As part of continuing efforts to mitigate the capital’s growing traffic woes, Hanoi authorities are considering limiting the registration of new motorbikes in certain areas of the city.
According to VnExpress, the first districts to limit new motorbike registration next year will be Hoan Kiem, Hai Ba Trung, Ba Dinh, Dong Da and Tay Ho, although this will be expanded to Cau Giay, Hoang Mai, Long Bien, Thanh Xuan, Gia Lam and Dong Anh in 2025.
Another part of the proposal suggested that between 2021 and 2025, motorbikes would be banned on Friday nights and during weekends on six central streets: Hang Dau, Tran Nhat Duat, Tran Quang Khai, Tran Hung Dao, Le Duan and Phung Hung.
Director of the city Department of Transport Vu Van Vien, however, said it is not just motorbikes that will be limited.
"Motorbikes are just one of the vehicles that will be restricted. Our plan limits and manages all vehicles. We do not want to cause trouble to residents and seek to discuss before implementing."
By 2030, a far more comprehensive ban of motorbikes will be enforced in Hanoi. By then, city authorities claim public transport will be more than adequate to meet demand. It is predicted that, by the time of the ban, there will be 10,000 public bicycles, 30,000 taxis, nine metro lines and 180 bus routes serviced by 2,700 buses, the news source reports.
Late last year, authorities also proposed congestion charges for private vehicles entering crowded areas in central districts. It is hoped that such a move would reduce traffic jams, and therefore reduce emissions and mitigate air pollution.
A recent report showed that Hanoi has the second-worst air pollution in Southeast Asia, according to readings from IQAir's AirVisual app. The city's pm2.5 reading (fine particulate matter) average was 40.8, behind Jakarta's 45.3 and ahead of Samut Sakhon, Thailand, which clocked an average of 39.8.
