In terms of air pollution from vehicles, one possible idea would be to introduce a cycle hire scheme in Chiang Mai.

Similar to that found in over 400 European cities including London and Paris, low cost cycle rentals could be made available in the city centre to encourage usage over motor vehicles for short trips. Docking stations can be setup at strategic points across the city including in major attractions like shopping centres, schools, parks etc.

The costs of setting up a cycle hire system needn’t be high. It can be privately funded in the form of sponsorship, perhaps by a bank which has the infrastructure in place to allow local people easy ways to pay – pay by ATM perhaps?

Anyway, this one idea could really make a difference in the city centre itself to reduce the number of cars and motorcycles on the road, as well as red buses. Also, if costed well this system could provide access to all, by offering the lowest cost transport in the city.

One additional benefit from such a scheme is that if usage was high, it would encourage the local authorities to increase the number of official cycle lanes in Chiang Mai.