Pattaya —
Electric scooters available for rent through an app have popped up in various tourist areas across Pattaya, prompting questions from residents regarding their legality and concerns over potential issues.
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These sit-down electric scooters have been spotted parked along roads, particularly on Pattaya Beach Road, Second Road, and Jomtien Beach Road. The scooters have baskets with instructions on how to use them. Users are required to download the app called “GOGO BIKE”, register, scan a QR code, and pay 249 baht per day for their rental. The app also allows users to check parking and rental spots, which are located in various tourist areas in Pattaya.
The Pattaya News reporters interviewed people around the areas where the scooters are parked. Most residents revealed that the scooters mainly cater to foreign visitors and have been around for a while. However, they have no idea who owns them.
According to reports, these scooters appear to operate from Pattaya South’s Duck Square project, where hundreds of the same blue scooters are parked. It was understood that there are staff members, seemingly of Chinese origin, working in an office to take care of them. The Chonburi Immigration Office is currently investigating the legality of this business.
According to Thai road traffic laws, electric scooters fall under the category of motorcycles as per the 1979 Vehicle Act. Therefore, operating these scooters on public roads without registration and licenses is considered an offense under Section 6 of the Act, with a fine of up to 10,000 baht.
Many Pattaya residents have raised concerns about the legality of these scooters and urge relevant authorities to investigate. They fear that the vehicles might lead to similar problems faced by foreign tourists in Phuket who were arrested for riding similar electric scooters on public roads and who claimed they were told the scooters were legal and didn’t require driver’s licenses or registrations.
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