Pattaya works its blood and bones off, but some say only more blood will bring real change. (Photo – The newly revamped piers at Bali Hai Cape, South Pattaya) PATTAYA, Thailand – Living in Pattaya may feel like paradise, but for some long-term residents, the glossy image is wearing thin. While city officials repeatedly promise improvements to safety and infrastructure, many expats are saying the reality on the ground tells a bloodier, more chaotic story — and some believe it will take more injuries or even deaths before anything truly changes. The city’s recent efforts to rebrand itself as a safer and more family-friendly destination are met with skepticism by seasoned observers. “Reinventing safety one step at a time,” reads a common city slogan. One expat dryly quipped: “One wrong step and you’re down a bloody hole. Don’t think so somehow.” Pattaya’s roads and sidewalks remain notoriously treacherous. Pedestrian crosswalks are a joke. Crossing a street here is often likened to a life-threatening adventure. “Red lights, green lights — just decorations,” said another longtime resident. These issues are compounded by other persistent concerns — from dangerous levels of drug use among party-seeking tourists (particularly methamphetamine), to long-standing problems like the infamous jet ski scams, thefts by ladyboys, and an overall culture of aggressive street-level hustling that continues to scare off the more cautious crowd. “Scams, aggression, endless harassment for money. Nope, they’ll never do anything but look for easy money from intimidation and smarm.” While some infrastructure projects like drainage upgrades and new beach walkways are visible signs of progress, many still see them as cosmetic cover-ups rather than meaningful reform. “One-way streets are totally pointless — especially Soi Diana,” another commenter noted. “Pedestrian crossings? Complete waste of paint.” Yet, Pattaya persists. It “works its blood and bones off,” as one city official claimed, to earn back tourist trust. Whether the efforts are enough — or too little, too late — remains a contentious debate. But one thing is certain: for many expats, talk of change rings hollow until the roads are truly safe, the beaches clean, and the chaos curbed. Despite signs of progress, many sidewalks in Pattaya still resemble obstacle courses more than safe walkways — a daily frustration for locals and tourists alike. (Photo – The piers are ready to facilitate tourists taking trips to nearby islands)