What a pedestrian crossing in Thailand taught an Indian creator

Indian content creator Akshat Shrivastava shared a video from Chiang Mai, Thailand, praising its clean streets, disciplined traffic and respect for pedestrians. He said Indian cities could learn from such civic habits.An Indian creator's video about the streets of Thailand has gone viral. (Photos: akshat_ss/instagram)New Delhi,Nov 15, 2026 10:33 ISTA short walk across a road in Thailand left Indian content creator Akshat Shrivastava with a rather telling observation about civic sense back home. During a visit to Chiang Mai, he watched vehicles slow down and stop for pedestrians, noticed the absence of incessant honking and found the streets strikingly clean. One particular sight caught his attention: a Tesla stopping to let a man cross, with its hazard lights switched on.Shrivastava shared a video of the streets of Chiang Mai on Instagram, using the experience to point to everyday habits that, he felt, Indian cities could learn from other countries.He clarified that he was not exploring a major tourist hub such as Bangkok or Phuket, but a relatively smaller city. Yet, even on a busy road, the traffic appeared orderly, motorists followed basic rules and pedestrians were given the right of way. The experience also reminded him of his travels through Chiang Rai, where he had noticed how well-organised public spaces could be even outside popular tourist destinations.In his caption, Shrivastava wrote that India could take lessons from countries such as Thailand, Vietnam and Sri Lanka. He listed keeping public spaces clean, avoiding littering, respecting pedestrians and following traffic rules among the habits that needed greater attention. “India needs to learn something from these small cities!” he wrote, adding that the surroundings were clean and the atmosphere peaceful, without unnecessary honking.However, Shrivastava was careful not to portray Thailand as a country without its own problems. He acknowledged that every country had its shortcomings, but argued that there were certain civic practices Indians could adopt to make their own cities cleaner, safer and more organised.He also made the point that building better cities cannot be left to the government alone. Infrastructure may provide the foundation, but its upkeep and effective use also depend on how citizens behave in public spaces.“India has the resources, talent and potential to build world-class cities. But infrastructure alone cannot solve everything if people don’t cooperate,” he wrote.Watch the video here:For Akshat Shrivastava, the criticism came from a place of affection for his home country. He said he wanted to see India become cleaner, safer and better organised, adding that meaningful change would require people to examine their own habits rather than place the entire responsibility on the authorities.The post drew several reactions online, with the creator's observations prompting a discussion around civic responsibility and everyday public behaviour.- Ends