New Pavements in Hua Hin

[Big Boy]

So the next time I have to decant my wife from her wheelchair, help her down into the busy road (road narrows at that point due to U-turn) whilst pushing an empty wheelchair and then climb back onto the pavement (there won't be any ramps in these places) just because somebody has blocked the route to sell their junk food, I should just take it on the chin and be happy about it. I'm sorry, I might be British, but I doubt wheelchair assistants of any nationality would be too pleased.

If it is a British thing, I apologise for being British.

[STEVE G]

^I've walked past the school often over the last couple of weeks because I park on Soi 88 and those school food vendors don't set up until about 15:00, they're not there all day.

[Big Boy]

Yes, I agree, I've already said, "A couple of hours each day." I've also said that, "However, I am fully aware of this restriction, and when the project is finished, I will attempt the journey both ways with a wheelchair outside of the known street vendor blockage times."

[Big Boy]

I looked closely at the new pavement as I drove from Market Village to Soi 88 this morning. There were no temporary obstructions, but they have laid the new pavement around existing obstructions. As such, I've no need to do the walk because there is no way through for a wheelchair (one area in particular - near the big roadsign). A big FAIL on the part of the Tessebahn.

We have to remember though, that wheelchairs are minority users. For the rest of the population, it does look like a vast improvement.

It was actually having to avoid somebody pushing a wheelchair in the road, where the road narrows for the U-turn that made me look closer. I will admit though, my first thoughts were, "Why isn't this tosser using the pavement?"

We often see pictures like this and laugh. Unfortunately, the new pavement has been created with a similar mindset.

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[STEVE G]

Yes, thinking about it, I can imagine that you'd struggle to get past that bit where the stairs of the old concrete footbridge are in the way.
To be honest though, unless they knock it down or narrow the road, there's not much that they can do about it.
It's the same on the other side where they installed the lift for the MV bridge, if you came down it with a wheelchair, you wouldn't get past it to head on the pavement towards town.

[Big Boy]

Yes, not just Hua Hin, it is all over Thailand - they make the splendid effort of ramps and flat surfaces, but spoil it because they don't think it completely through. Unfortunately, the money they spent on the ramps is wasted.

At least its no worse than it was before, unlike Soi 94

[Big Boy]

My final visitor for 3 weeks departed this morning, and I was almost ready to do my wheelchair assessment of the new pavement. However, before attempting the walk, I did a drive past just now.

Yes, the pavements are beautiful compared to what we had before, but totally unsuitable for wheelchair users. In particular through one of the narrow sections between Bluport and Bangkok hospital there are many ramps to get on and off of the pavement. However, instead of making them parallel to the road, many are at right angles to the road. Intead of crossing a minor side turning, a wheelchair has to go down the ramp into the inside lane of the main North Highway, and progress along the inside lane of the highway until reaching a safe ramp back onto the pavement. To do so would be a totally unsafe practice.

There is also at least one small side turn where there are no ramps whatsover.

Fortunately, most users will not be wheelchair users, and the improvement is vast. Such a shame the planners aren't taught health & safety/common sense as part of their training.

I will not be putting my wife's life in significant danger doing a test walk.

[usual suspect]

I visited the new folly (sorry) prestigious railway station at the end of last year, & imagined I had to get into the building from the roadside car park..My thoughts/findings mirrored what B.B.has just reported above..Ludicrous to say the least!

[Big Boy]

Actually, providing you use the old car park (North of the old station), you can get to the new station using a wheelchair, but I know where you are coming from.

[Edit] Last time I tried to used the disabled entrance, some bright spark thought it would be clever to make a seat across that entrance. Not sure if its still there.

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[thecolonel]

Well I just knew deep down it was too good to be true.

The excellent pavements and rate of progress has been totally ruined by the installation of many ugly and totally unnecessary concrete bollards. What use they serve is beyond me. They really spoil all the good work done to date



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[Dannie Boy]

I don’t suppose you took any photos?

[thecolonel]

Some night time shots

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[Dannie Boy]

Not exactly pretty - can only assume they’ve done it to prevent cars parking on the pavement - do you know whether it was an issue before?

[Big Boy]

I won't disagree with the "Ugly and totally unnecessary concrete bollards," but must say, I've seen worse.

[thecolonel]

It was definitely not an issue before and there were no bollards previously. Also 80% of the paved areas are 'unprotected' by bollards so that doesn't stop cars mounting pavement in the majority of areas.

The bollards seem to either side of any access point off the road, quite why I don't know.

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