Chiang Mai Riders Face Online Backlash Over Pavement Parking
CHIANG MAI — 19 October 2026, A group of food delivery riders in Chiang Mai has drawn heavy online criticism after photos appeared to show motorcycles parked on a public pavement, accompanied by a defiant message challenging people who objected to their gathering. The controversy erupted after a post in a Chiang Mai riders’ Facebook […]
Chiang Mai, 19 October 2026 – A group of food delivery riders in Chiang Mai has attracted heavy online criticism after photos showed their motorcycles parked on a public pavement, accompanied by a defiant message challenging anyone who objected to their gathering. The controversy began when a post in a Chiang Mai riders’ Facebook group displayed several young men, most wearing the green jackets of a major food‑delivery platform, standing beside their motorcycles on a roadside pavement at night. The post’s caption read: “We’re gathering, not killing anyone. We’re not asking you to feed us, so why are you so bothered?” The post sparked a wave of criticism, with commenters arguing that parking motorcycles on a pavement obstructs pedestrians and may break traffic rules. Some users alleged that the riders used modified motorcycles with noisy exhausts and revved their engines late at night, disturbing nearby residents. Others complained of alleged littering and smoking in public areas. Commenters warned that such behaviour could harm Chiang Mai’s reputation as a tourist destination and reflect poorly on other responsible delivery riders. They also argued that blocking public walkways and creating excessive noise infringes on others’ rights, even if no one is physically harmed. Online users have urged Chang Phueak Police Station and the Department of Land Transport to investigate the gathering, including the reported pavement parking and claims that the motorcycles were modified to produce excessive noise. Nimman Soi 7 was mentioned as one area where authorities should inspect, amid worries about the impact on residents and tourists. As of the report, no official enforcement action or police findings had been confirmed, and the allegations about modified motorcycles and other disruptive behaviour remain unverified.
