Traffic jam at Dinh Bo Linh Street in HCM City. (Photo: VNA) HCM City (VNA) - Experts have called for morebuses, bus routes and controls on private cars and motorcycles to help easetraffic congestions in Ho Chi Minh City.
The solutions debated at a recent forum in HCM City arepart of a project initiated by the Transport Development and StrategyInstitute.
Based on its research, project consultants recommended 19 measuresto promote public transport, including those that will encourage use of greenfuel and bus access for the disabled.
“Separate lanes for buses are necessary because now most busesstill use the same roads with other vehicles. It’s not convenient and isunsafe,” they stressed.
“HCM City authorities should soon put the two river-bus routes fromBinh Quoi to Bach Dang and from Bach Dang to Lo Gom into operation, and considera railway system to connect Tan Son Nhat International Airport and Long ThanhInternational Airport,” the consultants added.
There are 142 bus routes in HCM City with nearly 3,000 buses,while Singapore has 990 routes and 21,152 buses, and Hong Kong has 992 routesand 17,554 buses.
Along with developing a public transport system, the experts atthe event also noted that the city should focus on limiting the use of privatevehicles.
They suggested that car access to downtown areas be limited toalternate days, based on license plate numbers, for example. Another proposalcalls for fees to be imposed on all vehicles entering downtown districts andrequiring vehicle users to register their cars and motorbikes every year at thedistricts where they live.
Parking fees should be high, and time limitation strictlyenforced, the experts suggested, and the number of cars and motorbikes used forGrab and Uber services should be limited.
Environmental protection fees will be applied, which should helpeliminate the use of old, exhaust-emitting vehicles.
Motorbike hire services, similar to those availabe for bike usersin major world cities, should also be provided. From 2005 to 2016, the numberof motorbikes has more than doubled, from nearly 3 million to 7.2 million, andis expected to reach 10 million by 2030.
“If we carry out all these suggestions in Hanoi and HCM City, I’msure we can fully stop motorbike usage in some areas and streets by2030,” expert Luong Hoai Nam was quoted as saying by the Tuoi Tre (Youth)newspaper.
“We must set a target of banning all motorbikes by 2030. To meetpeople’s transport demand, HCM City will need 21,000 buses, however, we haveonly 3,000,” said Dr. Pham Xuan Mai, former dean of the HCM City PolitechniqueUniversity’s Transport Techniques Faculty.
The HCM City Transport Department will send 30,000 survey forms tohouseholds in all 24 of its districts, starting this month, with questionsfocusing on measures to reduce the use of private vehicles.
“The survey aims to collect more information about transporthabits, demand and the views of local residents about transport infrastructure.Based on such information, related authorities will design a proper transportdevelopment roadmap,” Bui Xuan Cuong, Director of the Transport Department,said.
He also revealed that by November, the Department will completeits project to limit the use of private vehicles.-VNA
The solutions debated at a recent forum in HCM City arepart of a project initiated by the Transport Development and StrategyInstitute.
Based on its research, project consultants recommended 19 measuresto promote public transport, including those that will encourage use of greenfuel and bus access for the disabled.
“Separate lanes for buses are necessary because now most busesstill use the same roads with other vehicles. It’s not convenient and isunsafe,” they stressed.
“HCM City authorities should soon put the two river-bus routes fromBinh Quoi to Bach Dang and from Bach Dang to Lo Gom into operation, and considera railway system to connect Tan Son Nhat International Airport and Long ThanhInternational Airport,” the consultants added.
There are 142 bus routes in HCM City with nearly 3,000 buses,while Singapore has 990 routes and 21,152 buses, and Hong Kong has 992 routesand 17,554 buses.
Along with developing a public transport system, the experts atthe event also noted that the city should focus on limiting the use of privatevehicles.
They suggested that car access to downtown areas be limited toalternate days, based on license plate numbers, for example. Another proposalcalls for fees to be imposed on all vehicles entering downtown districts andrequiring vehicle users to register their cars and motorbikes every year at thedistricts where they live.
Parking fees should be high, and time limitation strictlyenforced, the experts suggested, and the number of cars and motorbikes used forGrab and Uber services should be limited.
Environmental protection fees will be applied, which should helpeliminate the use of old, exhaust-emitting vehicles.
Motorbike hire services, similar to those availabe for bike usersin major world cities, should also be provided. From 2005 to 2016, the numberof motorbikes has more than doubled, from nearly 3 million to 7.2 million, andis expected to reach 10 million by 2030.
“If we carry out all these suggestions in Hanoi and HCM City, I’msure we can fully stop motorbike usage in some areas and streets by2030,” expert Luong Hoai Nam was quoted as saying by the Tuoi Tre (Youth)newspaper.
“We must set a target of banning all motorbikes by 2030. To meetpeople’s transport demand, HCM City will need 21,000 buses, however, we haveonly 3,000,” said Dr. Pham Xuan Mai, former dean of the HCM City PolitechniqueUniversity’s Transport Techniques Faculty.
The HCM City Transport Department will send 30,000 survey forms tohouseholds in all 24 of its districts, starting this month, with questionsfocusing on measures to reduce the use of private vehicles.
“The survey aims to collect more information about transporthabits, demand and the views of local residents about transport infrastructure.Based on such information, related authorities will design a proper transportdevelopment roadmap,” Bui Xuan Cuong, Director of the Transport Department,said.
He also revealed that by November, the Department will completeits project to limit the use of private vehicles.-VNA
VNA
