Hundreds line up for Bike for Dad registration

PHUKET: More than 800 Phuket residents made their way down to Phuket Provincial Community Hall yesterday to register for the inaugural ‘Bike for Dad’ event.

The event garnered so much interest that the website hosting the online registration crashed due to the overwhelming number of entries.

For the Phuket event, participants will bike for 29 kilometers from Provincial Hall to Wat Chalong and back through town to Saphan Hin, before completing the loop back at Provincial Hall.

Those interested in registering for the national ride to Bangkok announced earlier this month (story here) were out of luck, as the event had been cancelled, confirmed Phuket Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada.

The Bike for Dad event is being held to express loyalty and gratitude to HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej in honor of his 88th birthday, as well as to promote unity throughout the nation.

“I am very glad to see so many people showing respect and joining the event organized for HM The King,” said Governor Chamroen. “Even though there were many people waiting in line, everyone looked happy and proud to be part of the event.”

The governor also noted that registration dates have been shortened from the entire month of November to November 2 through November 10.

People who wish to register may do so in person at Phuket Provincial Community Hall from 8:30 to 4:30 with their identification card or passport, or online at www.bikefordad2015.com.

— Kongleaphy Keam