A pilot study of dedicated bicycle lanes in Hanoi

DNHN - The city requires relevant agencies to review and arrange static parking spots in the inner city and the districts; study bicycle lanes when synchronously developing traffic infrastructure to ensure order, and safety and reduce congestion.

In the recently issued plan to combat traffic congestion in the 2022-2025 period, the capital government has proposed a series of solutions, including reviewing and arranging static parking spots in the inner city and the districts; investing in accessible transportation systems for people with disabilities and the elderly in urban areas, works to ensure traffic for vulnerable people; pilot study of dedicated bicycle lanes.

One of the remarkable solutions proposed by Hanoi is to only approve investment in apartment buildings, high-rise buildings, and commercial centres when it is suitable for planning and meets the requirements and regulations on parking lots, traffic infrastructure and traffic connections with main roads in urban areas.

In recent years, Hanoi has piloted lane separation and separation of vehicles between cars, motorbikes and rudimentary vehicles on many roads but there is no separate lane for bicycles. The city has also repeatedly planned to pilot a bicycle rental service in some districts but has not yet implemented it.

As of July 2022, Hanoi has more than 7.6 million vehicles, including more than 1 million cars, nearly 6.5 million motorcycles of all kinds, and about 180,000 electric motorbikes. As for bicycles, there have been no statistics from the city's authorities for many years.

To achieve the set plan, Hanoi City will mobilize all resources, and invest in the rapid and synchronous development of traffic infrastructure according to the plan, especially traffic works that play a role in reducing congestion.

Specifically, Hanoi focuses on closed investment in ring roads, radial traffic axes, bridge systems across rivers, key intersections...

The radial axes, the main urban main axes, the inter-regional routes; the bridge system across the river; key intersections, intersections of different levels; urban railway lines as planned; urgent works to solve congestion and ensure traffic safety will also be invested.

The city plans to increase the proportion of land for traffic, and at the same time build planned rest stops to serve essential needs along national highways and provincial roads, ensuring that the driver is no more than 4 break times.

In the coming time, Hanoi City will strengthen the management of sidewalks and roadways to ensure the right of way for pedestrians; strictly manage the temporary use of sidewalks and roadbeds as parking spots; do not let the situation of occupying sidewalks and roadbeds for business obstruct traffic.

PV (t/h)