Only suitable for short routes

According to the Department of Trade and Industry, the means of transport -- such as cars and motorcycles have rapidly grown in the city and they are one of the causes of congestion, pollution of the urban environment. So the development of bikes will help reduce urban congestion effectively.

The scheme is expected to be implemented in 24 months at a cost of about VND900 million or $45,000 to calculate the quality of roads, management practices, transport planning and others to serve cyclists.

However, in fact, the habit of using bicycles in Hanoi exists in only a small part of the population.

Mr. Nguyen Van Bach in Ngoc Thuy Ward, Long Bien District, Hanoi, is working in a company on Thuy Khue Street and has just bought a bicycle as a major means of transport to go to work, saying that using bikes is not only improving health, protecting the environment but also helping save money in difficult economic times.

Commenting on the proposal of the Hanoi Department of Trade and Industry, Bach said that this proposal should be tried by a small part of the population, such as civil servants, and then people will follow. Bach said that this scheme should be tested because cycling to work has certain obstacles.

First, the current price for bicycles is quite expensive so it would be difficult for a major part of people to choose this vehicle. Moreover, the bike is just right for those who work at a fixed place and do not have to move a lot.

Mr. Khuat Viet Hung, acting head of the Transportation Department of the Ministry of Transport, said that the scheme to encourage cycling of the Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade is feasible but it is only appropriate for short routes within 4km or less.

"Currently, under 4km trips in Hanoi account for 50 percent. Thus given the short-range routes, the proposal by the Department of Industry and Trade can be fully implemented. This proposal is consistent with the common trend of the world," Hung said.

Mr. Hung also stated that this proposal should not be interpreted as only some parts of population who are in accordance with the conditions are encouraged to transfer from cars and motorbikes to bicycles.

Mr. Nguyen Quang Toan, former Chairman of the Roadway Faculty of the Hanoi University of Transport, said office workers are ready for cycling as a form of sports training, with close distance of about 3-5 km.

Toan said cycling is good for physical training, more meaningful in terms of the environment, however, it cannot be confirmed of its effectiveness in curbing traffic congestion because the roadways used by bicycle and motorcycle are similar.

Unfeasible 

Meanwhile, Mr. Bui Danh Lien, Chairman of the Hanoi Transport Association, said frankly, that the project is unfeasible in the current context of transportation in Hanoi.

Mr. Lien said Hanoi’s development strategy of urban transport in the future is developing the public transport system such as urban bus rapid, urban rail ... not the bike.

Mr. Nguyen Xuan Tan, deputy director of the Hanoi Department of Transportation said that, depending on the conditions, circumstances, every citizen has a choice of vehicles to their own.

Vietnamnet