Bangkok Backstreets e-Scooter Tour

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I first came across electric or e-scooters en masse in Paris earlier in the year, and remember thinking what a fabulous way for adventurous souls to get around. Never imagining, I would soon be whizzing around and enjoying Bangkok’s backstreets by e-scooter.

It is no great surprise that e-scooters turn up on Bangkok’s congested roads, nor as an option for Bangkok city tours. Except that maybe there was an eyebrow or two raised from those of us who live here.

Our Bangkok is, after all, a world leader in pothole perfection. It’s chaos on our streets and pavements. How’s this going to work?

On the upside, the relaxed approach to all things including rules means that e-scooters are not banned on roads and pavements like in the United Kingdom. That’s a helpful start!

Photo credit @midlifeadventuring

My e-Scooter Experience

When I was invited to be part of a pre-launch test for Exipique’s Bangkok e-scooter tour, I needed to resist my first nervous Nelly Wren reaction:

‘Not on your Nelly, mate.’

But actually, the thought of being able to scoot through the tiny backstreets of Bangkok without working up a sweat was massively appealing. IF I could overcome my trepidation.

I’m an e-scooter expert now and a complete fan!

I will qualify that… I will happily scooter on an organised tour. You’re probably not going to see me e-scootering down Sukhumvit Road for the Monday morning dash to get to coffee with the ladies. Although give me time …

Photo credit: Expique

EXPIQUE

Expique is a well-established tour company that prides itself on being innovative, creative and bold. Their tours attract those who want to explore and experience Bangkok in a unique way.

As a Thai resident, I am always looking for something different. Getting off the beaten track and getting into the laneways of Bangkok sounded great.

ALL THE FUN OF AN E-SCOOTER

I knew as long as I could feel safe, and fully in control of an e-scooter, that it could be a wonderful way to see Bangkok.

You certainly cover more ground than on a walking tour. Our tour was around 10km which give us plenty of time to stop and learn more about the communities we see.

Some Bangkok days are just too hot for this little Wren, I did appreciate the gentle breeze from scootering. It was a cooler way to explore than walking or cycling for sure, in more ways than one.

Anything that can make Bangkok more liveable by reducing traffic gets my vote. All rides are entirely emission-free.

photo credit Expique

BECOMING AN E-SCOOTER PRO

It didn’t take me that long to feel comfortable riding an e-scooter.

How to ride an e-Scooter

The rider puts one foot on the board and kicks off two or three times with the other, you push down in the speed knob and you’re off! After which the scooter propels itself forward at up to 25 kph. It is controlled with an accelerator on the right handlebar and a brake on the left.

Economy mode speed

Our e-scooters were set to the economy mode which I took to be code for “we have a right wimp with us.” I’m a fan of economy mode. I doubt I saw the other side of 10 kph, more like 4kph. Let’s face it, you want to go fast enough to see a lot, slow enough so you can take it all in.

Safety First

We were handed helmets on arrival, and given a full safety briefing and cover Expique’s “e-scooter responsible riding” policy.

Our first exercise was to master the syncronised scoot ‘figure of eight’ training ride on a quiet paved area. Having successfully passed this little co-ordination test and not wiped-out any of the fellow tour companions, we were given the thumbs up to proceed.

This practice ride gave us confidence and was by far the hardest riding part of the whole afternoon.

‘learning to ride the e-scooter was a pleasant surprise, it was easy to master’

Photo credit Expique

RIVER RIDE TO THONBURI

All my concerns about bumpy roads and potholes turned out to be unfounded. The route had been carefully chosen for ease of riding on a combination of quiet roads, backstreets and riverside paths.

It was a really fun tour which covered the up-and-coming Chao Praya Riverside Creative district. The trendy developments such as the old Chinese mansion at Lhong 1919 and the Jam Factory warehouse redevelopment area were interesting. I had a whole heap of galleries, eateries and shopping on my list to return to in the future.

Lhong 1919; 248 Chiang Mai Rd,Thonburi, Bangkok, Thailand

DIVERSITY & HARMONY

Like most of Bangkok, it is well summed up by the contrasts we discover. The decade-old and century-old architecture of the Khlong San, Kudeejeen and Bangrak districts sit alongside new developments.

In amongst this, we discover a Portuguese heritage museum hidden deep in the back alleys of Kudeejeen. Next door is the famous Thanusingha Bakery who have been selling their famous Portuguese cookies for three generations, with an unchanged recipe.

The tour highlights diversity and harmony in a religious context too. It’s pretty impressive to see how four different religious communities live in such close proximity to each other. We visit a Buddhist temple, a mosque and scoot past Chinese shrines and the Santa Cruz church.

If only the rest of the world could have the same religious tolerance and freedoms that Thailand has.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

We had a glimpse into the ways of life of old Bangkok. Visiting the old warehouses and factories were like being on a movie set. We could see how modern Bangkok is emerging in these areas,

I thoroughly enjoyed this part of Bangkok where the kids wave and are curious to see us. This is not a well-beaten path for tourists, at all our stops the locals were chatty and seemed happy to see us.

It’s never tiresome down by the Chao Praya river there is always something interesting going on along beside the river.

‘on the e-scooters, we were more in the moment,

looking with our eyes, and not through a camera lens’.

GOOD TO KNOW

• Helmets are provided, I  prefer to wear a cap underneath.
• A backpack or over the shoulder bag works well on a scooter (easy to reach your camera!)
• Closed-toe, slip-on shoes are great for riding and easy for the barefoot entry to the temple, mosque and museum.
• Would have loved to have had a Go-pro camera on my helmet!
• Need to be able to lift the scooter on and off the boat, and up and down steps on occasion throughout the tour.
• Meeting point: Sanam Chai MRT Station

Here is Expique’s promotional video you of their current e-scooter tours. You will see some cool pictures of Bangkok.  If you stay till towards the end you will see a little wren wandering past!

Full

Thank you Expique for giving me the opportunity to see Bangkok by e-scooter. You took me out of comfort zone and showed me a great way to see the sights. Details of the Bangkok backstreets e-scooter tours can be found here.

What do you think?  I think we’re looking very comfortable on our e-scooters. Who wants to come on the next e-scooter tour with me?

Disclosure: Little Wren was a guest of Expique. However, all opinions on this blog are my own and reflect my first-hand account experience.