign, meaning that the road doesn't belong to any particular type of vehicle. Both car drivers and motorbike riders should drive slowly and carefully while bikers also need to be responsible for their riding habits."
After the club was founded, student members continued launching bicycle-related programmes such as road safety training addressing certain things cyclists need to know before getting on the road. This includes how to give hand signals and road manners. After the training, bikers can take part in the Bike Friday Trip which, according to Suchada, is the highlight of the club.
The idea of the bike trip is simple — to cycle to neighbouring communities within the radius of 5km. In a nutshell, Bike Friday Trip is a cultural bike ride that aims to explore and understand the way of life from locals — and the public is welcome to join.
"We have studied for years in the Bang Mod area but we hardly know anything about the neighbourhood because some areas are not accessible by car," explained Ponchanok Premwichean, president of the Green Bike Club, who is graduating from the Faculty of Engineering. "But since the club started launching activities, nearby areas has been surveyed and we have discovered hidden gems in the adjacent communities."
While the club members are allowed to have a pleasurable cycling trip, people in the communities also benefit from the activity. It is an example of how universities interact with local neighbourhoods that goes beyond the simple act of riding bikes.
"KMUTT has a good garbage management system and we apply this to the local area," said Thanakarn Kumphai, a club member. "Then we came up with an idea to transform trash into toys, which could also help with the development of children in the community."
Saturday Ride Fever is another biking trip initiated by the club to serve cyclists who enjoy a long-distance ride. Many destinations such as Bang Kra Chao in Phra Pradaeng district of Samut Prakan and several locations in Amphawa district of Samut Songkhram have been covered.
Other activities including Zombike in which bike-mending lessons are offered. The club also runs a daily Bike Taxi Rider service where members — mostly male — will queue up with their bikes at the university's entrance. They give people a ride to anywhere in the campus for free. The service has received positive feedback from customers given it is a time- and budget-saving initiative. On the riders' side, they get a chance to exercise and to build friendships.
"I believe cycling has become a relationship builder among the club members, other students, teachers and the community," Suchada remarked.
The Green Bike Club now has a growing number of members. While the actual figure does fluctuate each month depending on people receiving the services, sometimes it rises to a few hundred participants, including people outside the university.
"We have reached the goal where the number of members has exceeded our expectation," Suchada added. "Students launch bike-related activities on their own and the university provides them with facilities." Since the club's inception, the number of people who regularly bike to the university has sharply increased from 300 in 2011 to the current 2,000.
In the future, the club aims to urge locals, especially kids, to use more bicycles and learn how to ride safely. Suchada also hopes that in the near future, the university is going to be totally car-free. Cars and motorcycles are provided a space to park in front of the university while bike services are the compound's only mode of transport.
"There are three pieces of the pie when it comes to biking on the road: the readiness of infrastructure, everybody's attitudes towards cycling and, finally, street manners among cyclists themselves," Suchada concluded.
"While the first part is not up to us, the other two are what the Green Bike Club can provide."
The Green Society Building is a centre for eco-friendly activities.
Bike repair centre.
Some routes in the neighbourhood are only accessible by bike or foot.
