Not saying “scooter/e-bike/moped/whatever” because terms are vague. If you want to come in and clarify what’s a scooter and a bike, go away, that’s not the question. What kind of “electric mobility solution” is legal to drive around the Sukhumvit neighborhood, specifically between the train tracks and Soi 40-ish.
I live down here, it’s my hood, something electric to get around near home would be rad. It doesn’t have to go highway speeds, so 30kph max speed is fine, even preferred. I understand 30 is the speed above which one needs a license. I’ll do it if I have to but I’m just trynna scooch a few hundred meters, a few km at most, for daily trips to pharmacy/supermarket. Walking on this heat is bad enough without having to carry stuff home. (I know many shops have delivery options, but Ploy at the veggie counter in Big C ain’t bringing 300g of spinach over here to my condo, she just ain’t. That is not her job, it’s mine.)
If you look at the area on Google Maps, you’ll see it’s full of dead end alleys between two multi-lane throughways. This is fine, but it means you essentially HAVE TO return to the main drag of Sukhumvit, even to get to the next block. There’s a pharmacy 100m from my house that takes 850m on the ground to reach. I will not be able to go anywhere without driving on the main road. I can stay on the shoulder/sidewalk, but I have to go that way.
My ideal solution is a folding bike-looking thing (16″-20″ tires) where the battery doesn’t look obvious. I’m willing to spend on it if the perfect vehicle is out there. But I’d be just as happy with those hideous Chinese grandma scooters, a Kik-type thing, or a one-wheel.
I see a few but not a lot of those, and almost never see electric 2-wheelers of any type parked in public down here. My gut tells me that’s because laws make it difficult. If so, please point to a link if you can. If you got some sweet hookups for good e-bike shops, point me that way and I’ll cooperate with whatever referral/loyalty program they have to get you your discount/bonus.
Thank you in advance, and I love you.
