Hanoi will pilot the rental of electric bicycles to facilitate connection among local bus routes and the bus rapid transit (BRT) system. (Illustrative image: VNA)The pilot project will be launched by the municipal Department of Transport andthe University of Transport Technology, on the route from the AEON Mall Ha Dongto the Van Khe BRT platform, until the end of 2023, followed by a review toexpand the model to the entire city.
With funding from the European Commission and Government agencies, the servicewill be offered free of charge in the pilot period.
People who want to use the service will receive support to install a mobileapplication, which stores and tracks a user’s movement between the twodestinations. The app also indicates the bikes’ battery level and sends analert if problems arise.
According to the Hanoi Department of Transport, the project aims to improve theefficiency of public transport services as well as reduce personal vehicle use.
Vu Ngoc Khiem, Chairman of the University of Transport Technology’s board, saidgiven the layout of urban areas in the country, travel is heavily reliant onmotorbikes, so increasing the use of eco-friendly vehicles and raising publicawareness of environmental protection would help reduce congestion andpollution in the capital city.
Buses are currently the only means of public transport in Hanoio, comprisingmore than 100 routes operated by the State-owned Transerco and several privatecompanies./.
VNA
