Advocating evidence-informed policy in Thailand: The case of the development of bicycle commuting policy framework

Abstract

In Thailand bicycle use in everyday life has been advocated and became a policy framework starting in 2012. The process behind this success was the use of evidence and other influencing strategies employed by Thailand Walking and Cycling Institute (TWCI) and ThaiHealth. This article aims to investigate how the policy framework for bicycle commuting has been developed in Thailand by looking at the way evidence has been utilized to influence and advocate the development of the policy. The article employed qualitative in-depth interviews with 13 key informants from TWCI, ThaiHealth, and relevant experts. The main findings are that the policy framework has been developed through a participatory policy development platform, the National Health Assembly (NHA), which allows and encourages the utilization of different types of evidence in formulating the policy framework and reconceptualizes cycling as a physical activity and non-motorized transportation, not just exercise. Evidence use is also supplemented by other influencing strategies in advocating the policy. This article recommends the decentralization of evidence generation and the increase in the production of non-scientific, cultural evidence so that bicycle commuting will be sustained in the country.