VietNamNet Bridge - In response to the idea of banning motorbikes on some streets in Hanoi, the Director of the Hanoi Police Agency, Colonel Nguyen Duc Nhanh, says that the Agency is co-operating with the Hanoi Department of Transportation and Public Works to investigate certain streets. In the coming time, motorbikes may be banned at peak hours.

“Relevant authorities are seeking measures to reduce traffic congestion during rush hours”, emphasised Colonel Nguyen Duc Nhanh. He stated that due to the free motorbike registration law, the year 2006 alone has witnessed 60,000 newly-registered motorbikes across the city. The increase of vehicles along with poor traffic infrastructure have resulted in more congestion and accidents.

According to Mr. Nhanh, changing the frequency of buses at peak hours from 5 minutes to 10 minutes per route may help reduce the number of vehicles on roads, and thus minimise traffic congestion. Similarly, if only touring cars with fewer than 26 seats were allowed to take passengers to airports and vice versa during rush hours this would also help.

Traffic wardens will check parking places in their areas and clear away the ones which obstruct traffic. Moreover, city authorities will strongly encourage individuals and organisations with available space to open parking services.

Hanoi bus raises its voice

“Traffic congestion will be more serious if 30% of buses are reduced in Dong Da and Thanh Xuan districts because the decrease in buses means an increase in motorbikes”, remarked Mr. Bui Xuan Dung, Chairman of the Management Board of the Hanoi Transportation Company, upon hearing the solutions to traffic congestion proposed by the Hanoi Traffic and Police Agencies.

Mr. Dung also added that Hanoi buses run on over 55 routes and transport 900,000 passengers every day. The reduction of 30% of buses in circulation would force about 200,000 residents to travel by motorbike, putting more oil into the hot pan. In addition, it sounds unfeasible to cut down bus routes in Dong Da and Thanh Xuan districts; the bus has become a popular means of transport for locals.

One proposal by the Hanoi Police is to ban over 30-seat buses from traveling on roads ten-metres wide and under. According to Mr. Dung, such roads account for approximately 70%, and in Hanoi, wide and narrow roads often intersect; thus, it is not feasible to have small buses on small lanes. Moreover, transferring from big to smaller buses while the number of passengers stays the same requires more buses, which increases the possibility of traffic congestion.

Mr. Bui Xuan Dung also said that it was problematic to place bus stops 1,000 metres away from one another to reduce the frequency of buses because where to position a bus station must depend on passengers’ demand. He also stated that the common principle for many countries is to position bus stops 500 metres away from each other. So, Hanoibus will lengthen the distance between its bus stops, which is now about 200-300 metres.

“Banning cars of over 26 seats would ruin tourism”

Mr. Vu The Binh, Head of the Travel Department, Vietnam Tourism, strongly protested the proposal to ban touring cars under 26 seats from running all day and limiting over 26-seat cars. According to Mr. Binh, such a regulation would cause negative impacts on tourism because most touring cars are over 26 seats.

“To my understanding, not any country in the world bans big-size touring cars. It is necessary for the Transportation Department to rearrange the routes instead of banning them. Clearly, prohibition is not always the best policy”, said Mr. Binh.

The Hanoi Police Agency recommends clearing away 30% - 40% of the parking spots in the roads or on pavements. At present, there are 139 parking spots within the city, of which, 131 (occupying 75,000 m2), occupy space on the pavement or roads. In addition, cars should not be allowed to park for longer than 90 minutes and park overnight on the roadside.

“It is necessary to build overpasses and collect additional vehicle tolls”

According to Mr. Bui Xuan Dung, a traffic expert, Former Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Transportation and Public Works, Chairman of the Management Board of Hanoibus, it is very necessary to build overpasses for pedestrians. Since 2001, Hanoi has planned to build five overhead bridges for pedestrians; however, the plans have been delayed due to architects’ opposition: The building of overpasses may badly affect the city’s view.

Mr Dung also supports the idea of collecting annual vehicle tolls. “The money collected will be used for developing underground to compensate for the growth of motorcycles and cars. This year has seen the increase of over 58,000 new motorbikes, not to mention cars. It’s time to restructure the vehicle routes; otherwise locals will find no space to travel in the coming year”, said Mr. Dung

Mr. Tran Duc Thang, a group leader at the Traffic Lights Control Centre, also expressed his strong support for the the building of overpasses for pedestrians, adding that more warning signs for motor drivers at the zebra crossing should also be erected.

The Department of Transportation and Public Works has instructed the Project Management and City Reform Committee to design an overpass for pedestrians on Nguyen Chi Thanh Road in front of either the Law University or the National Administration Academy.

(Source: VNE)