HCM City and Hanoi plan to restrict the use of motorbikes in inner-city areas and eventually ban them altogether. (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Authorities of Hanoiand Ho Chi Minh City are speeding up plans to limit motorbikes entering inner-cityareas and eventually phase motorbikes out in downtown areas to ease trafficjams.
A representative from the centre for scientificresearch and training under the Hanoi Department of Transport revealed that thedepartment would work out solutions this year to curb the number of motorcyclesentering inner-city areas.
Under the proposal, before terminating motorbiketraffic altogether, the capital’s authorities will restrict the areas they areallowed to enter. Permitted areas will be required to have appropriateinfrastructure and meet standards for public transportation services.
The Transport Development and Strategy Instituteunder the Ministry of Transport also said that due to differences in thecapabilities of the public transit system in various districts, the ministrywill initially select areas to restrict and move towards an outright motorbikeban in Hanoi by 2030.
The limitation on motorcycles is aimed atreducing traffic congestion, economic damage, travel times and costs forresidents, and minimising environmental pollution. The move is expected toreduce the number of traffic accidents, contribute to the city’s sustainabledevelopment and improve residents’ quality of life.
Meanwhile, HCM City is deploying a plan toenhance the transit system, assigning the HCM City Department of Transport toreview traffic projects such as bridges, roads and ports.
The city’s plan also includes zoning arearestrictions for motorbike traffic, targeting a complete ban on motorcycles incentral business districts 1, 3, 5 and 10 between 2025 and 2030.
However, transport expert Nguyen Xuan Thuy saidthe plan to ban motorbikes from entering the downtown area was inappropriate asthe country has some 45 million motorcycles and 4 million automobiles. Althoughthere are more than 10 times as many motorbikes as cars, a motorbike occupiesbetween one fifth and one tenth of the road surface area used by a car.
As such, Thuy said motorbikes are not the mainreason behind traffic congestions in major cities such as Hanoi and HCM City.According to Thuy, automobiles are crowding the roads, therefore, motorbiketraffic should not be stopped.
In addition, one economic expert said the ban onmotorbike traffic should be weighed carefully because no other form oftransport can replace motorcycles, which are also considered the main means oftransport in the country for business activities such as transportinggoods.-VNA
VNA
