TheBangkok Post’s lifestyle, arts and culture section

LIFEBangkok Post WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2013

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TECH P.4-5

Hemingway’s six-toed cats drawtourists and legal battles

Gamification, gadgets and thenext big things of 2013

FEATURE P.8FEATURE P.8

Hemingway’s six-toed cats drawtourists and legal battles

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GETTING ON A ROLLCyclists have pushed for friendlier infrastructure and are now banking on the city

of Bangkok to make their two-wheeled life more fun and convenient

ON CAMPUS

Bangkok cyclists have a new option forenjoying the city safely, with the firstBangkok Bike Map offering a guide throughthe backstreets of the capital.

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More than 12,000cyclists filled theRoyal Plaza tomark Bangkok CarFree Day 2012 onSept 23.

STORY: SIRINYA WATTANASUKCHAI

A volunteer fixes a bicycle at ThammasatUniversity’s Rangsit campus. There areabout 200 bicycles which the universityloans to the students for getting around.

A recreational activity. Agreen and convenienttransport option. A fashionstatement. A major issuefor the next gubernatorial

campaign. Take your pick, it’s all thesame thing: cycling.

Once a fading old-world mode oftransport, or limited to some universitycampuses, cycling has re-emerged as aserious business, attracting a large num-ber of urban commuters who flaunt thetwo-wheeler around the city. The sightof chic candy-coloured fixie riders orindividuals on utility bikes has becomemore familiar.

Their appearance has favourablyaltered Bangkok’s streetscape, and there

has been a growing acceptance of thevehicles on the road. This is in partthanks to a series of campaigns a groupof activist cyclists held last year, advocat-ing for better infrastructure, like bikelanes, as well as greater public under-standing for those using two-wheelers.Among them was last year’s Valentine’sDay campaign, when city cyclists showedtheir love by creating dedicated lanesand spraying pink images of bicycles onthe left-hand lanes in the Sukhumvitneighbourhood. While not long-lasting,the signs were a success as a wake-upcall, reminding other road users of cyc-lists’ equal rights.

The popular a day magazine producedan all-bicycle issue after a search forcycling communities throughout thecountry. A bicycling-campaign postercompetition called Teep Chan Tammai(Why Ride?) was held at ChulalongkornUniversity. More clubs are being estab-lished to cater the rising demand of thecycling trips. Regular bike shows havealso been held during the past few years.

In November, a day held a four-day‘‘Bike Fest’’ that attracted 22,000 visitorsand combined the chic and the practical.The show, held at Airport Rail Link’sMakkasan station, drew an unexpectedlyhigh number of visitors and showed howtrendy and popular the human-poweredvehicle has become among young people.

Another noteworthy project was thelaunch of the first Bangkok Bike Map,made by the Green World Foundation.It features safer backstreet routes, the‘‘insiders’ routes’’ allow cyclists to goexplore the city without having to ventureon to main roads. The map will not onlybecome a bible for those pedallingaround the city, but also will help create

a great network between like-mindedpeople from different neighbourhoods.

While there are no official figures ofBangkok’s cyclist population, yet, thegathering on the car-free day in Sep-tember was stunning, with more than12,000 people — the highest numberever for this annual activity. Their pro-cession, forming into a tri-colourednational flag, captured public attention.

The increasing number of cyclistsmeans a larger market and more businessopportunities. Shops offering used andbrand-name vehicles and accessoriesare mushrooming on street corners andin the online shopping world. Newimporters are becoming a force, with

mass and niche products for all segmentsof the market, giving consumers greaterchoice.

For the upper end of the market, thereis greater variety for popular brands likeTrek and Giant, while design brandslike Vanmoof or sought-after brands likeBrompton and Alex Moulton havebecome household names. People withlimited budgets can opt for used bikesfrom Japan or more affordable optionsfrom China.

But without political commitmentfrom authorities in the city, cycling cannever be a real success story. For thisreason, activists are pushing for cyclingpolicies play a role in the forthcoming

Bangkok governor election, which willtake place next month.

Among their demands are an exten-sion of the bike lane network, and makingsure existing designated lanes are keptfree of parked vehicles and motorcycletaxis.

One candidate for governor, SuharitSiamwalla, has already promised toimprove public transport and the cyclingnetwork: it is one of his eight-point pol-icies. He is to debate his policy —especially on how to enhance quality oflife and make the city more green —with other candidates at a forum organ-ised by Thammasat University.

Incumbent Bangkok Governor MRSukhumbhand Paribatra, seeking asecond term, will also attempt to cashin on the bike issue.

In the past few months, the governorhas responded favourably to the activists’demand by replacing dangerous vertical-grid drainage on the streets with a saferhorizontal version. MR Sukhumbhandwill feel the urge to prove that he isready to take the bike matter moreseriously, continuing the work left byhis predecessors, former governor BhichitRattakul, who was the first to addressthe need for bike lanes in city develop-ment, and Apirak Kosayodhin, whoturned the plan into action.

MR Sukhumbhand is likely to highlightthe BMA bicycle rental service which helaunched to the press in October withtwo mock-up stations in Siam Squareand Sam Yan. If re-elected, the governoris expected to complete the service,inspired by the London version, updatingit from a manual system to an onlineone which will operate 24/7, with morestations to better serve city commuters.

Thammasat University is making goodprogress on its Green vision both at ThaPrachan and Rangsit campuses. Last year,about 200 old, flood-damaged bicycles wererepaired by volunteer students, the ThaiCycling for Health Association and the ThaiHealth Promotion Foundation. The repairedbikes have now been on loan to studentsfor getting around Rangsit campus, reducingtheir reliance on motorised vehicles. Morebike lanes are also being introduced.

At Tha Prachan campus, Cafe Velo Domewas launched last year.Unlike typicalvenuesthat offer drinks or use bicycle parts asdecoration, the cafe acts as a bicycle hub,givingcycling informationand leadingcyclingtours in the city — free of charge.

In Nakhon Pathom’s Salaya district,Mahidol University has gone a step further.It successfully introduced the ‘‘JakkaMahachon’’ project as part of a Green cam-pus concept in mid-2011. Some 420 free-rental white utility bicycles were on loan forstudents and visitors on a daily basis.

The central academic zone’s six trafficlanes, originally paved for motor vehicles,has been divided into two. One half is forone-way traffic flow for motorised vehiclesonly, with no parking allowed; the other hasbeen raised and paved for bicycles andpedestrians. Bike lanes, painted in blue,are also provided around the campus.

life DESIGN12 | MONDAY, JANUARY 28, 2013 | Bangkok Post

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Editor: PRAPAI KRAISORNKOVIT | prapaik@bangkokpost.co.th Deputy Editors: KONG RITHDEE, SAMILA WENIN | life.culture@bangkokpost.co.thLIFE Travel Editor: PONGPET MEKLOY | pongpetm@bangkokpost.co.th

Motoring Editor: RICHARD LEU | motoring@bangkokpost.co.th

A bikeAt last, a two-wheeler designed

specifically to cope with theobstacles that urban cyclistshave to surmount every day

STORY: SIRINYA WATTANASUKCHAIPHOTOS: CHANAT KATANYU

fit for BANGKOK

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PhongsathornLa-iad-on.

B angkok poses a special setof challenges to those bravesouls who choose to travelon two wheels. The mixtureof narrow streets, typically

choked with heavy traffic, and broad,multi-lane avenues that cover largeexpanses, but which can be hazardousbecause of speeding motorists, makesthis ever-expanding metropolis of oursa very difficult place to negotiate with asingle-purpose bicycle.

A folding bike is most suitable forBangkok commuters because it allowsthem to make the best use of Skytrainand underground options. A city or minibike is best for getting through areasclogged with traffic. A road bike is idealfor sprints on those long-distance, multi-lane routes, but sometimes the roadsurface is so bumpy that a mountainbike is what is really required for thejob. So, for a smooth, minimally stressfulride across Bangkok, a cyclist would needseveral different sets of wheels.

Frustrated with the mismatch betweenBangkok’s street topography and theselection of specialised bicycles availableon the market, long-time cyclist Phong-sathorn La-iad-on has come up withhis own version, the Angl, a bike thatcombines several functions, can assumevarious forms and which was designedspecifically with the Bangkok cyclistin mind.

His invention, which went on salehere in November last year, is designedboth for sustained bursts of speed andfor zigzagging around obstacles in narrowstreets. Its chic look and pastel coloursshould make it even more attractive tofashion-conscious city slickers.

There are quite a few local bicycle-makers around, some filling the needfor reasonably priced, mass-producedbikes, others catering to those who wanta lovingly hand-assembled set of wheels.

But what sets the Angl apart is that itwas designed by a Thai national, and itis being manufactured in a Taiwanesefactory which meets international qualitycontrol standards.

‘‘Never before has there been onesingle bicycle that could cater to themix of street features that you get inBangkok,’’ said Phongsathorn, a productdesigner by training who is the founderand CEO of Angel Bike Co Ltd. Earlierdesigns of his include those for industrialproducts like an air-conditioner, washingmachine and an electric car.

‘‘Angl’’ is Phongsathorn’s play on thewords ‘‘angle’’ — the angles in the frameof a bicycle which is what makes onediffer so much from another — and‘‘angel’’, as in Krungthep (City of Angels),the Thai name for our capital.

A graduate in industrial design fromKing Mongkut’s Institute of TechnologyLadkrabang, Phongsathorn owns morethan 10 different types of bicycle, whichis how he familiarised himself with thedifferent capabilities of each sort. Whilecycling only became a major means oftransport for him five years ago, he saysthat he was a keen recreational cyclistfor a decade before that.

If the Manhattan bike messengers inthe 2012 film Premium Rush made youwonder why zipping through Bangkok’srush-hour gridlock is so much harderthan squeezing past New York City’snotoriously rude motorists, take a closerlook at the road surface our poor cyclistshave to contend with.

This is sometimes as uneven as anunpaved rural track and rainfall guttersthat run parallel to the left-most lanepose a risk for the unwary.

To zigzag between snaking lines ofcars on narrow streets, a cyclist needs tobe very manoeuvrable and for this taska dynamic bike with smaller wheels —like the mini, folding or city types — isrecommended. But Bangkok also has

many long, 10-lane thoroughfares wherecyclists need to be able to move quicklyin order to contend with motorisedvehicles; to master this situation, asprinter with narrower wheels, like aroad bike, is the best choice. But thelatter type of bicycle does not performwell in the former set of conditions, andvice versa.

A standard bicycle has wheels thatare 26 inches in diameter and 1.5 incheswide, but the wheel diameter for a minibike is 20 inches and for a roadster it’s27 inches. If one was riding a mini, itwould take forever to reach the next setof traffic lights on Vibhavadi or a recentlyopened road like Kaset-Navamin. Butthe larger wheels of a road bike make itharder to zigzag through gridlocked traf-fic, and their width, usually only 1 inch,makes them susceptible to gettingtrapped in those road-side gutters.

Mountain bikes have wide-gaugewheels and tyres designed to provideincreased grip on off-road trails, so theywould be able to cope with the mostpot-holed of Bangkok streets; the onlydrawback, however, is that they’re muchtoo heavy for urban commuting.

‘‘You need a bike that’s dynamic, butalso stable enough to get into the narrowspaces between lines of traffic. Nor shouldit require a great deal of strength toproduce a burst of speed,’’ Phongsathornexplained.

To make it go faster, the triangle onthe rear of the Angl frame has beenminimised. To provide better balanceand control, the front of the Angl has alower head-tube to enable a lower sittingposition and its wheelbase is also shorterthan normal.

‘‘Cyclists tend to feel more confidentwhen the seat is closer to the ground,’’he said, adding that he had learned froma survey carried out during the product-development process that the reasonmost people give for not cycling is fearfor their personal safety.

And anybody who has ever bought abicycle knows how difficult it can be tofind one that fits your body size precisely.A person’s height and inside-leg mea-surement are important, of course, butother factors have to be taken into con-sideration, too, like torso and arm length.

Some serious types have their bicyclestailor-made, just like commissioning agown or suit for a special occasion.

But to build a bike from scratch, oneneeds to find components designed tofit a specific frame-set, the collectiveterm for the actual frame plus parts likethe wheel forks and seat post. Someparts are made for fixed-gear bikes, sothey can’t be replaced with items meantfor multi-gear hubs. Many componentsfit only a certain size of wheel. Otherparts only mesh with disc brakes andcan’t be used on models which haveold-fashioned V-brakes.

After two years of research and design— and the construction of no less thanthree prototypes — Phongsathorn finallysolved all the problems confronting him.His frame-set is designed for Asians (orpeople between 152cm and 178cm inheight) and can be given either a vintageor super-modern look with the use ofappropriate parts. One of the uniquefeatures of the Angl is the curved toptubeon the model intended for men; thismakes it a good deal easier to get on andoff the bike. Phongsathorn isn’t onlytargeting Thai cyclists; he hopes to sellthe Angl in other parts of Asia, too, andhas produced a larger version for sale inthe European market.

Nor is the 40-year-old content to reston his laurels now that he’s designed arevolutionary two-wheeler for urbanites.He is currently working on his next pro-ject, a folding bike. Most of the com-mercial models available these days foldup perfectly, but don’t perform so wellon the road, or vice versa; Phongsathorn’sdream is to create a vehicle that fulfilsboth functions well.

‘‘If we can’t design something better,’’he said, ‘‘we should stick to what’s avail-able on the market. There’s far too muchmuch garbage in this world already.’’

www.facebook.com/ANGLbike

life PEOPLEBangkok Post | MONDAY, APRIL 8, 2013 | 9

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SOCIALSCENE

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INTERVIEW SIRINYA WATTANASUKCHAI

Champion of commutersDr Sukamon Wipaweeponkul is on a mission against motors

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‘‘Why would youwant to put your lifein a motorcycle taxidriver’s hands?

W ith his solid, well-paidjob at a privatehospital, Dr SukamonWipaweeponkul hasevery reason to own

a car. Going against social expectations,however, he chooses not to.

Sukamon, Chief of the PsychiatricDivision of Phyathai 2 Hospital, said therising number of cars is becoming atough problem every city commuterconfronts. The majority of new vehiclesare due to last year’s first-car taxrebate policy.

‘‘This policy only boosts the demandfor cars and makes commuters moredependent on them,’’ said Sukamon.The psychiatrist, who can’t drive, hasrelied on his bicycles and public transportfor the past seven years.

The 48-year-old psychiatrist chose tomove into a house in the city that waseasily accessible by public transport.Welcoming the cars of his friends andrelatives from time to time, the parkingspace on the ground floor houseshis five bicycles including one foldingbike for short-distance rides, one moun-tain bike and one touring bike forlonger routes.

Sukamon is encouraging Bangkokcommuters to live an independent lifeand not rely on the unpredictable traffic.Unlike car drivers who have to try theirluck with the traffic every time theysit behind the wheel, independentcommuters should be able to rely onthemselves or the predictable publictransport system.

For Sukamon, life is perfect when it’ssafe and predictable. He recently misseda domestic flight because his taxi gotstuck on the expressway. Since then,he’s minimised the use of road transportthat could get him stuck in thegridlocked traffic.

From his house, about a five-minutewalk from BTS Krung Thonburi, Suka-mon can get to work — with publictransport such as electric trains — inthe Sanam Pao area in 45 minutes, andto Suvarnabhumi airport in about 60-95minutes. And on weekends it takes himless than 60 minutes to cycle to see hismother who lives near Wat Kalaya.

Motorcycle taxis could be a popularoption for commuters, but Sukamondoesn’t rely on strangers. If cycling inthe city is considered dangerous, at leastit’s under your control. ‘‘Why wouldyou want to put your life in a motorcycletaxi driver’s hands?’’

Sukamon may be considered luckybeing able to afford a house in the city.But that was by choice. The psychiatristcould have afforded a large house witha big garden, but that would put him inthe city outskirts where it’s not possibleto travel around with public transportand he’d have to rely on a car.

‘‘I don’t want to put myself in asituation that makes me need a car,’’he said.

As a child living near Wat Kalaya, hegot around by bus. As a medical studentat Khon Kaen University, he travelledaround on a motorcycle. He used thesame mode of transport when he movedto Bangkok to work as a psychiatrist

after graduating. Growing up in a garagenear Wat Kalaya where his father wasthe owner and head technician, Sukamonbecame familiar with the sight of broken-down cars. This created a negativeperception of the vehicles. His fatheralso spoke frequently about dishonesttechnicians who tried to cheat customerswho had no idea about car engines.

‘‘It gave me the impression that carswere high maintenance and cost a fortuneto own and run,’’ he said, recalling thathis father’s garage was never empty.The garage later closed down as neitherhe nor his four siblings were interestedin continuing the family business.

After seven years of serious cycling,Sukamon was not only able to shedweight and keep it under control, but hewas also able to reduce medication forhis high-blood pressure that he inheritedfrom his parents.

In his view, cycling not only improveshealth, but can also boost the economy.And using public transport is a way todistribute the income to every partof society.

‘‘Driving your own car and buyingthe petrol to fill your gas tank will onlygive money to the giant entrepreneurs.’’

Sukamon hopes to see more govern-ment support for bicycling. Instead of

the first-car tax rebate, the governmentshould introduce a first-bicycle tax rebatefor city commuters, or offer paymentsin instalments for low-income earners.More importantly, to make bicycles moreaffordable for all, the import tax shouldbe reduced from the current 30%.

He also hopes the Bangkok governorcontinues his plan to improve the cyclinginfrastructure in the capital as promised,including a proper bike lane andring route that connects inner andouter Bangkok.

‘‘That’s how the government andthe BMA should support commuters,’’he said.

ANNIE’SMAILBOX

How to help a friend who has waited 50 years to be ‘discovered’

KATHY MITCHELL & MARCY SUGAR

Dear Annie: I’ve been friends with asmall group of people since junior high.We’re in our late 50s now, and thoughnone of us has set the world on fire, wehave good families and stable careers.All except ‘‘Joe’’.

Ever since he was a boy, Joe dreamedof making it big in a profession in which,with a good deal of skill and some luck,you can make a lot of money in a relativelyshort time. Unfortunately, Joe’s skillsare no better than average, and he’snever had much luck. He hasn’t gottenfurther than the fringes of his dreamprofession, no matter how hard he’stried. But that’s his dream, and he isabsolutely sure his big break is rightaround the corner. His interests haven’tchanged since junior high.

Joe has had one entry-level job afteranother, with no interest in moving upthe ladder. He’s never had a seriousrelationship. Joe is a nice guy, and we alllike him, but if we hadn’t been friendsall these years, no one in our groupwould have anything in common withhim at all.

A few months ago, Joe was laid offfrom another dead-end job, and at hisage and with his haphazard work experi-ence, he’s had no luck finding employ-

ment. Now all he talks about is movingto a big city where he’s convinced hisdream will finally come true.

Some guys in our group say maybehe’ll come to his senses when he failsyet again. Others believe he will end upliving in a cardboard box. The rest wantto find a way to get him to wake up. Howdo we help someone who’s thrown awayhis entire life on an impossible dream?

Joe’s Buddies for Life

Dear Buddies: Most people eventuallylearn the limits of their talent and findsuccess in areas in which they can dowell. And while extremely gifted peoplecan find some degree of success later inlife, Joe has deluded himself into spend-ing 50 years waiting to be ‘‘discovered’’.And he obviously isn’t ready to confrontthat depressing fact. The kindest thingyou could do for Joe is suggest he lookinto job counselling and work on becom-ing more successful — in any field.

Don’tbesorudeDear Annie: I read the letter from ‘‘Angryand Embarrassed’’. As a mother of threesmall children, going out to dinner givesme a break from cooking. I try to teach

my children manners and tell them thatmaking a mess is not OK, but this lady’sgrandchild is 16 months old and cannotunderstand that yet.

When my kids make a mess at a res-taurant, my husband and I apologiseand then leave a more generous tip forthe server. But I do not feel that theseparents were rude in not cleaning upa few noodles that landed on the floor.

Done That

DrinketiquetteDear Annie: This is in response to ‘‘Nota Fan of the Big Gulp’’, who was offendedthat guests brought their own drinks toa bridal shower.

I’ve also gotten into the habit of bring-ing my own drinks. I’m allergic to coffee,and many times, that is the only beverageserved. Some hosts get offended if youask what drinks will be available, andI understand they cannot cater to every-one. The people who brought their owndrinks may have had a similar allergy.

Orlando

Dear Orlando: That doesn’t quite cut it.When you are invited to someone’s home,it is rude to bring your own beverages,

especially when they are large soft drinksin plastic tubs. Those who are allergic tocoffee, tea, lemonade or anything elsecan politely ask for a glass of water.

Green-eyedmonstersDear Annie: Tell ‘‘Going in Circles in theCircle City’’ to run as fast as he can andnever look back. His situation with ajealous girlfriend is toxic.

I was married to a jealous woman fornearly 40 years, and it was hell on Earth.I feel I wasted all those years. My wifepassed away, and I wish I could say nicethings about our marriage, but it wouldbe one gigantic lie.

If you want to live a life of torture,your stomach in knots, constant phonecalls, having to justify going to the store,go right ahead and marry that otherwiselovely companion. The jealousy neverends. It’s like an incurable disease. Forthe sake of his health and welfare, heshould take a fast hike.

Paul from Pennsylvania

DearPaul: Extreme jealousy can makeany relationship toxic, but it is usuallyrooted in insecurity, and sometimescounselling can help.

ROYAL BOOK: HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn recently launched a special editionof Naree Nakhara, translated and signed by her, at the Shangri-La hotel Bangkok. Alsopictured are Wang Junzheng, second left, vice-governor, Hubei province, People’sRepublic of China, Chinese Ambassador Guan Mu, third left, and SuwadeeChongsatitwatana, left, managing director of Shangri-La hotel Bangkok.

STUDENT WORKSHOP: The ‘5th Annual Mid-Year Enrichment Workshop for AmericanFulbright Students and Scholars in Southeast Asia’ was recently organised by former Thaiambassador to the US and chair of the Fulbright Thailand, Dr Manaspas Xuto, and USambassador and honorary chair of the Fulbright Thailand Kristie Kenney, who presidedover the event at the Dusit Thani Bangkok. From left: Asst Prof Edward Geerson, JudyBenn, Jim Coffman, Mike McCoy, Ambassador Kenny, Dr Manaspas, Pissmai Khanobdee,Anthony M. Zola, Michael Honnold and Paul Wedel.

BRAND PARTY: Graeme Harlow, president of Diageo Moet Hennessy (Thailand), onbehalf of Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve, and Vatanika Patamasingh Na Ayudhya,owner and designer of the Vatanika brand, recently hosted an exclusive fashion party tocelebrate the ultimate success of the two brands with a special mini fashion collection— Vatanika Gold Reserve Edition — at Swissotel Nai Lert Park Bangkok. From left:Nachanok Ratanadaros, Sikanya Saktidej Bhanuband, Sam Fischer, managing director,Diageo Southeast Asia, Mr Harlow, Ms Vatanika, and Korn and Naphaporn Narongdej.

FASHION EVENT: Charnchai Cherdchoowongthanakorn, executive vice-president ofSiam Piwat, recently held ‘Synthesis By The Selected x The Wonder Room’, which was aSiam Center Fashion Visionary event. From left: Julaluk Piyasombatkul, WasuthidaChonprawet, Karatphet Issara, Mr Charnchai, Parisa Chatnibandhu, SappasitFhoongfuangchavaeg and Athiwat Toothongkham.

YSL COUNTER: Yeon Ah Choi, general manager of Luxe division, L’Oreal (Thailand), andSongsamorn Hattet, brand manager of Yves Saint Laurent Beaute Thailand, recently held‘The Grand Opening of The First YSL Counter in Thailand’ to launch the first Yves SaintLaurent Beaute counter in Thailand at Central Chidlom. From left: Sririta Jensen,Nutthaset Poonsapmanee, Ms Songsamorn, Ms Yeon, Natira Boonsri, vice-president ofmerchandising, Central Department Store, Ornarpa Poonsapmanee and KimberlyTiamsiri.

TheBangkok Post’s lifestyle, arts and culture section

LIFEBangkok Post TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2013

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Lost your appetite for rice?Check out the alternatives

HEALTH P.6

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PEOPLE P.9

Golfers improve their swingswith meditation

FEATURE P.12

I want to ride my bicycleThe BMA’s new pedal-powered sharing scheme has a bumpy road STORY: SIRINYA WATTANASUKCHAI

PHOTOS: PATIPAT JANTHONG

Amsterdam first started itin the 1960s. Copenhagenfollowed. Decades later,Paris joined the band-wagon, followed by

London, Melbourne and cities in China.New York got its own version in placeearlier this year.

Now it’s Bangkok’s turn for a full-scale bike share system. By the end ofthis week, the Pun Pun bike share projectwill see the completion of 50 stationsset up in business districts like PhayaThai, Ratchadamri, Phloenchit, Silomand Sathon.

‘‘I cannot wait for the system to becompleted and expand to other parts ofBangkok,’’ said Piyalak Nakayodhin, atravel writer who’s keen on alternativetransport. She recently tried the rentalbike service and was impressed.

Piyalak said the service was a goodstart for the city to provide long-terminfrastructure for cyclists and to attractnewcomers to the cycling community.

This is not the first effort by the BMAto operate a bike share scheme. Thefirst scheme, which primarily targetedtourists, was introduced in Rattanako-sin’s old town square in 2009, with onlyone station located under the Pin Klaobridge. But it was short lived becausethe zero-income system only drainedthe BMA budget. Without a membershipfee system — anyone with a passport orID card could rent a bicycle — shopowners got hold of the vehicles for anentire day for personal use, sometimesleaving an empty station for tourists.

But the system, however, wasn’tinvented for tourism. First established

in Amsterdam in 1965, the share schemenamed White Bike was meant for citycommuters with bikes reused many timesthroughout the day. But the scheme failedwithin a month; bikes were stolen, leavingonly broken ones.

The free scheme was later developedinto a rental service for short trips in thecity. Bikes are now properly stationed atdesignated locations, usually close to pub-lic transportation such as bus stops, sub-way stations or boat piers.

The bike share scheme has becomealternative transport in metropolitan citiesaround the world. A bicycle is the bestchoice to get around congested cities.The number of cyclists has risen fast inEurope in recent years, thanks to well-designed bike lanes. Two-wheelers, aneconomical form of transportation, havebecome an alternative as petrol costsand public transport costs are high.

So will the new scheme work for Bang-kok? That’s a big challenge for the BMAto live up to. With 50 stations and 500bikes scattered around the heart of thecity for the first phase, the life of a citycommuter is supposed to get easier asthey avoid the congested traffic. Theycan travel from point A to point B usinga rental bike, and return the vehicle atany station on the way, without havingto return to the starting point.

The BMA has the ambition of seeing10,000 public bikes, or about 1,000 sta-tions, by the end of governor MR Sukhum-bhand Paribatra’s current four-year term— that was the promise given earlier thisyear during the election campaign. Thesecond phase should start when the firstconcession ends at the end of next month.

Continued onpage 4

Start spinningAt the station, you will find a booth on

the far right. Select ‘‘rent’’ on the menuand put your Pun Pun smart card on thescreen to verify your PIN code. Choose thebike from the available docks. A red light willappear on the screen of the chosen dock,tap your card on the screen.

The bike will be released and the rentalfee starts. You can also check your creditbalance and top up your card at any station.To register for the service, fill out the form

with your ID card or passport at the websitewww.punpunbikeshare.com. You can collectthe smart card from stations with staff. How-ever, staff will be working only at stations inbusy locations like Siam Square or ChamchuriSquare.

Your identity and address will later beused to track down the bike if it’s not returned.That’s why a coin booth system isn’t possible.

In some cities, rental fees can be simplypaid by credit/debit card. Since not every

city commuter owns a credit card, BMA wasworried that the service wouldn’t be accessiblefor all.

Membership costs 320 baht. The price isdivided into 120 baht for registration, 100baht for the membership fee and another100 baht as prepaid credits; life insurance isalso inclusive. The package is being discountedto 100 baht until the end of this month.

In case of an accident and you are notable to return the bike, call 087-029-8888.

RENTALFEE

15 minutes Free15 minutes to 1 hour 10 baht1-3 hours 20 baht3-5 hours 40 baht5-6 hours 60 baht6-8 hours 80 bahtMore than 8 hours 100 baht

Continued from page 1 I want to ride my bicycle

The station on the corner of Silom andRama IV roads is too big for a footpathwith a line of trees in the middle. Two

of the eight docks were removedrecently after photographs of them

standing against a tree had beenrepeatedly shared on Facebook. Some

stations will be relocated to moreconvenient and appropriate spots.

Dos and Don’ts: Bring your own helmet if you

care for your own safety.

Bring your own lock if you plan topark the bike somewhere.

Bring your own lights if you planto ride after sunset.

Bring your own map ornavigation device if you wish toexplore the backstreets.

Try the bike before setting offas some of the bikes start towear out.

But the expansion plan isn’t finalised,yet. There are two possible models: toincrease the number of stations in a‘‘satellite’’ format, and the other is tocreate a bike share system in differentdistricts around Bangkok, in particularThon Buri.

The public bike has the simple lookof a utility bike, a single-speed machine

that comes in green without any acces-sories like built-in lights, baskets, locksor mirrors.

It’s also light to ride. The size hasbeen designed for Asian riders.

Under the new scheme operated bySmart Bike Service, who won an approvedconcession from the BMA, the rentalfee is affordable and cycling in Bangkokdoesn’t require a helmet like cities inthe West.

But it’s hard for the scheme to attractnewcomers in Bangkok to use the service.They are too scared to share the roadwith motorised vehicles; many refuse tocycle unless they are provided with aproper bike lane, which now is onlyavailable on Ratchadamri and Sathonroads. Many cyclists find the stationscrammed in the central business districtsand want it to stretch into tourist districts.

A Pun Pun station shares the lookand size of a bus stop. Comprising eightparking docks, the back wall and theroof of the station, and the eight bikesare used as the commercial space.

The computerised rental hours, whichoperate from 7am to 8pm in the trialstage, will be expanded, it will run from6am to midnight. The bike share systemis meant for a short-trip commute in aday. If you fail to return the bike bymidnight, a 500-baht fine will be imposed.

Ideal locations are busy spots in con-gested traffic areas, which can be on themain roads or on smaller streets. Butsome of the current locations are notproportionally fit.

Compared to 16 stations on SathonRoad, 10 on Rama I Road, and nine onRama IV Road, there are only three sta-tions on Silom.

That busy street requires more stationsto allow commuters to move from theBTS or MRT stations to their officebuildings on this congested road. Ofcourse, no building owners want this

station to block the view of their com-mercial building and some pavementsare occupied by street vendors, whorefuse to move out of the way for thestations.

‘‘The project has been delayed becauseof the untidy infrastructure like old waterpipes and underground wires,’’ said BMAspokesperson Threedow Aphaiwongs.

Hidden obstacles were found onlywhen construction started on the spotand some of the stations had to be relo-cated from their original positions. Con-struction of the first 50 stations, however,have to meet a deadline of the end ofnext month.

As the deadline approaches, the con-struction of these stations has beenrushed, resulting in many being placedin inappropriate locations. Some foot-paths are too narrow to accommodatean eight-dock station and that makes itinconvenience for pedestrians.

life MUSIC4 | TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2013 | Bangkok Post

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Brazilian belter extends her reachAxe singer Ivete Sangalo steps out of home country to a big international audience

LARRY ROHTER

NYT

Ivete Sangalo, the most popular female vocalist in Brazil. Sangalo has sold more than 15 million records as a solo artist.

‘‘To be able toentertain peopleis a triumph ...There’s nothing I’drather do than this

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I f Ivete Sangalo were an Americansinger, rather than the mostpopular female vocalist in Brazil,she would undoubtedly bedescribed as a belter. Onstage,

she is bold, brassy and boisterous, partof a lineage that includes Tina Turner,Janis Joplin and Bette Midler, and onher records she has often favoured songsthat allow her to emote loudly anddramatically.

It’s an approach that has workedsplendidly for Sangalo. She has sold morethan 15 million records as a solo artist;is said by the Brazilian news media tobe the country’s highest-paid active per-former, earning up to US$500,000 (16million baht) a show, has 8.5 millionfollowers on Twitter, and runs her ownproduction company.

‘‘To be able to entertain people is atriumph, but the funny thing is that Inever dreamed as a child about being asinger, never looked in the mirror andplayed at being a pop star,’’ Sangalo, 41,said in an interview this week at a NewYork hotel.

‘‘I played at being an actress, and itwasn’t until I started going to Carnivalas a teenager and heard all that loud,joyous music blaring from the trucksthat I said to myself: ‘There’s nothingI’d rather do than this.’’’

Sangalo (pronounced San-GAHL-oh)is the leading exponent of an upbeatand often raucous style known as axemusic, which combines a variety of Braz-ilian and foreign influences into a high-octane blend, reminiscent of what isheard at Carnival. Samba and reggaeare the most obvious sources, but rock,soul and Caribbean genres such as salsaand merengue, as well as local regionalrhythms, also enter the mix.

Her enormous popularity illustratesthe gap between foreign perceptions ofBrazilian music and the reality there.While singer-songwriters such as CaetanoVeloso, Gilberto Gil and Marisa Montewin plaudits abroad for their subtle vocalsand sophisticated melodies and har-monies, Brazil’s charts are dominatedby axe, romantic pop ballads and a localversion of country music called sertaneja.

‘‘For better or worse, Ivete reflectsthe state of Brazilian popular music at amoment when people are buying a lotof upbeat, simple dance music with lyricsthat are very basic,’’ Chris McGowan, aco-author of the pop music history TheBrazilian Sound, said in a telephone

interview from Brazil. ‘‘She’s aconsummate professional with a power-ful, controlled voice that can soar overdrums and polyrhythms. On the otherhand, there is not much subtlety abouther and no great artistry, just pure showbusiness.’’

Increasingly, the popularity of Sangalo,a former model with dark, expressiveeyes, a husky voice, and an effervescentpersonality, extends beyond the stageand recordings. She appears regularlyin television and print ads and on thecover of celebrity-oriented magazines,has been adopted by players on thenational soccer team as their muse, hasbranched out into acting and has alsoshot fashion spreads for Brazilian Vogueand other magazines.

‘‘She’s not just a singer or entertainer,

she’s also a personality whom peoplehere like a lot, someone who is admiredand seen as a role model,’’ Ricardo Pes-sanha, the other author of The BrazilianSound, said from Rio de Janeiro. ‘‘Womenin particular are inspired by her, seeingher as a person who is strong, indepen-dent, happy, well-dressed and fulfilled,with a child and lots of money.’’

Sangalo was born in the interior ofthe state of Bahia, in Juazeiro, also thebirthplace of Joo Gilberto, one of thefathers of the bossa nova. As a child, theyoungest of a brood of six, she listenedto all kinds of Brazilian music, but afterher family moved to Salvador, the capitalof Bahia, the most musically rich statein a country obsessed with music, herhorizons broadened to include reggaeand American pop and soul music.

‘‘I adore Sly and the Family Stone,George Clinton, Prince, Kool and theGang, and especially Stevie Wonder,’’"she said.

Normally, ‘‘I don’t do covers, but Ibring them into my music and translatethem into the percussion lines.’’

After Sangalo’s father, a jeweller, diedwhen she was a teenager, she beganplaying the bars of Salvador, accom-panying herself on guitar and learningto project above the din and disarmpotentially hostile crowds with humourand between-song patter. She joined agroup called Banda Eva in 1993, hadseveral hit records with them, and thenventured out on her own in 1999.

Marco Mazzola is a producer who,before working with Sangalo at the startof her solo career, had made records

with every major Brazilian female singerof recent decades, including Elis Regina,Gal Costa, Elba Ramalho and Fafa deBelem. Asked to name Sangalo’s distin-guishing characteristics, Mazzola listedthe power of her voice, her charisma onthe stage, her business savvy and her‘‘integral’’ sense of who she is.

‘‘There is something in her voice thatis very warm, that transmits happinessto listeners,’’ he added. ‘‘She’s a theatricalperformer, an actress and dancer as muchas a singer, who sings with a lot of heart,and man, does she have drive anddetermination.’’

With nothing left to prove in Brazil,Sangalo has begun looking to the globalmarket. She first toured the US in 2010,including a sold-out show at MadisonSquare Garden that was turned into ahit DVD, and arrives for her Newarkshow after testing the waters on theWest Coast and in the Boston area, withMiami coming Sunday.

During her first go-round, the bulk ofthe audience at her US shows had rootsin Brazil or Portugal, where she is alsoquite popular. But in her debut in LosAngeles last week, she happily reported,‘‘half the audience was Americans’’, bothEnglish- and Spanish-speakers.

Last year, she won a Latin Grammyfor a record she made with Gil and Veloso,whom she idolised as a child. To easeinto the international arena, she hasalso performed with Dave Matthews,Shakira, Juan Luis Guerra and AlejandroSanz, and when, in December, she makesher next live record, at a show in Salvadorto commemorate her 20 years as a pro-fessional singer, she plans to includesongs in English by Bob Marley andStevie Wonder.

But it is not clear, even to her, whethershe wants to follow in the footsteps ofsomeone like Shakira, the Colombiansinger who alternates between projectsin English and ones in Spanish. Thatwould require a commitment to absentherself from her homeland, which hasenjoyed an economic boom — lifting asmany as 50 million into the middle class— that coincides with the start of hersolo career and that is the source of hersuccess.

‘‘It’s a card in the sleeve, to leave myown country and come here for a yearto dedicate myself to this and takeadvantage of what’s here, which is reallygood and marvellous,’’ she said.

‘‘But what I’ve got there, in Brazil, isalso marvellous, but different. What Ican’t do is stop singing.’’ © 2013 THE NEW

YORK TIMES

Move around on a bikeIn a recent ‘‘race’’ between Pun Pun bikes and a car, cycling

enthusiasts Umalux Bankhumasuta and Nonlany Ungw-iwatkul proved that bicycle is a best way to move around theinner city.

The route was set to depart from the Chamchuri Squarestation to U-Chu Liang Building on Rama IV Road, then moveon to Sam Yan Market, before ending the race at the stationat Siam Square, in front of the Digital Gateway Building.

It took bicycles only seven minutes from the ChamchuriSquare station to U-Chu Liang; 10 minutes to Sam Yan Market;and another 15 minutes from the market to return the bikeat Siam Square Soi 5 station.

Despite the light traffic and empty parking at 10am on aweek day, bicycles easily beat the car at the end of the race.The car driver may have arrived at U-Chu Liang before thecyclists, but it took time to find parking.

At the last stop, cyclists returned their bikes at the stationand walked to the meeting spot. Five minutes later, the cararrived at the Digital Gateway Building.

KCMYE

COVER STORY OCTOBER 19-25, 201314

BikebabesTwo of the best-dressed women on the road give

some tips on how to cycle in style

STORY:: SIRINYA WATTANASUKCHAI

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Donning her shirt dress, highheels, light make-up and per-fect hairdo with a flowery hairpin, Chada Wannapong wasready for the Bangkok Bike Chicride in the city.

She wore her stylish outfit to convinceother commuters that cycling wasn’t limitedonly to those in Lycra tights and jerseys. Theafternoon ride, held by the Green WorldFoundation on Car-Free Day last month,was a short trip around Rattanakosin’s oldtown square after a talk by cyclists who ‘‘dressfor the destination’’, instead of for the ride.

‘‘We [make] the vehicle fit our life, notchange our lifestyle to fit the vehicle,’’ saidChada, 28, who joined the ride to show howwomen around the world dress for cycling.

‘‘Those lycra uniforms make cycling [seem]unfriendly for those who don’t cycle,’’ sheadded.

Since April last year, Chada and her buddyLalita Pingkasan, 27, who appeared at theride in her jumpsuit, started to share photoson their Bicycle Belles Club of Siam Facebookfan page. It started after Chada’s personalphotos — where she featured herself in chicdresses on a red bike cycling around the city— attracted public attention.

To some, the combination of outfit andvehicle may not seem to fit such a tropicalcountry as Thailand, but Chada and Lalitadisagreed.

‘‘Catholic nuns in Italy are wearing theiruniform on a bike,’’ said Chada. Maxi dresses,miniskirts, and high heels are as common as

shorts, pants and sneakers. These fashionablecycling outfits are displayed on websites suchas Copenhagen Cycle Chic, Amsterdam CycleChic, and Skirt-clad Romanian.

Wearing high heels isn’t a problem whilecycling. Chada borrowed the professionalcycling technique of pressing the front partof the feet on the pedals to maximise strength,as well as to keep her legs slim. One alsoneeds to sit at a high-seat position.

‘‘With high heels, it’s even better whenyou don’t have to tiptoe or jump off thesaddle when waiting for the green light,’’said Chada who now lives in Nakhon Ratcha-sima province and commutes around townwith her city bike.

Lalita suggested closed-toe high heels forcycling trips, preventing any possible injuries.

The traffic in Nakhon Ratchasima, whichis apparently not too bad, makes Chada’scycling routine easier than that of those livingin the capital. But it doesn’t always mean the

roads are empty. The postgrad student spendsabout 70 minutes on her bike commuting toher university 17km from home every day.

Her simple trick was to use the backstreetsto avoid traffic and possible accidents. ‘‘Whydo we have to risk our life on the mainstreets?’’ said Chada.

However, it’s not only fashion that theduo share on their Facebook fanpage, butalso tips and tricks for how to be stylish likethose portrayed in the photos.

To keep yourself safe and in style, Chadasuggested keeping left on main roads, andparking on the left side of the first car at thetraffic lights to make yourself visible to othercommuters. Always give hand signals whenmaking a turn or stop.

Cycling can become the choice of transportfor many commuters in Bangkok and theprovinces, said Chada, since one can alwaysdress up for their destination without havingto wear those lycra tights.

As Bangkok has been listed as one of thecities in the world with the most congestedtraffic, Chada wanted the fan page to inspiremore city commuters to opt for cycling as ameans of transport. One can go for dinner,a film, shopping, or to the park on a two-wheeler with little sweat.

‘‘You can even go to the temple in yourpha sin,’’ said Chada, referring to the tradi-tional narrow Thai skirt. The trick was towear shorts under your skirt to always keepyou in style and to ensure you don’t have toworry about causing an unwanted scene onthe road.

Cycling around in a skirt on a bicycle isn’tcomplicated. The duo suggested a city bikewith a sloping frame, which is easier forcyclists in skirts to mount. An umbrella holderand a bottle holder can be attached to thehandlebars to keep you out of the strong sunand the thirst at bay. A tiny bell can be usefulto warn pedestrians and other commutersalong the way. And if you are afraid that yourskirt will be drawn into the spokes of the rearwheel, a fabric skirt guard is easy enough tomake and install to cover the wheel.

While Chada encouraged everyone to dressfor the destination, rather than the ride, shehas some cheeky words of wisdom for thosewho are interesting in relying on a bike astheir primary mode of transport: ‘‘Most cardrivers tend to give way for cyclists withpretty dresses.’’