Mobile hawkers
choose to travel with their goods in order to reach potential customers
in different locations who they would not be able to reach if they stayed
in one place. Hawker concentration varies according to the time of day and
week, and the number of potential customers.
Mobile hawkers often have to find ways to get around authorities who
do not want them selling in the area. An example of this occurs around Sukhumvit
Road. Although it is a large street market area, hawkers are not allowed
to sell in front of Queen's Park or other public areas such as the large
mall complexes. The city's excuse concerns traffic flow control, but their
main worry is that hawking is viewed as a traditional and non-modern activity
and the city of Bangkok wants to appear modern. Also, on Sukhumvit Road,
the larger franchises are concerned that the hawkers, with their cheap wares
will take businesses away from them.
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