🌧️ Good morning! It’s been a year after a major bus reform, and Prachatai reports that the system is in a state of flux with backlash from commuters and labor unions. The city is hosting a public hearing (likely in Thai) on the Green Line’s extension between Bang Wa and Taling Chan on Aug. 19. You can join virtually, too.

📣 Special shoutouts to Paul van der Hijden for becoming a Senior Soi Builder and Michael Wykoff for becoming a Soi Visionary! If you find Soiciety valuable, please support us through our one-time support program.

🛣️ From the Main Road:

• One big number = 6,000

• Song Wat as new landmark?

• Grey, Silver, Light Blue lines restudied

• Orange Line + cannabis + reelection

• Food hub at Lumphini Park

• City Hall to turn to public space

• Explainer: New alcohol control bill

ONE BIG NUMBER
🚲 6,000

Bangkok is putting its pedal to the metal to expand its bike-sharing program, aiming to have 6,000 bicycles available by the end of 2025.

Why it matters: This push is designed to solve the "first-mile, last-mile" problem, making it easier for commuters to reach transit stations.

Big picture: The program is operated by four companies: Leo, Anywheel, QAD and Gcoo. Each company is required to have at least 1,500 bikes, bringing the total fleet to 6,000.

Yes, but… During the 2024 pilot phase, the program saw an average of 247 daily users. That's only about 22.5% of the 1,100 bikes available at the time, highlighting the challenge of increasing adoption even as the city scales up.

What’s next: By 2027, Bangkok’s goal is to have more than 50,000 bikes available across all of its 50 districts. The expansion will include docking stations near the transit network.

How to find and use: You'll need to use one of the operators' apps for maps and instructions: Anywheel Thailand, Pun Pun and Pun Dai.

• The best areas to bike now are: public parks, Charoen Krung, Saen Saep Canal, Phadung Krung Kasem Canal and the inner core of Rattanakosin Island.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
1. 🚀 Song Wat’s ‘old-meets-new’ playbook

Driving the news: Commerce Minister Jatuporn Buruspat rallied legacy shop owners and news entrepreneurs last weekend to brand Song Wat Road, a century-old street, as a new tourist destination.

Why it matters: It’s the latest high-profile endorsement for the 1.2-kilometer street that made Time Out’s 2023 list of the 40 world’s coolest neighborhoods. But its rise comes as another trendy food street, Banthat Thong, faces a slowdown.

Flashback: Once hailed as Bangkok’s street food center, Banthat Thong’s buzz fizzled fast when tourist traffic dried up. Complaints about overpriced, underwhelming food and overhyped influencer reviews dented its reputation.

Yes, but… Song Wat has a different playbook, said Kiattiwat Srichanwanpen, head of the Made in Song Wat group, in a recent interview with Prachachat. He said Banthat Thong is only about food, but Song Wat also has arts and history.

• Local business owners also work together to keep food and rental prices affordable with a goal of long-term sustainability in mind, rather than chasing a quick trend, Kiattiwat said.

Between the lines: Unlike Banthat Thong, Song Wat’s appeal doesn’t hinge on constant spending. Tourists can engage with the area’s culture without opening their wallets, he said.

By the numbers: The Made in Song Wat collective grew to 80 shops from 15 in just four years.

What’s next: The Commerce Ministry and Bangkok are now eyeing infrastructure upgrades, including improvements to sidewalks, landscaping, public restrooms, parking and traffic flow. A clearer visitor guide is also in the works.

How to get there: Tucked near Sampeng and Yaowarat, Song Wat Road is accessible via Ratchawong Pier and is less than a kilometer walk from the Wat Mangkon MRT Station.

TRANSPORTATION
2. 🚆 Grey, Silver, Light Blue lines to be studied, again

The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand will re-study the three train projects it took over from Bangkok, citing outdated information as they have been sitting on the drawing board for years.

• The Grey Line (Watcharapol-Thong Lo) and the Silver Line (Bang Na-Suvarnabhumi Airport) were already studied years ago, but the investment figures and the physical conditions have since changed, requiring a new evaluation. Both are expected to be ready for bidding in 2027.

• The Light Blue Line (Din Daeng-Sathorn) has never been fully studied beyond its initial route planning. This study is expected to conclude in 2028.

• These three studies are estimated to cost 200 million baht.

Zoom out: These lines will function as secondary “feeder” lines connecting to the main rail system, using light rail technology like monorails.

🗺️ Check out the map for every line.

JUST THE HEADLINES
3. 📰 Catch up quickly

• 🚆 The Mass Rapid Transit Authority announced the eastern section of the Orange Line (Cultural Center-Min Buri) could open as early as late 2027.

• 🌿 Over 1,000 cannabis dispensaries nationwide have been ordered to close following inspections by the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine.

• 🗳️ With nine months remaining in his first term, Gov. Chadchart Sittipunt has not yet decided whether to run for reelection.

SIDEWALK CLEAN UPS
4. 🍜 Hawkers get a new home in Lumphini Park

Construction on a new Singapore-style hawker center at Lumphini Park, near the Ratchadamri intersection, began in June and is expected to open in early 2026.

Why it matters: The center will provide a regulated space for street vendors, many of whom were displaced from nearby sidewalks. This will allow park visitors to enjoy food without contributing to the sidewalk congestion.

Big picture: The project is part of a larger city initiative to consolidate street vendors into fewer, more controlled areas.

• In 2022, Bangkok had 86 “lenient zones” and 741 unregulated areas. By 2025, those have been reduced to 59 “lenient zones” and 321 unregulated sites.

The other side: The so-called Singaporization of Bangkok’s street stalls hasn’t been without criticism. While some fear it will strip the city of its unique street food charm, others worry about the financial strain on vendors who will now have to pay rent.

PUBLIC SPACE
5. 🏛️ City Hall’s new use expected next year

All offices at the Sao Ching Cha City Hall will relocate to the Din Daeng City Hall in February 2026, following the expected completion of interior renovations on the new 37-story tower in December, officials confirmed.

Why it matters: The Sao Ching Cha City Hall, which has been in use since 1956, will be transformed into a city museum and public creative space. The new space will host art exhibitions, music performances, civic activities and public forums, according to the plan.

WEEKLY EXPLAINER
🍺 What to know about the new alcohol control rules

The big shift: The Thai Parliament has passed amendments to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act to replace the current 17-year-old law.

Why it matters: The new legislation aims to balance between the economic importance of the industry, a market valued at 500 billion baht per year, with the public health issues associated with alcohol consumption, estimated to cost over 170 billion baht annually.

Key points:

• Increased penalties: Fines for selling alcohol to minors (under 20) or intoxicated individuals have been increased fivefold to a maximum of 100,000 baht.

• Retailer responsibility: Retailers may now be held liable for damages caused by a minor or an intoxicated person who was sold alcohol at their establishment and subsequently commits a crime or causes an accident.

• Advertising: While a general ban remains, it provides a framework for some forms of communication. It also clarifies that individuals who post about alcohol on social media without the intent to advertise will not be penalized.

What’s next: It will take effect 60 days after it’s published in the Royal Gazette.

🗨️ Got a question about how something works in Bangkok? Reply to this email or hit me up at [email protected]. I’ll break it down in a future explainer!

❤️ Want to support Soiciety? Become a Soi Builder today.

📧 Reach me at [email protected]. I will respond!