A public bicycle sharing system is introduced at Taiwan Expo 2017 held in HCM City (Photo: VNA)HCM City (VNS/VNA) – Ho Chi Minh City was one of five large cities inthe country asked to pilot public bicycle sharing in its inner areas under thePrime Minister’s requirement in 2014, but the pilot programme has failed tomeet demand.
Instead of inner city areas, the campus of the QuangTrung Software City and the urban area of Vietnam National University-HCM Citywere chosen for the pilot programme.
However, the number of bicycles used in thesystem has decreased and cannot meet the demand of employees and studentsthere.
Nguyen Thien Thong, managing director of theEasy Move Project, which developed bicycle sharing in the urban area of VietnamNational University-HCM City, said that a large fund is needed for the bikesharing system.
“The city’s weather with both a lot of sun andrain damages bicycles and locks, leading to high demand for repair andmaintenance,” Thong told attendees at a forum organised recently by the HCMCity Institute for Development Studies in cooperation with Centre of Regionaland Urban Studies.
The cost to maintain the system is high andusers lack awareness about regulations. For example, they do not park bicyclesin regulated areas. More effective management is needed, he said.
“It’s impossible to develop the public bicyclesharing system in the inner areas. The system is suited to a closed campus suchas in industrial parks or the Phu My Hung urban area,” Thong said.
Truong Quang Nhat, a student at the HCM CityUniversity of Transport, said that his team conducted research which showedthat the bike sharing system could be linked to public transport.
Public transport, including buses, water busesand a subway system now under construction, exist in the city, but most oftheir stations are located in districts 1 and 3.
“A public bicycle sharing system will helppeople travel short-distance trips between these stations,” Nhat said.
Most people who were interviewed for thestudents’ research said they would be willing to ride public bikes to thestations.
Dinh Dang Hai of HealthBridge Vietnam said thatconvenient, safe roads or paths should be developed for bikes to protect themfrom other vehicles.
Facilities for parking bicycles at publictransport stations should also be built, Hai said.
Many people, however, are reluctant to ridebikes because of narrow roads and incomplete transport infrastructure,according to the city’s Department of Planning and Architecture.
Bicyclists often have to travel in the samelanes as cars and trucks.
Dr Nguyen Minh Hoa of HCM City University ofSocial Sciences and Humanities said that a “culture of using bikes” could bedeveloped if students and state workers began using bikes first.
“It’s important to ride bikes regularly and makeit a habit,” Hoa added.-VNS/VNA
Instead of inner city areas, the campus of the QuangTrung Software City and the urban area of Vietnam National University-HCM Citywere chosen for the pilot programme.
However, the number of bicycles used in thesystem has decreased and cannot meet the demand of employees and studentsthere.
Nguyen Thien Thong, managing director of theEasy Move Project, which developed bicycle sharing in the urban area of VietnamNational University-HCM City, said that a large fund is needed for the bikesharing system.
“The city’s weather with both a lot of sun andrain damages bicycles and locks, leading to high demand for repair andmaintenance,” Thong told attendees at a forum organised recently by the HCMCity Institute for Development Studies in cooperation with Centre of Regionaland Urban Studies.
The cost to maintain the system is high andusers lack awareness about regulations. For example, they do not park bicyclesin regulated areas. More effective management is needed, he said.
“It’s impossible to develop the public bicyclesharing system in the inner areas. The system is suited to a closed campus suchas in industrial parks or the Phu My Hung urban area,” Thong said.
Truong Quang Nhat, a student at the HCM CityUniversity of Transport, said that his team conducted research which showedthat the bike sharing system could be linked to public transport.
Public transport, including buses, water busesand a subway system now under construction, exist in the city, but most oftheir stations are located in districts 1 and 3.
“A public bicycle sharing system will helppeople travel short-distance trips between these stations,” Nhat said.
Most people who were interviewed for thestudents’ research said they would be willing to ride public bikes to thestations.
Dinh Dang Hai of HealthBridge Vietnam said thatconvenient, safe roads or paths should be developed for bikes to protect themfrom other vehicles.
Facilities for parking bicycles at publictransport stations should also be built, Hai said.
Many people, however, are reluctant to ridebikes because of narrow roads and incomplete transport infrastructure,according to the city’s Department of Planning and Architecture.
Bicyclists often have to travel in the samelanes as cars and trucks.
Dr Nguyen Minh Hoa of HCM City University ofSocial Sciences and Humanities said that a “culture of using bikes” could bedeveloped if students and state workers began using bikes first.
“It’s important to ride bikes regularly and makeit a habit,” Hoa added.-VNS/VNA
VNA
