Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Ngoc Dong has affirmed that curbing private vehicles in Hanoi is necessary as the city is facing traffic congestion and air pollution, VnExpress reported.The deputy minister said that Hanoi's scheme to restrict private vehicles is in line with the Vietnamese government’s guideline.
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Head of the ministry's Department of Transport Tran Bao Ngoc said that banning motorcycles in urban areas is one of the solutions to ensure traffic order and safety as well as reduce environmental pollution.
In the ASEAN region, Myanmar has already banned motorcycles in big cities. However, the prohibition of motorbikes must come with good public transport services, harmonious combination of different modes of transport in urban areas, especially good connection with static traffic, Ngoc noted.
He added that parking facilities must also be well connected with public transport to create favorable conditions for people and ensure the limit of private vehicles effectively. In foreign countries, parking lots in the center, metro areas, sky train and bus stop are interconnected.
Earlier, the Hanoi Department of Transportation said it would consider stopping motorbikes in some eligible streets. It is expected that the streets where motorbikes would be banned first are Le Van Luong and Nguyen Trai, where BRT buses and urban railway services are available.
This proposal has encountered negative feedback from both residents and traffic experts. Many people believe that public transport in Hanoi cannot meet the mobility demand now met by motorbikes.
