Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha wants December 9 to be a car-free day, if possible, to coincide with the “Bike UnAiRak” event in which His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn will lead a 39km bicycle ride from Bangkok to Lat Pho health park in Phra Pradaeng district of Samut Prakan province. 

More than 640,000 cyclists nationwide have registered to participate in this special event which will also be staged simultaneously in all other provinces.

In his weekly nation-wide address, the prime minister said that he would like to see motorists stop using  cars for a day and take public transport to the event grounds.

The prime minister also urged all Thais to pay tribute to the late King Bhumibol on his birthday anniversary on December 5 which coincides with the World Earth Day designated by the Food and Agriculture Organization.

He also expressed his appreciation to all shopping malls, convenience stores and modern trade shops for their cooperation to stop providing single-use plastic bags to their customers on December 4 which marks the Thai Environment Day.

He said December 4 should be the starting point for a gradual reduction in the use of single-use plastic bags and styrofoam containers in daily life.